Chief Academic Officer
Hindu University of America (HUA – www.hua.edu) is a growing institution dedicated to meeting the dharmic educational needs of Hindus and spiritual communities worldwide. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and has been in operation since 1993 under the Florida Department of Education’s religious exemption clause (Section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes, which can be seen here: https://www.fldoe.org/sara/religious.stml). The University offers degree programs in Sanskrit and Hindu Studies (MA, DHS, and PhD), as well as a variety of Certificate programs. The California College of Ayurveda (CCA – www.ayurvedacollege.com), a California state-approved Ayurvedic educational institution with a physical campus located in Nevada City, CA 95959, is a subsidiary of Hindu University of America, and offers professional Certification Programs in Ayurveda. All programs are offered primarily online, supplemented by campus-based retreats in both Florida and California.
Position Summary
The Chief Academic Officer (CAO) serves as the senior academic leader of the Hindu University of America, overseeing the development of the University’s educational programs in alignment with its Dharmic mission, vision, and institutional learning objectives. The CAO is responsible for faculty management, student body growth, academic visioning, strategic planning, and institutional effectiveness, ensuring the delivery of spiritually grounded, intellectually rigorous, and culturally authentic educational experiences rooted in Sanatana Dharma and the knowledge systems derived from Vedic Hindu Thought.
Key Responsibilities
The Chief Academic Officer shall:
- Report to the President.
- Provide strategic leadership for all academic units, colleges, schools, departments, centers, programs, and faculty, consistent with the knowledge systems rooted in Hindu thought.
- Lead the development, revision, and expansion of academic offerings, including degree and non-degree programs, fostering the contemporary relevance of Hindu Thought and its application.
- Ensure academic excellence through curriculum design, oversight, faculty development, and program assessment.
- Develop a strategic plan for streamlining and enhancing the university’s content-delivery platforms with a view to improving student satisfaction; identify appropriate suppliers and negotiate long-term contracts with vendors for administrative and planning resources.
- Coordinate reviews of academic programs in consultation with faculty and students in preparation for accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
- Oversee the design and delivery of undergraduate and graduate programs in areas such as Hindu Studies, Sanskrit and Vedic Studies, Yoga, Vedanta, Ayurveda, Arthashastra, Natyashastra (Performing Arts), Jyotisha, Vaastu Shastra, Hindu Counseling, Chaplaincy, Media Studies, and Dharma-based Leadership.
- Promote interdisciplinary and inter-traditional learning within the broad framework of Sanatana Dharma, including comparative studies of religions, sampradayas, traditions, cultures, and civilizations.
- Develop a focus on the intersection of Hindu Dharma and Western thought, through history, from ancient times to the medieval and colonial periods, to contemporary modernity, across all programs and offerings.
- Supervise recruitment, onboarding, management, evaluation, and development of faculty and academic staff.
- Support faculty research, publication, and engagement in Dharmic scholarship.
- Foster collegiality in a scholarly community grounded in Hindu values such as Jnana (Knowledge), Dharma (Responsibility), Yoga (Transformation), Samvada (Dialogue), and Moksha (Freedom), Satya (truth), Seva (service), and Shraddha (reverence).
- Develop and implement academic policies, procedures, and standards, and establish a robust faculty governance process.
- Ensure compliance with applicable religious exemption statutes and state authorization requirements across all states.
- Prepare the institution for accreditation. Ensure adherence to all state, federal, and accrediting regulations, and develop internal reporting mechanisms, as well as HR and grievance policies and processes.
- Develop a coherent strategy to increase enrollment and tuition revenues, while maximizing outreach to potential communities, both in the US and abroad.
- Oversee student recruitment, academic advising, student success, and learning outcomes assessment.
- Support initiatives to serve second-generation Hindu youth, adult learners, working professionals, international students, as well as non-Hindu populations.
- Promote student-centered approaches, preparing them for service, leadership, and global engagement.
- Represent the academic vision of the University to internal and external stakeholders.
- Build partnerships with Hindu temples, spiritual organizations, academic institutions, and Dharmic scholars worldwide.
- Support community education and lifelong learning programs rooted in the knowledge systems based on Hindu thought.
Candidates are expected to be familiar with the university’s mission and vision (https://www.hua.edu/about/mission-statement/) and to be familiar with the specific challenges and requirements of a denominational institution.
- A doctoral degree from an accredited institution in the US or abroad, preferably in a relevant field such as Hindu Studies, Sanskrit, Religious Studies, Vedic Studies, or Hindu Philosophy. Must have earned a full professor rank with tenure.
- A distinguished record of teaching, scholarly publication, and service to the field that demonstrates a commitment to academic excellence.
- A minimum of 15 years of academic leadership and faculty experience, preferably in the United States of America.
- Deep knowledge of and commitment to Hindu Dharma.
- Proven experience in curriculum development, faculty management, and academic administration in a US educational context.
- Experience in strategic planning, assessment of program effectiveness, and steering of applications for institutional accreditation/re-accreditation.
- Familiarity with the US academic landscape, particularly with a view to the changing profile of the University enrollments.
- A knowledge of and willingness to engage with the greater Indian community in the US and abroad, the primary stakeholders of the University.
Required Documents:
- A Letter of Interest explaining your interest in the position and highlighting relevant expertise and qualifications.
- Present how you plan to advance the mission and vision of the HUA, basing your experiences and qualifications.
- A Curriculum Vitae listing education, professional experience, publications, honors, certifications, accolades, and achievements.
- Three professional references that can attest to your experience and qualifications.
- Please include your full contact information, including your email address and telephone number.
Compensation
Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Includes opportunities for professional growth, sabbatical, and engagement with global Dharmic networks.
To apply, please submit the form with all required documents. HUA is an equal-opportunity employer and will give full consideration to all applications received by February 28, 2026, and HUA continues to accept applications until the position is filled.
Please read our statement of non-discrimination at https://www.hua.edu/about/values/. The position is open until it is filled.