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St. Tikhon’s Seminary Launches Search for Director of Extended Learning and Vocational Initiative
New leadership role will oversee multi-year Lilly Endowment-funded expansion of distance education and regional learning programs beginning in Fall 2026.
WAYMART, PA — St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary has announced a national search for a Director of Extended Learning and Vocational Initiatives as part of its ongoing "Sowing for Plentiful Harvests" program, a major educational expansion initiative funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.
The new position will oversee the seminary’s efforts to broaden its academic offerings through distance learning and regional educational sites aimed at supporting vocational discernment and theological formation.
The seminary launched the first of three planned extended learning sites in partnership with the Diocese of the Midwest in late 2025. With the program’s first academic term scheduled to begin in Fall 2026, seminary officials said the initiative is entering a new phase requiring dedicated leadership.
According to the seminary, the director will combine pastoral guidance in vocational preparation with high-level project administration, overseeing a multi-site, multi-year initiative. Funding for the program has been secured for an initial five-year period, with continued operations dependent on the establishment of a sustainable long-term model.
The position is open to both clergy and laity, though clergy with relevant professional qualifications are preferred. Candidates are expected to possess experience in higher education, nonprofit leadership, or project management, as well as a strong grounding in Orthodox Church life and ecclesial dynamics.
Applicants are asked to submit a résumé or curriculum vitae, cover letter, professional references, a personal reference from a priest or confessor, and, for clergy applicants, an episcopal blessing.
Application materials will be accepted through Aug. 14, 2026. Eligible candidates will subsequently be invited to participate in preliminary interviews conducted via video conference.
A full description of the role can be found here.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Justin Smith had been appointed Assistant Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary
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