About this role
Alaska Pacific University invites applications for an assistant or associate professor of Indigenous Studies with a focus on teaching, program development and community outreach. This position will play critical role in delivering distance and on-site education, mentoring and advising students, and advancing Alaska Native community priorities.
The University: APU is a small, private liberal arts university, known for experiential and project-based learning. The university campus is in Anchorage, Alaska, a diverse city and home to more than 300,000 residents. APU offers a unique set of undergraduate and graduate certificates and degrees, with emphasis on issues critical and relevant to Alaska, the Arctic, and world. APU embraces a competency-based curriculum, which fosters high-level intellectual and practical skills; wide-ranging knowledge of science, cultures, and society; and an active commitment to personal and social responsibility. Courses are offered in-person, online and in hybrid formats.
APU is a Tribally-Governed Alaska Native University serving both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, with a specific mission to integrate Indigenous ways of knowing with innovative academic programs that reflect the dynamic needs of society, fostering meaningful engagement and ensuring that our students are prepared for a future of leadership, service, and positive change (Mission | Alaska Pacific University).
The Program Area: The Indigenous Studies BA and minor programs are housed within the Liberal Studies area of APU’s Institute of Culture and Environment. Liberal Studies programs also include a BA with concentrations in literature, philosophy, religion and pre-law; a Creative & Professional Writing BA and MFA; a Master of Arts Program, and minors in Sustainability Studies and Alaska Native Governance. Area faculty are dedicated to providing personalized, experiential, hands-on instruction to ignite personal passion, self-discovery, and deep learning.
Duties of the Position: The contract carries a 9-month teaching load of 24 credit hours per year (typically, 3 courses per semester). Course assignments are based upon expertise, faculty interest, and the needs of degree programs and the university. Responsibilities include mentorship and advising for students as well as serving on faculty committees. All faculty are encouraged to develop scholarship or creative work in their chosen field, and faculty are expected to participate in outcomes assessment, curriculum development, student activities, as well as other service to the university and broader community.
Rank and
Salary
Assistant or Associate Professor. Salary is dependent upon educational preparation and experience.
APU is a non-tenure university, however faculty are eligible for multi-year appointments after initial contracts.
As a non-profit institution, APU aims to offer highly competitive compensation when considered wholistically, combining a positive work experience with a generous benefit package and fair salary compensation.
In living this philosophy, APU engages in evaluation and purposeful investments in:
- Quality of work environment
- Meaningful work, feedback, and valued contribution
- Monetary compensation for time and effort
- Benefits that add to quality of life
The right-fit employee for APU is someone who shares the APU values and mission, someone who desires to be part of a small team and work interdependently, someone who works hard but also values time off and a work-life balance, and someone who is looking for a meaningful work experience.
Date of Appointment: Fall 2027.
Qualifications: Earned graduate degree and higher education teaching experience in a relevant field including interdisciplinary studies, cultural studies, Indigenous education, Indigenous studies, Indigenous sciences, Indigenous languages/language reclamation, tribal governance and policy, or museum studies/repatriation. Firsthand knowledge of the Alaskan context and experience working with Indigenous communities is preferred.