Assistant or Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies

October 13, 2021

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BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY invites applications for the position of:

Assistant or Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies

IFO POSTING

Opening Date: October 11, 2021

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Initial review of applications will begin on Wednesday, November 10th, so applications should be submitted by that time for guaranteed consideration.

Appointment Date: August 16, 2022

Salary: Depends on Qualifications

Full-time Tenure Track Probationary

BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY (BSU) invites qualified applicants to join our team as an Assistant or Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies. BSU’s vision is to educate people to lead inspired lives. To accomplish BSU’s vision, the University prioritizes creating a culture in which diversity is embraced and all people are safe, welcome, and validated. BSU also prioritizes increasing engagement with Indigenous communities to become a destination university.

BSU is located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota and occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. BSU balances rigorous academia with the opportunity to enjoy a fun, robust, outdoor culture. The proximity to the lake and the surrounding north woods allows easy access to an assortment of recreation. Major campus facilities are connected by all-season underground passages for safe and warm travel during the cold, winter months.

Enrolling more than 5,100 students, BSU offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. BSU’s Shared Fundamental Values include civic engagement and leadership, international and multicultural understanding, belief in the power of the liberal arts, and environmental stewardship.

The Indigenous Studies program and all of its course offerings are open to all students. No matter what one’s background is, there is something for every academic interest. As an interdisciplinary program, linkages are made across many disciplines. At its heart, it embraces Indigenous knowledge, and using that as a lens, examines all facets of Indigenous Peoples worldviews, thoughts, and realities.

The Indigenous Studies major and minor is designed to provide students with critical thinking skills to better navigate the complex world around us. The foundations for the program can be found in Indigenous ways of knowing and thinking as a way of examining areas of study relating to culture, history, sovereignty, tribal government, education, philosophy and the environment to name but a few. Being located in Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) lands and waters, the course of study is centered from an Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) perspective, with ascending circles encompassing the Indian Nations of what is called the United States, the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis of Canada, and Indigenous Peoples throughout Central and South America and the Pacific. We are a diverse faculty and we are fully committed to equity and inclusiveness in our programs and classrooms.

Responsibilities of the Assistant or Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies include:

Teaching a variety of courses, including survey courses in Indigenous Studies, tribal government, culture, and history.
Designing and delivering courses for on-campus and online delivery.
Working with Indigenous Studies faculty and serve on the Indigenous Advisory Council to the President.
Contributing to scholarship within the discipline, serving the University and community, and other associated faculty duties.
Advising and supporting students’ academic progress.
Contributing to a collegial and supportive environment that advances the goals of the department, including curriculum development, assessment, and other departmental governance activities. Contributing to interdisciplinary teaching and involvement in activities that support BSU’s Shared Fundamental Values.
Assisting with programmatic accreditation.
Assisting with program development.
Working cooperatively with a team of dynamic indigenous scholars and community members.
Minimum qualifications for this position include:
A Ph. D. in the fields of Humanities or Social Sciences with a strong focus/specialization in Indigenous Studies from an accredited institution by time of hire.
Scholarly potential.
Deep knowledge of and connection to North American indigenous communities.
Familiarity with and embrace of indigenous pedagogy.
Ability to teach Indigenous Studies classes with a regional focus on the Ojibwe and other Great Lakes tribes.
Demonstrated commitment to quality teaching.
Skills/ability to design and deliver online courses.

Preferred qualifications include:

Experience with teaching in higher education (college, university).
Knowledge of and experience with diverse cultures and populations.
Knowledge and/or experience of assessment.

To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your application and/or resume clearly demonstrate fulfillment of these minimum and preferred qualifications. Other Considerations:

All applicants must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of an offer of employment.
Official transcript(s) must be provided to Human Resources upon hire.
Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement for the Inter Faculty Organization (IFO) which can be found at https://www.ifo.org/.
In accordance with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MinnState) Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, faculty and staff driving on college/university business, who use a rental or state vehicle, shall be required to complete a vehicle Use Agreement form and conform to MinnState's vehicle use criteria and consent to a motor vehicle records check.BSU and NTC are tobacco free workplaces (see policy).

APPLY ONLINE: https://bemidjistate.peopleadmin.com/

A complete application must include the following:

Cover letter, which addresses the required qualifications and your specific interest in working at BSU
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Unofficial transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework
Statement of teaching philosophy.
Evidence of teaching effectiveness (student evaluations, peer class observations, etc.)
Contact information for three (3) professional references.

Inquiries:

Ana M. López-Aguilera, Ph.D.

Department Chair, Languages and Indigenous Studies E-mail: analopezaguilera@bemidjistate.edu

If you have general questions about this posting or submitting an application, contact Teresa Hanson at teresa.hanson@bemidjistate.edu

UNIVERSITY / COMMUNITY WHY BEMIDJI:

Bemidji State University is nestled among the pines along the shores of Lake Bemidji, just blocks from a thriving downtown community. In this Northwoods setting, students, staff, and faculty have a variety of activities at their fingertips. Possessing all the charm and character of a college town, Bemidji remains a tight- knit community of good neighbors and engaged citizens who always come out to cheer for the Beavers. While the city of Bemidji — named after the Ojibwe Chief Shaynowishkung (nicknamed Bemidji) — is home to a diverse population of more than 15,000 people, it serves a regional population of more than 100,000.

Located between three American Indian reservations – Leech Lake, Red Lake and White Earth, students at Bemidji State University have the opportunity to experience a dynamic local culture and history. Bemidji also sits at the center of the legends of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. The famous statues of Paul and Babe greet students as they drive in from the south along Lake Bemidji.

Though quaint and historic, the city offers the urban conveniences upon which college students rely. Bemidji State is conveniently located minutes away from affordable restaurants, cozy coffee shops, grocery stores, city parks and more. Small, locally owned shops and art sculptures line the streets of downtown Bemidji, while national chains can be found in and around the Bemidji area, including an uptown selection of department stores and restaurants.

The thriving downtown community presents ample opportunities for engagement off-campus. Among other things, there are fine-dining restaurants, cafes, and a natural foods co-op in downtown Bemidji. The historic Paul Bunyan Playhouse has a calendar of classic shows; restaurants and lounges offer weekly live music performances; the First Friday Art Walk provides a tour of new monthly art exhibits; and annual events such as the Loop the Lake Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Blue Ox Marathon, Bemidji Winterfest, and The Minnesota Finlandia bring the community together.

For those who love the outdoors, there are wooded, multi-use trail systems within minutes of campus and community parks with walking trails, playgrounds and a skate park. Lake Bemidji State Park and its miles of navigable trails is located directly across the lake from BSU, and the Buena Vista Ski Area — just 12 miles north of campus — offers downhill skiing and BSU-sponsored student transportation in the winter months. Further, the Mississippi River Headwaters is a mere 45 minutes from Bemidji.

For further information, visit our website at: http://www.bemidjistate.edu

Review a "special report on how this former lumber town has rebuilt itself as a high-speed, regional center of enterprise" at Bemidji 2.0 Other Resources:

Visit Bemidji – https://www.visitbemidji.com/

218 Relocate / Greater Bemidji – https://www.218relocate.com/

Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce – https://www.bemidji.org/

Explore Minnesota – https://www.exploreminnesota.com/article/top-things-to-do-bemidji

Bemidji State University is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Consumers with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.