Working/Functional Title

1855 Prof Indigenous Environmental Stewardship

Position Summary

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 will be 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; however, we welcome scholars working across disciplinary boundaries. Areas of interest may 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 relationships between humans and the more-than-human world.

The successful candidate will advance the American Indian and Indigenous Studies (AIIS) Program and contribute to its continued growth and visibility within the College and across the university. Because AIIS is an interdisciplinary program, placement in an appropriate department will proceed based on the successful candidate’s experience and disciplinary background once identified. The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching in Indigenous Studies and related programs, develop courses in their area of expertise, mentor students, and contribute to the intellectual and institutional development of AIIS. This position is anticipated to start on August 16, 2027 and is open to Assistant, Associate, and Full Professors.

1855 Professorship
The Office of the Provost is committed to faculty, staff and student success by Advancing Inclusive Excellence at MSU, which aligns with the goals of the MSU 2030 Strategic Plan. Among other initiatives to advance inclusive excellence at MSU, 1855 Professorships were created to attract faculty members who will help advance our inclusive excellence objectives. Faculty hired through this thematic hiring initiative will be scholars whose teaching, research, creative activities, outreach, engagement, or leadership addresses systemic barriers or inequities.

Michigan State University was founded in 1855 which gives meaning to the 1855 professor initiative. The 1855 Professorship is an Office of the Provost initiative that provides an opportunity for MSU, as a founding land-grant university, to reimagine itself particularly around impacts it's had on populations in Michigan and beyond, with respect to sub-populations that have traditionally been underserved. Overall, the 1855 professors will be engaged in research, outreach, and instruction that is highly impactful on communities who have been historically underrepresented. We know that the problems that marginalized communities face are complex, multilayered, and intangible. Therefore, the science/research that is applied to address those issues should stem from more than one area. The 1855 hiring process emphasizes cross-department, cross-college, interdisciplinary, and multi-disciplinary research/teaching/outreach to address compounded, multi-generational issues.

This position will be required to work in East Lansing.

Please note that this is a union position represented by the Union of Tenure System Faculty (UTSF), established in 2025. The university is working with the union to establish its first collective bargaining agreement.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Terminal -American Indian Studies, Indigenous Studies, or a related discipline by the time of appointment

Minimum 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 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;
• Commitment to ethically grounded, reciprocal engagement with Indigenous communities.

Desired Qualifications

• Research expertise in Great Lakes Native American communities, with particular preference for knowledge of Anishinaabe peoples, traditions, languages, knowledge systems, cultural practices, or contemporary community priorities.
• Experience developing reciprocal partnerships with Tribal Nations, Indigenous communities, or community organizations.
• Experience contributing to interdisciplinary teaching, research, creative activity, and public engagement.
• Experience developing experiential or community-engaged learning opportunities for students.

Required Application Materials

• Current curriculum vitae;
• Cover Letter: a no more than 3-page letter expressing interest in the position and describing qualifications and experience;
• Research Statement: a 1–2-page research statement describing the candidate’s prior, current, and future-looking research and/or creative activity. In the statement, please address commitment to, or experience with, ethically grounded, reciprocal engagement with Indigenous communities;
• Teaching Statement: A1–2-page statement outlining your teaching experience and classroom approach;
• Names of three references and their contact information.

Please note: three letters of reference will be requested at the time candidates advance to the second round of interviews and will be asked only of those candidates.

Special Instructions

Review of applications will begin November 16, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Applications must be submitted electronically to the Michigan State University Human Resources website http://careers.msu.edu. Posting number 1173907.

For more information, contact Kristin Arola, Chair of the Search Committee at arola@msu.edu.

Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.

Review of Applications Begins On

11/16/2026

Website

cal.msu.edu

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.