"Assistant Professor of Native American & Indigenous Studies (Tenure-track)"

Position Summary:

The Assistant Professor will teach full-time in the Department of Native American & Indigenous Studies and will teach existing courses within the Liberal Art Core (LAC) and develop additional courses for the LAC alongside upper-division courses in their area of specialization. Candidates should demonstrate interdisciplinary training, commitment to teaching and researching in NAIS and engagement with Indigenous community-centered and/or decolonial research methodologies.

Job Description:

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Teach NAIS courses within the Liberal Arts Core and develop departmental elective courses in the candidate's research specialization.
• Teaching load will be 4/3 (four courses in the fall and three courses in spring semesters).
• Engage in service to the department and College.
• Continue scholarly or creative research.
• Maintains knowledge and awareness of digital accessibility including the American with Disabilities Act and Section 508.
• Produces and remediates digitally accessible materials in accordance with FLC standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education, Specialized Skills and Experience

• A doctoral degree in Native American & Indigenous Studies, American Indian Studies, Ethnic Studies, or other related field with a sustained focus on Indigenous studies, completed by the start of employment.
• Demonstrated teaching experience in a college setting, including teaching assistantships.

Preferred Education, Specialized Skills and Experience:

• Experience with community-engaged or de-colonial research methodologies.
• Teaching underrepresented, first-generation, and/or marginalized students.

Reports To / Supervisory Responsibility:

Assistant Professor will report to the Chair of the Department of Native American & Indigenous Studies.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that an employee can expect while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phone, and printers, light traffic).
• Ability to work in a confined area.
• Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period of time.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard reach, stoop kneel to install computer equipment
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work
• Light to moderate lifting is required

Travel

Less than 5% is expected for this position.

FLSA Status/ Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Full Time
• Full Year / 9 Month Position.
• Teach four scheduled courses in the fall and three scheduled courses in the spring semester.

Salary

The salary is $62,500, and a comprehensive benefits package

Application Process

A complete application packet includes:

• Cover letter addressing interest and qualifications for the position
• Curriculum Vitae
• Names and contact information for three current, professional references

Application Deadline

Application materials received by 11:59 p.m. on January 11, 2026, will receive full consideration.

The successful candidate will be required to submit official transcripts and pass a background check.

About Fort Lewis College:

On a sage-brushed mesa overlooking downtown Durango and the La Plata Mountains, Fort Lewis College is Southwest Colorado’s premier public undergraduate research institution. With more than half of the 3,300 students identifying as people of color, FLC’s academic programming and campus life thrive on nurturing safe, diverse spaces for intellectual exploration and helping people achieve their career goals. A Native American-serving, Non-Tribal Institution, FLC is committed to promoting economic development in neighboring tribal communities and connecting students with the education they need to be the change in the world they want to see. Degree programs span the arts, business, education, health sciences, humanities, and social and natural sciences. Coursework builds on the natural, cultural, and historical resources found around the Four Corners region. Students work closely with faculty on research projects with real-world implications. Like the mountain town it resides in, FLC promotes a culture of work-life balance for students, faculty, and staff. Skyhawks enjoy unparalleled access to a healthy outdoor lifestyle thanks to 300 days of sunshine a year and more than 300 miles of hiking and biking trails in and around Durango