"Olga J. and G. Roland Denison Visiting Professorship of Native American Studies"

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Central Michigan University invites nominees and applications for the Olga J. and G. Roland Denison Visiting Professorship of Native American Studies. The Denison visiting professor will be a noted scholar, artist or practitioner who wishes to teach and serve the community. The visiting professor is supported by a generous gift from the Denison family created to increase understanding of the historical experiences, cultural traditions and innovations, and political status of Indigenous peoples in the United States and Canada. The Denison Visiting Professorship of Native American Studies also helps build upon the relationship between the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, CMU, and the Mount Pleasant community.

The position requires the candidate to teach or co-teach one semester-long course (as negotiated by the college and the co-instructor) each semester (2 per year). Additionally, the professor is expected to formally and informally support and interact with students whose academic and career pathways intersect in their areas of expertise. The Denison professor will develop a minimum of two public-facing events a year (one in the fall and one in the spring) in cooperation with the Office of Indigenous Affairs, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS), and/or other community partners. The Denison professor will also hold community hours as needed with Native American and Indigenous Student Organization (NAISO) and the Office of Indigenous Affairs and will serve as an indigenization consultant to CLASS students, faculty, and staff as needed. The teaching load has been structured to provide the Denison professor with the time needed to engage fully in these equally important aspects of their role.

With an expected residency of 6-8 weeks per semester at CMU, the position affords significant flexibility to pursue community partnerships and scholarly or creative endeavors that enhance their work at the university.

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated excellence in Native American and Indigenous Studies, evidenced through academic scholarship and/or Indigenous ways of knowing and teaching.
• A strong record of engagement with Indigenous communities, including work that centers Indigenous ways of knowing, thinking, and being.
• Proven ability to work effectively with undergraduate students from a wide variety of backgrounds and academic disciplines.
• Documented experience working with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working at the intersection of academic and Indigenous ways of knowing, manifested in community engagement, artistic practice, or other non-written creative forms.
• Experience with existing programs and partnerships at CMU.
• Experience working with tribal colleges and high schools.
• Ability to guide students from a range of disciplines toward appropriate external mentors and partnerships.
• An entrepreneurial spirit that can guide programs beyond the normal confines of traditional academia.

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMUs mission, vision, and leadership standards.

For more information, please visit the webpage for the Olga J. and G. Roland Denison Visiting Professorship of Native American Studies, or the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences website.