Department Chair – Native American Studies

The property
Native American Studies at the University of Oklahoma—a dynamic and growing academic department—is pleased to announce that we are seeking applications for Department Chair, a faculty position at the rank of Associate or Full.
 

Description

The department seeks a visionary leader to work collaboratively with the faculty, students, and staff in NAS (Native American Studies) as well as with affiliated units across campus and campus leadership. The Department Chair will articulate a long-term vision and goals, leverage the many, outstanding resources at OU and in the state. This individual will guide the department’s significant community outreach and educational activities designed to promote respect for the distinctive histories and cultures of Native Nations as well as the recognition of and respect for their continued sovereignty.
 
The Department Chair works closely with core faculty and the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences leadership and is expected to 1) articulate a long-term vision for the department and engage in strategic planning; 2) oversee basic departmental activities including curriculum, student recruitment, and faculty procedures; 3) serve as a liaison with the university administration and associated departments; 4) interact with the department’s constituencies and articulate for them our vision and educational mission. The teaching load for this position is 1/1 (one course each semester) and includes the ability to create and teach specialized upper-division courses and graduate seminars in addition to core requirements.
 

Qualifications

We seek a scholar holding a Ph.D. in Native American and Indigenous Studies or a relevant field. In addition, the successful candidate will have: (1) a strong record of research/creative activity productivity; (2) commitment to student mentoring; (3) excellence in graduate and undergraduate teaching and learning; and (4) evidence of applied expertise through collaborative community engagement with Native Nations and Native American communities.
 

Native American Studies at The University of Oklahoma

NAS places tribal sovereignty, community, and futurity at the center of academic study and prioritizes meaningful engagement with and service to Native Nations and communities. Our curriculum is anchored by our commitment to Indigenous methodologies, ways of knowing, and relational accountability. NAS offers an undergraduate minor, B.A., and M.A. Our curriculum is organized around core courses in critical Indigenous theory and research methods and includes four areas of emphasis: (1) Tribal Governance and Policy; (2) Cultural Knowledges and Language; (3) Indigenous Media and Arts; and (4) Indigenous Community Planning. Our curriculum is designed to be responsive to the needs of Native Nations and communities as they articulate them, particularly the 39 sovereigns in Oklahoma.
 
NAS at OU has a strong foundation from which to grow. In the past ten years, NAS has moved from a program to a fully-fledged department with six tenured/tenure-track faculty and numerous affiliated faculty. We now offer four Indigenous languages, a Tribal Service-Learning course, and Internship program. Notably, NAS recently became home to the Andrew Mellon Impact Fellowship program, which provides unique opportunities for students and post-doctoral fellows. We have established and renovated dedicated faculty offices, classrooms, and event space, providing a home for Native faculty and students, and are at work on a physical building study.
 

OU launches Native Nations Center & Native Nations Press

As part of OU’s commitment to Indigenous peoples and their substantial presence, the University established the Native Nations Center for community engagement and research and created the office for the Associate Vice President for Tribal Affairs. OU Press has launched a secondary imprint, the Native Nations Press, in the past year. Critical support for students is provided by American Indian Programs & Services in the Office of Student Life, and faculty find campus community through the Indigenous Circle Faculty/Staff Resource Group. OU is also home to unparalleled Native American museums, collections, and archives, including the Western History Collection, the Fred Jones Museum of Art, and the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History. Signature campus events include the Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair, the Native Crossroads Film Festival, Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration, and the Spring Powwow, now in its 107th year.
 

Application Instructions

To apply for Department Chair of the Native American Studies department at the University of Oklahoma, all materials (cover letter, vitae, and name and contact information of three potential references) should be submitted online at http://apply.interfolio.com/118373. We will begin reviewing applications on February 10, 2023. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Direct inquiries to Dr. Amanda Cobb-Greetham, Search Committee Chair at acobb@ou.edu. The position will begin in August of 2023.
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Listing Location

Norman, OK, USA

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The NAISA logo was designed by Jonathan Thunder, a Red Lake Ojibwe painter and digital artist from Minnesota. NAISA members inspired by canoe traditions among their own people sent examples to Thunder, who designed the logo with advice from the NAISA Council. The color scheme was chosen to signify those Indigenous peoples who are more land-based and do not have canoe traditions.