For the Rev. Alexander Levering Kern, a commitment to social justice and interfaith discourse has guided his actions and travels for 17 years: from creating the nation's largest high school anti-apartheid organization in Washington, D.C. to studying interfaith dialogue and contemporary theology in the Middle East and Honduras, and everywhere in between.So it's no surprise that Kern, who recently became the new Protestant chaplain, said it's a "real privilege and an honor" to be at Brandeis because of its tradition of activism and community service.

He began his tenure in September on an interim basis, but is now the official Protestant chaplain.

"It's a university with such a strong commitment to social justice . and in training the future leadership of civil society for a planet that needs all the help it can get," he said about Brandeis.

Kern said he received a phone call from the Rev. Walter Cuenin, Brandeis' Catholic chaplain, over the summer and was asked to apply for the position left vacant by former interim Chaplain Rev. Alice Brown-Collins, who left the University May 30.

Kern then met Cuenin and Assistant Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams, and interviewed with Jewish Chaplain Rabbi Allan Lehmann.

Brandeis Christian Fellowship Secretary Joel Todoroff '09 said Kern respects the opinions of others and has been trying to meet with several campus activist and social groups, as well as leading religious pluralism meetings, since coming to the University.

"I think he's a really nice guy," Todoroff said. "He is very generous and caring about people, and very open to other peoples' ideas."

Asked about how it feels to lead a Christian community at a predominantly Jewish university, Kern said that was one quality that attracted him to the job. He said he has learned a lot from Jewish students at Brandeis so far, and that the University is "a kind of place where religious expression is respected, valued and celebrated in a way that it's not necessarily done on all campuses."

Kern said the Protestant community at Brandeis is a "microcosm of the broader Protestant world," because it is made up of several distinct denominations, such as Lutheran, Anglican, Evangelical, Methodist and Quaker. Kern identifies with the last category.

Asked about the shortage of chapel space on campus-something Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy said on Oct. 17 is partially to blame for the absence of a current proposal for a nondenominational worship space-Kern shared his own experiences with interfaith worship at Newbury College.

He said religion was not important to Newbury's administration until the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorism attacks, when one of its students was killed in New York City. As a result, Newbury students of several religions congregated with Kern in public spaces instead of in a faith-specific chapel.

Kern said there are certain approaches to multifaith worship spaces, however, that fall short of the expectations of the groups they are supposed to serve.

"I've seen interfaith spaces created in such a way that goes to the least common denominator and doesn't please anyone, and even causes offense," he said.

Kern said he would be interested in discussing possible ways to make a shared worship space work here.

"I like the symbolism in terms of valuing and celebrating each of the world's faiths. How that's done in a way that's respectful to those faiths becomes a question."

As Protestant chaplain, Kern conducts services every Sunday at Harlan Chapel and works with various campus groups. He and Cuenin lead student groups every other Tuesday that work with a South Boston homeless community. Kern said he hopes to develop similar programs with the other chaplains.

Kern also leads the Faith Youth Institute at Andover Newton Theological School in Newton-the nation's oldest graduate seminary-and was the Interfaith College Chaplain and a guest lecturer at Newbury College in Brookline from 2001 to 2002.