Professional Development Support

The University of Chicago Divinity School is committed to training our students to be outstanding teachers of the academic study of religion, to be leaders in their chosen fields, and to benefit the wider community through scholarship and service.  As a complement to curricular offerings and requirements, we provide all of our students with the tools to succeed, whether they go on to professorial careers in academia or the myriad other paths they might pursue. 

Our flagship John C. and Jane Colman Program in the Craft of Teaching, Leadership, and Service, the Divinity School’s distinctive professionalization certificate program, offers students in-depth training in the art of pedagogy and helps students and Teaching Fellows identify how and where their pedagogical training equips them to lead and serve in non-profits, government, industry, and beyond. Coordination with the Professional DIVelopment series, Divinity School Placement activities, UChicagoGRAD, and the Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning, allows participants to develop confidence and clarity in their professional personae through skill-building workshops, internship opportunities, teaching demos, mock-interviews, one-on-one advising, and more.

We will continue to encourage creative thinking about how students, Teaching Fellows, and recent alumni might take what they learn in the academic study of religion to solve problems and pursue impactful careers. Contact Nathan J. Hardy, Assistant Dean of Students (njhardy@uchicago.edu), with questions or ideas.