Associate Professor or Professor - Environmental Humanities (Native American & Indigenous Studies)

Syracuse University Environmental Humanities-Indigenous Studies

The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University is seeking applications for an open rank faculty position in the field of Environmental Humanities. This This recruitment is part of an ambitious Invest Syracuse Cluster Hire Initiative in Energy and the Environment. This position will build on existing strengths in environmental and Indigenous studies and will participate in an organized research cluster that spans departments in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Faculty in this cluster represent an interdisciplinary team of scholars working to assess climate change effects on global ecosystems and societies, how to mitigate those impacts, and how communities and environmental networks adapt to cumulative planetary-scale stresses. This group will conduct research and training at the interface of multiple fields, preparing the next generation of scientists, policymakers, managers and communicators to sustain and manage natural resources on a rapidly changing planet.

The successful applicant will have a Ph.D. in the humanities, social sciences or interdisciplinary studies related to Indigenous studies and the environment. The candidate will have a strong multi-disciplinary background and the demonstrated potential to lead in their field and attract competitively awarded research funding. Successful candidates should have interest in working collaboratively across disciplines on global environmental issues. Teaching and research in the Native American and Indigenous Studies program would allow both interdepartmental collaboration and program development. Syracuse University invites applications from individuals with a strong record of scholarship in fields that pertain to areas of Indigenous Environmental studies. These may include, but are not limited to, Environmental Humanities, Traditional Indigenous Conceptions of the Environment, Natural Resource Stewardship, Resource Development and Land Restoration with Indigenous Nations/communities, Indigenous Knowledge of Foods, Plants and Medicines with consideration for key issues such as water and climate change, and Environmental Law and Policy, Jurisdiction and Governance regarding Indigenous Sovereignty. Candidates must have a demonstrated ability in multi- or interdisciplinary, cross-cultural research, as well as the capacity to develop productive collaborations with colleagues across traditional university disciplines and the larger Indigenous Studies academic community. The ideal candidate should also have the ability to collaborate with colleagues outside of academia in Indigenous communities, governments, NGOs and private sector organizations.  Syracuse University faculty and students have maintained close collaborative relationships with both the SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry and with the Onondaga Nation, one of eight federally recognized Indian Nations in New York State.

The Native American and Indigenous Studies Program at Syracuse is an interdisciplinary program composed of fourteen affiliated faculty members across several departments. We welcome candidates who can contribute to an inclusive environment, bring new perspectives on mentoring students from diverse backgrounds, implement novel approaches to field research, and value collegiality and collaboration. Applicants will teach a large introductory course in Indigenous Environmental Issues, as well as developing new more specialized courses in that field at the undergraduate and graduate levels. 

Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statements of research and teaching interests, and a one-page statement describing how you would contribute to the University’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community, copies of three relevant publications, and contact information for three referees to https://www.sujobopps.com/postings/86004 , preferably by March 31, 2021. The search will remain open until the position is filled. Queries may be addressed to the Search Chair, Prof. Jeffrey Karson, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Syracuse University (jakarson@syr.edu).

Syracuse University is interested in candidates who have the communication skills and cross-cultural abilities to maximize their effectiveness with diverse groups of colleagues, students, and community members. Women, members of traditionally underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities, and military veterans are encouraged to apply. Syracuse University is an equal opportunity employer, as well as a federal contractor required to take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.