The Religion and Philosophy Division of Pepperdine University’s Seaver College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, located in Malibu, California, invites applications for a Visiting Assistant Professor of Christian Thought. This position is a full-time, one-year appointment beginning August 1, 2026, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding. A successful candidate will be responsible for teaching a 4/4 load of undergraduate courses, with a focus on REL 100 (The Way of Jesus) and REL 300 (Christianity and Culture), taught in the spirit of 1 Peter 3:15.
The ideal candidate will have completed a Ph.D. in philosophy or theology by August 1, 2026, and all candidates need to provide evidence of (a) effective teaching in a variety of courses related to Christian thought, (b) an active research agenda, and (c) a commitment to the Christian mission of the University and the mission of Seaver College, as exemplified in George Pepperdine's dedicatory address. Candidates will also be expected to contribute to the intellectual life of the Division and to engage in service to the Division, College, and University as appropriate for a Visiting position.
Pepperdine is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Seaver College, the undergraduate liberal arts college of Pepperdine University, enrolls approximately 3,500 students at its residential campus in Malibu, California. The Religion and Philosophy Division of Seaver College offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, as well as three Master’s programs in Religion.
Located near Los Angeles in Southern California, Pepperdine University is viewed as one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States, with access to all of the benefits of a vibrant metropolis. Pepperdine is an explicitly Christian university, embracing the love of God and neighbor. Fostering a strong sense of belonging, we seek candidates who love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love their neighbors as themselves (Matthew 22:37–40).
Application review will begin on June 15, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit all application materials by sending them to the committee chair, contact information for whom is listed below.
Application Instructions
Applicants are required to submit the following documents:
A letter of application
A curriculum vitae
Three current letters of reference. All letters should be specific to the position and completed within five years prior to the date of submission. The name and email address for each individual providing a letter of recommendation is required when submitting an application.
Transcripts of all graduate work (Unofficial copies are acceptable for the application; however, official transcripts may be required for selected applicants.)
Teaching statement. The teaching statement should reflect on the candidate’s values, beliefs, and goals regarding the teaching and learning process and any pedagogical practices used or envisioned to achieve these goals. Two to three pages maximum length is requested.
Scholarly agenda. The statement should outline the applicant’s short- and long-term objectives and goals for their research and/or scholarly activities. Candidates should reflect on currently published or presented work(s) as a foundation for the statement. Two to three pages maximum length is requested.
Response to the University’s Christian mission Pepperdine University’s mission statement declares that we are a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ, Pepperdine pursues the very highest employment and academic standards within a context which celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. In pursuit of its mission, Pepperdine reserves the right to recruit and hire persons who firmly embrace the goals and Christian mission of the University.
At Seaver College, the undergraduate college of letters, arts, and sciences at Pepperdine, our faith calls us to uphold the highest standards of academic and scholarly excellence. We therefore commit to pursue truth relentlessly in all disciplines, fully confident that it has nothing to fear from investigation.
To achieve this goal, the college’s mission statement affirms that we are a Christian college where each student is a person of infinite dignity and their total development is centered at the heart of our educational enterprise.
Candidates should thoughtfully reflect on the Christian mission of Pepperdine University and of Seaver College and address the following areas in their response.
A consistent pattern of support for Christian values and the mission of Pepperdine University.
Active participation in a Christian community of faith.
A vision for integrating faith and learning in the classroom, ideally with reference to current practices.
Depending on the position, the search committee may request that additional materials accompany the application (e.g., prior teaching evaluations, portfolio of scholarly work, etc.).
This is a Full-Time, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.
Expected Pay Rate: $70,304 per year
The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.
Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. While students, faculty, and staff represent many religious backgrounds, Pepperdine is permitted under applicable law and reserves the right to seek, hire, and promote persons who support the goals and mission of the institution, including the right to prefer co-religionists who support Pepperdine's Christian mission
Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.
Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Individuals will be required to disclose any criminal convictions on a designated form after receiving a conditional offer of employment; failure to disclose accurate information may result in withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.
Contact
The primary point of contact is the Chair of the Search Committee:
Dyron B. Daughrity, PhD
Divisional Dean of Religion and Philosophy
William S. Banowsky Chair in Religion
Seaver College, Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263-4352
Email: dyron.daughrity@pepperdine.edu
A letter of application
A curriculum vitae
Three current letters of reference. All letters should be specific to the position and completed within five years prior to the date of submission. The name and email address for each individual providing a letter of recommendation is required when submitting an application.
Transcripts of all graduate work (Unofficial copies are acceptable for the application; however, official transcripts may be required for selected applicants.)
Teaching statement. The teaching statement should reflect on the candidate’s values, beliefs, and goals regarding the teaching and learning process and any pedagogical practices used or envisioned to achieve these goals. Two to three pages maximum length is requested.
Scholarly agenda. The statement should outline the applicant’s short- and long-term objectives and goals for their research and/or scholarly activities. Candidates should reflect on currently published or presented work(s) as a foundation for the statement. Two to three pages maximum length is requested.
Response to the University’s Christian mission Pepperdine University’s mission statement declares that we are a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ, Pepperdine pursues the very highest employment and academic standards within a context which celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. In pursuit of its mission, Pepperdine reserves the right to recruit and hire persons who firmly embrace the goals and Christian mission of the University.
At Seaver College, the undergraduate college of letters, arts, and sciences at Pepperdine, our faith calls us to uphold the highest standards of academic and scholarly excellence. We therefore commit to pursue truth relentlessly in all disciplines, fully confident that it has nothing to fear from investigation.
To achieve this goal, the college’s mission statement affirms that we are a Christian college where each student is a person of infinite dignity and their total development is centered at the heart of our educational enterprise.
Candidates should thoughtfully reflect on the Christian mission of Pepperdine University and of Seaver College and address the following areas in their response.
A consistent pattern of support for Christian values and the mission of Pepperdine University.
Active participation in a Christian community of faith.
A vision for integrating faith and learning in the classroom, ideally with reference to current practices.
Depending on the position, the search committee may request that additional materials accompany the application (e.g., prior teaching evaluations, portfolio of scholarly work, etc.).
Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Pepperdine is committed to providing a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University.
Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. While students, faculty, and staff represent many religious backgrounds, Pepperdine is permitted under applicable law and reserves the right to seek, hire and promote persons who support the goals and mission of the institution, including the right to prefer co-religionists who support Pepperdine's Christian mission.
