1855 Ast/Asc/Full Professor-Tenure System

About the role

The College of Arts and Letters seeks a tenure-track scholar whose research and teaching centers Indigenous research methodologies and Native American and Indigenous knowledge systems, with particular attention to environmental stewardship and Indigenous relationships with land, water, and natural resources. The position is housed in the College of Arts and Letters and is intended for a scholar whose primary disciplinary orientation is grounded in the Arts and/or Humanities, broadly understood, though cross‑disciplinary work is welcome. Areas of interest include Indigenous environmental knowledge, land‑ and water‑based practices, environmental humanities, Indigenous approaches to sustainability, climate and environmental justice, natural‑resource stewardship, food sovereignty, and the cultural and ethical dimensions of human‑more‑than‑human relationships. The successful candidate will advance the American Indian and Indigenous Studies (AIIS) Program, contribute to its growth and visibility, contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching in Indigenous Studies, develop courses in their area of expertise, mentor students, and support the intellectual and institutional development of AIIS. The appointment is anticipated to begin August 16, 2027 and is open to Assistant, Associate, and Full Professors. The position is based in East Lansing and is a union role represented by the Union of Tenure System Faculty (UTSF), with the university negotiating its first collective bargaining agreement. This hire is part of the 1855 Professorship initiative, which aims to advance inclusive excellence by recruiting scholars whose work addresses systemic barriers or inequities, reflecting MSU’s land‑grant heritage and commitment to impactful research, outreach, and instruction for historically underrepresented communities.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching in Indigenous Studies and related programs
• Develop courses in the candidate’s area of expertise
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students
• Advance and support the growth and visibility of the American Indian and Indigenous Studies (AIIS) Program
• Contribute to the intellectual and institutional development of AIIS
• Engage in outreach and community‑engaged scholarship that centers Indigenous knowledge
• Participate in interdisciplinary teaching, research, creative activity, and public engagement

Requirements

• Ph.D. or MFA in American Indian Studies, Indigenous Studies, or a related discipline by the time of appointment
• A demonstrated record of, or clear potential for, research and publication/creative activity in the primary disciplinary field
• Demonstrated or potential excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students
• Experience with Indigenous research methodologies, community‑engaged scholarship, land‑ or place‑based research, or other approaches that center Indigenous knowledge and intellectual sovereignty