Assistant or Associate Professor in Tribal Forest Systems Management, Fire, and Ecology – University of Minnesota

Faculty Position in the Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota
Assistant or Associate Professor in Tribal Forest Systems Management, Fire, and Ecology

Date: March 2024
Classification & Title: Assistant Professor (9403) or Associate Professor (9402)
Position Opening ID: 359975
Working Title/ Specialty: Tribal Forest Systems Management, Fire, and Ecology
FLSA Status: Exempt, 100%
Term: 9 month (academic year) 40% Research / 50% Teaching / 10% Outreach-Service
Type: Tenure-track or Tenure
Reports to: Department Head
College/ Admin Unit: College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
Campus Location: St. Paul, MN

College Overview
The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) is composed of 12 academic departments, 10 Research and Outreach Centers across Minnesota, plus the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Bell Museum, and dozens of interdisciplinary centers that span the college, the university, and the globe. CFANS offers 13 undergraduate majors and 13 graduate majors, three pre-major/pre-professional programs, and 23 minors for undergraduate students. Undergraduate enrollment in the college is about 2,000 students. CFANS students are well-prepared for a diverse, multicultural workforce through the college’s emphasis on experiential, interdisciplinary, and intercultural learning; internships and global perspectives.

At CFANS, we aim to inspire minds, nourish people, and enhance the natural environment, and we believe that’s only possible if everyone feels seen, heard, and respected. Our College embraces equity and diversity and prioritizes purpose-driven scientific discovery in order for us to build a better tomorrow, together. We align with the University of Minnesota in providing equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Department Overview
The Department of Forest Resources (https://www.forestry.umn.edu/) is one of the country’s oldest and most highly-regarded forestry programs. Its mission is to inform and advance the science and management of forest and related natural resources. The Department has 18 faculty members and approximately 50 full-time researchers, scientists, postdocs, and staff representing a breadth of disciplines in the biological, physical, social, and managerial sciences. The Department hosts BS, MS, and PhD programs, supports nationally and internationally recognized research programs, and has a long tradition of public engagement and outreach. The Department has a new and growing graduate program in tribal natural resources management. Faculty and scientists use several University centers across the state including the 3,400 acre Cloquet Forestry Center which is located within the boundary of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation; UMN is currently in the process of returning the land to the tribe. Additionally, faculty and scientists use the Hubachek Wilderness Research Center that borders the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, North Central Research and Outreach Center in Grand Rapids and others.

Departmental members partner with numerous tribes, treaty organizations, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Indigenous led NGOs throughout the region. Departmental members also partner with UMN Extension, outreach/continuing education groups (e.g. Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative), as well as other university-based research partnerships (e.g. Institute on the Environment, Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, and Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Area Long Term Ecological Research Program). Members of our department collaborate with federal and state partners, such as the MN Department of Natural Resources, the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Park Service, and the US Geological Survey, many with offices on our campus.

Twin Cities Overview
The Twin Cities is located on traditional and contemporary lands of the Dakota people. The Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area is a thriving community of nearly three million people across seven counties and 182 communities. It is home to an extensive parks and trails system with over 47 million visits per year. The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus is Minnesota’s only land-grant university and one of the most prestigious public research universities in the nation. The Twin Cities has large, diverse and vibrant urban American Indian communities and is at the center for worldwide calls for social and racial justice. We believe that fostering diverse ecosystems in our communities can bring about ecological and social change.

Position Description:
Nine-month, full-time, tenure-track professor appointment with responsibilities for research (40%), teaching (50%), and outreach-service (10%). The position is in the Department of Forest Resources and located on the St. Paul Campus. The successful candidate will have access to the Department’s research facilities in St. Paul and Grand Rapids, MN. The position is available beginning August 2024, with review of applications beginning March 29, 2024.

Responsibilities
Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Establish an internationally-recognized research program that addresses important issues affecting tribal natural resources management. This research would be undertaken in collaboration with Minnesota tribal natural resource managers, students and communities, other faculty located at the University of Minnesota, as well as scientists and practitioners locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Seek and secure extramural funding needed to develop an internationally-recognized tribal natural resource management research program. Publish in refereed journals and other publications. Teach and develop two new undergraduate and/or graduate courses choosing from a variety of modalities and formats in topics such as fire ecology, forest dynamics, dendrochronology, Indigenous land relationships and land use practices, and others as assigned. Mentor tribal and non-tribal undergraduate students in Department-affiliated programs. Provide outreach to tribal college students transferring into Department and CFANS-affiliated programs. Advise, train, and mentor graduate students from culturally diverse backgrounds. Prepare all students for successful careers in tribal natural resource management and complementary areas. Participate in University faculty governance and, where appropriate, provide leadership to continuing education and outreach activities statewide. Provide service to the profession.

Minimum Qualifications:
● Ph.D. with demonstrated potential to achieve assistant or associate level in research, teaching, and outreach with a concentration in tribal forest systems management, fire ecology, forestry, geography, or a closely related field.
● Experience in identifying and conducting research that addresses important issues impacting tribal natural resource management, fire ecology, and associated cultural values.
● Demonstrated strong written communication skills, including scientific writing published in relevant peer-reviewed scientific journals.
● Demonstrated strong oral communication skills, as evidenced by presentations at professional meetings, seminars, workshops, or conferences.
● Demonstrated teaching and mentoring experience with American Indian, Alaskan Native, or First Nation students.
● Demonstrated work with undergraduate and graduate students in sharing research with others.
● Demonstrated experience or commitment to working with people with diverse identities and underrepresented communities in formal or informal settings.

Preferred Qualifications:
● Demonstrated excellence or evidence of potential in delivering undergraduate and graduate instruction.
● Demonstrated experience in, or commitment to, instruction programs that support diverse learners and build inclusive classroom environments.
● Success in securing, or evidence of potential to secure, extramural funding.
● Demonstrated experience or evidence of potential in advising and training graduate students, especially from a range of cultures and experiences.
● Demonstrated success in fostering tribal, public, and/or private partnerships.
● Expertise in tribal natural resources related sub-disciplines such as fire science, dendrochronology, ecosystem ecology, environmental sociology, or cultural and historical landscapes and ecology.
● Expertise in a complementary area such as American Indian studies, Indigenous methodologies, traditional ecological knowledge, tribal law, spatial analysis, biogeography, or environmental justice.
Benefits

Working at the University
At the University of Minnesota, you’ll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning. We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Scholarship
Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
University HSA contributions
Disability and employer-paid life insurance
Employee wellbeing program
Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
Financial counseling services
Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefits.

How To Apply
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position.

Required application materials:
● Cover letter.
● Curriculum vitae.
● Statement of teaching interests and philosophy* (1 page).
● Statement of research interests and philosophy* (1 page).
● Diversity statement (1 page) (please see below).
● Copy of undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
● Names, addresses and email contact information for three (3) professional references. References will be contacted only for those applicants judged most appropriate.

* Teaching and research statements should highlight accomplishments, experience, and interests.

PLEASE: Combine all parts of the application (i.e., letter, CV, statements, etc.) into a single document before uploading.

*Instructions for Diversity Statement (include with application materials)

Applicants are required to submit a diversity statement for this position. CFANS values and is actively invested in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout all our academic programs. Please review the CFANS definition of diversity and the DEI strategic plan for the College and Department.

For the diversity statement, please provide details of your professional and/or personal experiences in fostering DEI. Experiences may include:

● Working with diverse communities or local organizations.
● Embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into the curriculum.
● Embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into your research.
● Your own educational experiences, such as courses or workshops you have participated in and how you anticipate incorporating what you have learned in your future work.

For questions or inquiries about the position, please contact Dr. Rebecca Montgomery (rebeccam@umn.edu), Tribal Forest Systems Management, Fire, and Ecology Committee chair. For questions about the application process, please contact Amber Grupe (argrupe@umn.edu). Applications review will begin March 29, 2024.

Diversity
The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu.

We acknowledge that the University of Minnesota Twin Cities is built within the traditional homelands of the Dakota people. It is important to acknowledge the peoples on whose land we live, learn, and work as we seek to improve and strengthen our relations with our tribal nations.
Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.