The posting
The American Studies program at Carleton College invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Native American and Indigenous Studies to begin September, 2027. A Ph.D. in American Studies, Ethnic Studies, or Native American and Indigenous Studies is strongly preferred, though candidates with a Ph.D. in another field will be considered if candidates demonstrate extensive interdisciplinary training in a field closely related to Native American and Indigenous Studies at the Ph.D. level. The candidate should have a Ph.D. in hand, or expect its imminent completion, by the time the appointment begins on Sept 1, 2027. The position involves offering courses with a focus on Native American and Indigenous Studies as well as core courses in the American Studies program.
Within Native American and Indigenous Studies, we particularly welcome candidates with expertise in Indigenous governance, literatures, arts and cultural expressions, disability studies, geography, carceral studies, or Dakota Studies. Service responsibilities will be primarily in American Studies, including contributing to a developing Native American and Indigenous Studies minor. Successful candidates will be invested in building reciprocal relationships with local Native nations and Native community organizations. Ideal candidates will have a demonstrated track record of socially-engaged research, likely in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, and a commitment to the integration of Indigenous Peoples’ priorities and ways of knowing into their teaching and scholarship.
To apply, please visit the Carleton College jobs website and complete the online application by submitting a cover letter, CV, a Teaching Statement that speaks to working with students from a broad range of backgrounds in a liberal arts environment, and the names of 3-4 references by October 19, 2026. Full letters of reference, sample syllabi, and writing samples will be requested later. One letter may be provided from an Indigenous community partner with whom the applicant has previously or is currently collaborating. Ph.D. must be in hand by the start of appointment.
Carleton is a highly selective undergraduate liberal arts college with a student body of approximately 2,000. Located in the thriving two-college town of Northfield, Minnesota, it is forty-five miles from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, a metropolitan area with a vibrant Native community. This position is part of a broader institutional commitment to expand capacity in Native American and Indigenous studies in recognition of Carleton’s location on Dakota homelands. The new hire will complement other faculty engaged in NAIS-related scholarship in American Studies, History, Religion, Sociology/Anthropology, and Environmental Studies. Indigenous engagement at Carleton is supported by a full time Indigenous Communities Liaison, a broad circle of interested faculty and staff, the resources of a multi-year Indigenous engagement grant to transform institutional practices, relationships with supportive Indigenous community partners, and an active student organization, the Indigenous Peoples Alliance.
The expected starting salary range for this position is between $87,480 - $93,290. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience and training; licensure and certifications; market factors; departmental budgets; and responsibility. Carleton also offers a robust suite of benefits including:
- A generous 403(b) retirement plan with a 10% employer contribution and 2% employee contribution
- Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all employees
Carleton is committed to developing its faculty to better reflect the diversity of our student body and American society. Gender-diverse individuals and members of groups underrepresented at Carleton are strongly encouraged to apply. Carleton College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, veteran status, actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, status with regard to public assistance, disability, or age in providing employment or access to its educational facilities and activities.
