Assistant Professor

University of Montana: Provost: Missoula: College of Humanities and Sciences: Native American Studies

Location: Missoula, MT, United States

Open Date: Nov 12, 2024

Application link: https://apply.interfolio.com/159091

Description

The University of Montana, Department of Native American Studies (NAS), invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor to begin August, 2025.

This tenure-track assistant professor in NAS will contribute to the core curriculum in Native American and/or Indigenous Studies as well as to interdisciplinary courses in the humanities curricula. The department welcomes scholars whose teaching and research interests address socially significant issues facing Indigenous communities through interdisciplinary scholarship in the Humanities. Such disciplines or disciplinary traditions could include, but are not limited to, Philosophy, History, Gender Studies, Literature, Ethnic Studies, the use of intersectional methodologies, Indigenous epistemologies, etc. We especially welcome applications from scholars from populations historically underrepresented in the academy, and/or with extensive experience working with students or communities from diverse backgrounds. The ideal candidate will have a clearly defined program of research and a record of excellence in teaching at the college level, both face-to-face and online, who can contribute towards building an equitable, diverse, and inclusive academic environment.

The successful candidate will become a vital member of the NAS program and the Payne Family Native American Center on UM’s Mountain campus in Missoula, which also houses the Elouise Cobell Land and Culture Institute, the American Indian Governance and Policy Institute, and American Indian Student Services.

Responsibilities of the appointee will include (1) teaching five courses per academic year consistent with department needs and the applicant’s area of expertise; (2) maintaining a creative and/or research agenda in the Native American Humanities; (3) mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, with a particular emphasis on Indigenous research methodologies. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to contribute to the development of a graduate program in Native American Studies.

To help the appointee establish their research program, two courses will be released in the first year of contract, summer salary will be provided in the first year, and start-up funds will be provided.

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action: Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

Position Details

Tenurable Faculty: Department of Native American Studies

Title: Assistant Professor

Schedule: August 2025, Full time, Academic year position (10 months)

Salary: $70,000- $80,000

Benefits: Medical Insurance/Mandatory Retirement Contribution/Professional Development/Partial Tuition Waiver/Wellness

Primary Duties: Primary duties include teaching, scholarship, and service.  Teaching responsibilities may include a combination of required and elective courses.

Qualifications

• A doctorate (or international equivalent) in Native American Studies or a terminal degree in a related area (degree requirements expected to be completed by August 20, 2025).
• Any discipline in the Humanities is welcomed, provided the scholarly focus reflects a primary commitment to Indigenous Studies or Native American Studies.
• Experience developing pedagogic curriculum for as well as teaching in the field of Native American Studies.

Preferred

• A record of scholarly and/or creative activity.
• A strong commitment to teaching at the college level.
• An ability to develop student-centered learning experiences leveraging face-to-face, online, and hybrid pedagogies.
• A record of engagement with Native American reservations, communities, and organizations or Indigenous communities.
• An ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, and staff in an academic setting.

Application Instructions

Priority Application Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2024 11:59pm mountain time

Complete applications received by this date will be guaranteed consideration. To receive full consideration, candidates are required to submit all of the following materials.

• Letter of Interest addressing the qualifications
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) and summary of recent teaching evaluations
• Teaching Statement (includes the following sections):
  • Teaching philosophy
  • Statement of research and/or creative interests and proposed program.
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion statement: including examples that illustrate the candidate’s contribution to the advancement of DEI.
• Three (3) professional references - Names and contact information
• Unofficial graduate transcripts (official transcripts will be requested upon hire)

Contact for position questions: Dr. Patrick Lozar, Assistant Professor of Native American Studies and chair of the Search Committee ([email protected])