Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist Case Western Reserve University in its search for Inamori Professor in Ethics and Director of the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence. 

For best consideration, please apply by November 16, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and screening and interviews may begin immediately. This position may be filled before the best consideration date.

Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) is seeking a distinguished scholar to become the next Inamori Professor in Ethics and Director of the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence (Inamori Center). We welcome exceptional candidates across all disciplines, with particular interest in research focused on the ethics of artificial intelligence, technology, and neuroscience, that engages the humanities, engineering and/or medicine. The position will include a faculty appointment in one of the CWRU academic departments, at the rank of full professor with tenure.

For an accomplished scholar energized by interdisciplinary engagement, this is a distinctive opportunity to shape the next chapter of the Inamori Center, which for 20 years has served as the interdisciplinary hub for ethics at CWRU, advancing a university-wide mission in ethics with global reach.

As Inamori Professor in Ethics and Director of the Inamori Center, the successful candidate will have latitude to develop and advance a compelling strategic vision for the Center and expand its impact across CWRU and beyond. The Director role provides a meaningful platform to build and strengthen interdisciplinary engagement across the University, bringing people and ideas together, developing new initiatives and partnerships, and advancing scholarship, teaching, and dialogue around consequential ethical questions, while maintaining scholarly engagement.

CWRU’s strengths in engineering and medicine are complemented by growing investment at the intersection of the humanities and emerging technologies. A $125 million gift from the Mandel Foundation in 2026 includes support for a new humanities building and funding for integrating humanities with STEM approaches, while the University’s new $300 million Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building brings together researchers across Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This environment creates fertile ground for the Director to forge connections across artificial intelligence, technology, engineering, medicine, neuroscience, the humanities, and other fields, engaging scholars, students, and external partners around some of the most consequential ethical questions facing society.

The Director will also provide leadership for the Inamori Ethics Prize, the Center’s prestigious international award recognizing individuals whose ethical leadership has significantly improved the condition of humankind. Previous recipients include 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and LeVar Burton, reflecting the breadth and stature of the leaders recognized by the Prize.

The Inamori Professor and Director will hold a tenured faculty appointment at the full professor level in the academic department and school most appropriate to the successful candidate’s discipline, with approximately 75% of the role dedicated to leadership of the Center.

This is an on-campus appointment in Cleveland, Ohio, reporting to the Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary and International Initiatives. 

About the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence

Established in 2006 through a transformational gift from the Inamori Foundation, the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence advances the study and practice of ethics at Case Western Reserve University and beyond. The Center works across academic disciplines and with local and global partners to promote ethical leadership and address complex ethical questions through scholarship, education, student experiences, and public dialogue.

In addition to the Inamori Ethics Prize, the Center supports faculty scholarship, curricular and co-curricular initiatives, student mentorship, service-learning opportunities, and public programming.

Learn more about the Inamori Center and view the complete list of Inamori Ethics Prize recipients.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 
The Inamori Professor and Director will provide intellectual, strategic, and administrative leadership for the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence. In addition to maintaining an active scholarly agenda appropriate to a tenured full professor at Case Western Reserve University, the Inamori Professor and Director will be expected to:

• Establish and articulate a compelling vision for the Center’s next chapter and translate that vision into programs, partnerships, and initiatives with meaningful impact.
• Advance the Center as an interdisciplinary hub for ethical inquiry, connecting scholars and practitioners across fields and schools, and providing ethics support for complex research projects that include a significant ethical dimension.
• Develop programming that engages consequential ethical questions emerging from areas such as artificial intelligence, technology, engineering, medicine, neuroscience, the humanities, and other disciplines.
• Provide leadership for the Inamori Ethics Prize and identify opportunities to increase its visibility, reach, and impact.
• Provide effective administrative and operational leadership for the Center, including stewardship of its approximately $400,000 annual budget.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the Center and strengthen its national and international profile.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will bring:

• A record of scholarship and academic achievement appropriate for appointment at the rank of full professor with tenure at Case Western Reserve University.
• International recognition as a scholar and thought leader in their field.
• An outstanding record of excellence in research, teaching, and mentorship.
• A scholarly focus in ethics or demonstrated integration of ethical inquiry into their scholarship and teaching.
• A strong record of interdisciplinary engagement and collaboration.
• Demonstrated leadership experience within an academic or research environment.
• The ability to develop and advance a compelling strategic vision for the Inamori Center.

About Case Western Reserve University

As the fastest-growing research university in the United States, Case Western Reserve University is a force in career-defining education and life-changing research. Across our campus, more than 12,000 students from around the world converge to seek knowledge, find solutions and accelerate their impact. CWRU's programs span a wide range of fields, but the spaces of their convergence is where we thrive: where law meets management, engineering meets entrepreneurship, arts meets science, and medicine, nursing, dentistry and social work unite to improve human health. And with our location in Cleveland, Ohio—a hub of cultural, business and healthcare activity—our students gain unparalleled access to academic, research, clinical and entrepreneurial opportunities that prepare them to join our network of more than 128,000 alumni worldwide. 

Research is central to the University’s academic enterprise, with more than $600 million in research conducted annually. CWRU’s research reach extends across the University and throughout the surrounding region, where CWRU has longstanding connections with major medical and research institutions, including Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth, and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. The University’s breadth across disciplines and its connections throughout the region support collaboration that crosses traditional academic and institutional boundaries.

The University has recently been recognized among TIME’s Top 25 U.S. universities and Forbes’ 2026 “New Ivies” and is the #1 fastest-growing research university in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). In 2026, the university celebrates its bicentennial and rich history as an impactful and influential institution of education and research.

Living in Cleveland

Located in University Circle, CWRU sits at the center of one of the country's notable arts, cultural, educational, and medical districts. The area is home to the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Botanical Garden, and Severance Music Center, home of The Cleveland Orchestra, along with restaurants, shops, and other cultural destinations. Cleveland's professional sports teams and longstanding sports culture add another dimension to the city's year-round offerings.

The region also provides extensive access to parks and outdoor recreation. Cleveland Metroparks encompasses more than 25,000 acres across 18 reservations, with more than 325 miles of trails, golf courses, nature centers, and lakefront parks. Nearby Cuyahoga Valley National Park spans approximately 33,000 acres between Cleveland and Akron, offering hiking and biking trails, waterfalls, and access to the Cuyahoga River. Lake Erie provides additional opportunities for beaches, boating, water sports, and other outdoor activities.

Cleveland also remains notably affordable compared with many major metropolitan areas. As of August 2026, the median home sale price in Cleveland was approximately $150,000, 63% below the national average.

To Apply 

For best consideration, please apply by November 16, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and screening and interviews may begin immediately. This position may be filled before the best consideration date.

Please apply through the application link and do not email applications. 

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally cover letters should not exceed two pages. All applications are treated confidentially.

Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are also treated confidentially.

Inquiries and questions: Please send to CWRUEthics@acesrch.com.
Nominations and referrals: Please send the nominee’s name, title, and contact information if available to nominations@acesrch.com.

The salary range for this position is $150,000 to $200,000. Compensation may be adjusted for an exceptionally qualified candidate, and the final salary will be commensurate with the selected individual’s experience, scholarly accomplishments, and leadership record.

Case Western Reserve University considers a range of factors when extending an offer, including (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the role, relevant experience, education and training, key skills, internal peer equity, and market and organizational considerations.

University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare coverage, retirement plans, tuition assistance for employees and eligible family members, and generous paid time off. Additional information about benefits is available here. 

Institutional Information
Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer.  All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Reasonable Accommodations
Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.