Indigenous Education Community Liaison

Position Overview

The College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota invites applications for a full-time twelve-month Indigenous Education Community Liaison position. Candidates will serve as a liaison between the College and American Indian communities, organizations, faculty, staff, students and institutions. They will work to enhance the College's role as a partner with Indigenous communities and position CEHD as a model for integrating Indigenous knowledges and pedagogies into teacher-education and other programs, and as a partner in Indigenous education to tribal colleges and Indigenous communities in Minnesota and beyond.

The candidate will center student success, community-oriented approaches, and innovative teaching methods, especially related to climate literacy, elementary literacy, and Ojibwe-immersion education. This is a full-time (100% FTE), 12-month, non-tenure-track position. The expected start date is January 2026.

The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and/or work location. Please note that 100% remote work requires approval prior to offer.

College:
Coordination and Outreach (75%)

• Serve as liaison connecting the Indigenous communities to the college's teaching, service, and research activities and resources.
• Develop, track, and evaluate CEHD initiatives oriented at creating pathways for Indigenous students; design strategies and coordinate communication that ensures conversations across college and university departments, and with Indigenous schools and communities.
• Coordinate with faculty at UMN to develop opportunities for Native American students at CEHD that include programs, courses, internships, and partnerships with external stakeholders.
• Coordinate the Rodney S. Wallace Visiting Lectureship & Professorship for the Advancement of Teaching & Learning, with support of the CEHD Senior Management Team.
• Develop and nurture relationships with schools, workplaces, after school programs, community partners and local community colleges, as well as units across the UMN system, with a focus on relationships with Indigenous language speakers, experts, and communities in Minnesota and beyond. Attend networking functions as needed.
• Collaborate with Tribal colleges, the Morris Campus as a Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institution, affiliate institutions, and units on joint professional development projects and events across multiple scales and scopes.
• Develop relationships with collegiate administrative offices, external relations, outreach coordinators and other University personnel to enhance awareness of mutual interests and funding opportunities.
• Participate in college and university service activities, including internal committees or task forces, community outreach and service activities oriented at strengthening Indigenous education opportunities: this may include service to external constituencies and in relevant state and national professional organizations

Curriculum & Instruction:
Teaching (25%)

• Serve as Indigenous Education Liaison at the Center for Climate Literacy.
• Teach two sections annually of CI 5650, "Wezhinoo igejig Sandbox:
  Support and Pedagogy in Using Ojibwemowin with Young Children."
• Develop course materials and learning management platform sites and respond to questions related to courses taught.

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS degree plus at least five years of relevant experience, or master's degree plus at least three years of relevant experience.
• Documented fluency in the Ojibwe language, including at least 5 years as Ojibwe immersion teacher and mentor teacher.
• Demonstrated record of partnership with or professional experience at Indigenous education organizations.
• Minnesota teaching license in elementary or early childhood education.
• Ability to develop and deliver courses in ways that effectively account for a variety of diverse backgrounds, communities, identities, and abilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with people from a variety of communities, backgrounds, and identities.

Preferred Qualifications

• MA, MEd, or PhD in Education or related fields.
• Competence in teaching, research, and outreach.
• Experience and/or leadership in youth education, community engagement, and professional development.

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the University s third largest college, contributes to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of life. The CEHD community is dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing all identities of our students, staff, and faculty.

These values support a moral…