The Edmond D. Villani 64 Distinguished Faculty Chair in the Humanities

Description

PREAMBLE 

Boston College High School is a Catholic, Jesuit, independent school serving approximately 1400 young men across grades 7-12 from various communities across Massachusetts. Founded in 1863, Boston College High School continues its commitment to an authentic formation of the head, heart, and hands within the parameters of the Characteristics of Jesuit Education, the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm, the BC High Mission Statement, and the strategic plan. 

Description

The Villani Distinguished Faculty Chair will be responsible for the creation and leadership the Villani Seminar for Civil Discourse. This program will equip students with the skills to engage in thoughtful, respectful dialogue, preparing them to navigate, lead and positively impact an increasingly complex world. The inaugural chairholder will educate and empower students to think deeply, critically, and reflectively and to act with courage - essential foundational elements for leadership in a polarized world. Working collaboratively with students, faculty, and the broader Boston community, the chair will devise and implement a program that instills intellectual curiosity, empathy, the ability to truly listen, and to navigate muti dimensional conversations with confidence and integrity. 

Responsibilities: 

2025-2026 Academic Year - Development Phase. The inaugural Villani Chair, who will have a two course teaching assignment, will be responsible in year one to:

• Provide a synthesis (philosophical and practical) of current literature and best practice regarding civic discourse programs in an educational context, with a particular focus on Jesuit schools and other excellent institutions, including high schools and universities 
• Conduct an audit of current civic engagement learning opportunities at the school within our 7-12 curriculum, co-curricular offerings, and Center programming 
• Introduce the Villani Seminar to the adult and student community through a series of events over the course of the 2025-2026 academic year. These may include panel discussions, Q&A sessions, and faculty/student meetings 
• Create an application form and selection process to choose the initial Villani Seminar student cohort (likely one or two sections, depending on quality of applicant pool). 
• Work with academic leadership and the School and College Counseling office to build the profile of the seminar student and showcase it to best effect with external institutions.
• Work regularly with the Villani Advisory Committee on all planning outcomes/decisions.
• Develop the robust, evidence-based capstone/seminar program, congruent with the vision and mission of the school in line with the Villani Seminar Course Outline.
• Begin arranging partnerships, field trips, seminars, visits, and projects with key leaders in Boston and beyond.
• Outreach to other local public and private schools to invite collaboration and interaction in Villani Seminar civic engagement events; explore the possibility of a partner school connection
• Create a syllabus that explores key concepts of civil discourse

2026-2027 Academic Year: Seminar Phase. The Villani Chair may teach one-two additional class sections, based on the number of cohort seminar sections (capped at 16-17 students), and will:

• Lead, teach, facilitate and arrange all aspects of the Villani Seminar and events.
• Develop and build the program through quarterly progress check-ins and updates with the President, the advisory committee, and academic leadership.
• Form the next Villani Seminar cohort.
• Strategize suggested changes for academic year 2027-2028 and update the syllabus/programming as necessary.

Selection will be determined through proven strategic planning skills to create a new program, embrace and execute the goals of the seminar, demonstrate an exceptional teaching practice, and embody the ideals articulated in BC High’s Profile of an Educator. 

Requirements

Qualifications: 

• Minimum of at least 5 years of teaching experience in grades 7-12 are required. 
• A proven record of strong communication, strategic thinking, commitment to Ignatian Pedagogy, and effective collaboration skills are essential.