Bentley University

Position Title/Short Description

Full Text of JOE Listing:

Bentley University invites applications for the Bartlett Chair of Free Enterprise, an endowed position at the Associate or Full Professor level, to begin in Fall 2027.

Funded by a generous gift from Bruce and Patricia Bartlett, the Bartlett Chair of Free Enterprise affirms Bentley's commitment to fostering free expression, intellectual pluralism, and the constructive exchange of ideas as central to a liberal education. Free Enterprise encompasses the institutions and conditions that enable individuals and organizations to pursue entrepreneurial ideas, enter and compete in markets, and create economic and societal value, while examining the legal, ethical, technological, and regulatory frameworks necessary to ensure fair competition and meaningful participation.

This position is part of a broader Bartlett initiative that also includes a companion Chair of Free Speech. The two chairs will work together to build programming, events, and curricular initiatives under the Bartlett banner that promote inquiry, debate, and engagement across disciplines.

The Bartlett Chair of Free Enterprise carries a 1-1 teaching load, providing substantial support for research, public engagement, and leadership of the Bartlett initiative. This support includes summer salary, a chair stipend, and a generous research and travel account.

Qualifications:

A Ph.D. in a related business, economics, technology, law or policy related field is required.


The successful candidate will demonstrate:

A distinguished record of research, teaching, and public engagement appropriate to appointment at the Associate or Full Professor level.

An active and high-quality research agenda that reflects a robust commitment to the principles of free enterprise.

Strength in interdisciplinary teaching and dialogue across fields.

We especially welcome candidates whose work engages some of the following potential areas of focus:

Entrepreneurship, new venture creation, and barriers to market entry.

Historical, ethical, and legal considerations in free enterprise and market/capitalist economies.

Competition, market concentration, and antitrust.

Regulation and its effects on innovation and business formation.

The role of digital technologies, such as A.I., in shaping market participation, innovation, competition, and entrepreneurial opportunity.


Candidates with experience in public-facing scholarship, civic dialogue, media engagement, or leading campus and community conversations are particularly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Teaching:

Teach one course per semester, reflecting a 1-1 teaching load.

Offer undergraduate courses on free enterprise, free markets, and related topics.

Develop a Free Enterprise course within the Falcon Discovery Seminar (first-year program).

Foster rigorous, inclusive, and intellectually open classroom environments in which students can engage constructively with competing ideas and perspectives.


Scholarship:

Maintain an active and visible research agenda related to free enterprise, or closely connected areas of inquiry.

Publish in scholarly journals and public-facing venues.

Present research and ideas at national and international conferences, public forums, and professional gatherings.

Contribute to public conversations about free enterprise through writing, speaking, media engagement, or related activities.

Develop and sustain relationships with relevant scholarly, professional, and civic organizations (e.g., American Enterprise Institute, Heritage Foundation, or Cato Institute).


Campus Engagement and the Bartlett Initiative:

Collaborate closely with the Bartlett Chair of Free Speech on joint programming, including speaker series, public events, and curricular initiatives.

Help shape and advance a compelling long-term vision for the Bartlett initiative.

Lead campus conversations on the role of free enterprise and its place in society.

Working with the Dean of Arts & Sciences and the Dean of Business, the Bartlett Chairs will jointly shape a visible and intellectually vibrant set of initiatives that connect free speech and free enterprise as foundations of liberal education.


Bentley is committed to the teacher-scholar model, where teaching, scholarship, service, and community engagement are valued. Bentley values intellectual diversity alongside diversity of background and experience and seeks faculty who can contribute to a culture of open inquiry, free expression, mutual respect, and constructive engagement across differences in viewpoint.

Bentley University, located in suburban Boston, is an AACSB and NECHE accredited institution that enrolls approximately 5,200 students at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Bentley is ranked at or near the top in several categories by US News & World Report, including Best Regional Universities North and Most Innovative Schools, with Bloomberg ranking Bentley in the top 20 undergraduate business programs. Bentley’s high graduation and retention rates and top-ranked Pulsifer Career Center reflects a commitment to student success and inclusiveness. With a strong faculty of teacher-scholars, Bentley strives to be a “Force for Good” through the integration of business with the arts and sciences, and a strong emphasis on ethics and social responsibility. Providing a stimulating academic community for faculty, staff, and students, Bentley supports its faculty as they pursue cutting-edge research and bring their expertise and real world understanding into the classroom.

Application Deadline: For full consideration, applications should be submitted by November 1, 2026. Candidate reviews will continue until the position is filled.

Bentley University requires reference checks and may conduct other pre-employment screening.

Diversity Statement

Bentley University strives to create a campus community that welcomes the exchange of ideas and fosters a culture that values differences and views them as a strength in our community.

Bentley University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, building strength through diversity. The University is committed to building a community of talented students, faculty and staff who reflect the diversity of global business. We strongly encourage applications from persons from underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities, covered veterans and those with diverse experiences and backgrounds.