Dean of the College of Indigenous Studies (CIS)

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader for the role of Dean of the College of Indigenous Studies (CIS). This key position offers the opportunity to provide strategic direction for academic planning, program development, and community engagement, with a strong focus on serving Alaska Native and Indigenous communities. The Dean will lead the College in advancing its mission to prepare new generations of leaders, scholars, researchers, and practitioners with the skills to effectively engage in and with Indigenous communities and knowledge systems.

The successful candidate will serve as the College’s Chief Academic Officer and oversee faculty and staff recruitment, retention, and development, manage the College’s budget, and ensure compliance with accreditation standards. In addition, the Dean will be responsible for fostering partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, implementing strategic enrollment planning, setting and tracking tuition revenue targets, securing external funding for diversity revenue, and advocating for the College.

A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is essential, along with experience in academic administration, program development, and financial management. The ideal candidate will have a strong track record of leadership in higher education, a deep understanding of the needs of Indigenous communities, and a passion for fostering inclusive, culturally responsive educational environments.
If you are a dedicated leader eager to advance academic excellence and make a meaningful impact on the future of Indigenous education, we invite you to join us on this transformative journey.

To thrive in this role, the ideal candidate will bring a strong commitment to the mission of the College of Indigenous Studies. The successful applicant will possess extensive cultural competence, with experience working alongside Tribal Nations and diverse populations, and will demonstrate a passion for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, a deep understanding of rural Alaska’s unique educational and workforce development needs is essential.

Strong collaborative leadership skills are crucial, as the Dean must work effectively with community partners and both internal and external stakeholders. The candidate should have a proven track record in academic administration, including expertise in program development, accreditation, and financial management. The ability to support faculty development and navigate the tenure and promotion process is also key.

Finally, the Dean must be an adaptive and strategic decision-maker, with excellent skills in planning, communication, and resource management. A minimum of five years of progressive leadership experience in higher education, or equivalent experience, is preferred.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree required.

Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D. or Juris Doctor, JD or Doctor of Education, EdD preferred.

Position Details:

This position is located on the Troth Yeddha' campus in Fairbanks, Alaska. This is a full-time, exempt senior administrator position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. Salary is commensurate, based on education and experience.

To be considered, please submit the following materials:

• A fully completed University of Alaska employment application (applications will only be accepted online through the University of Alaska Job Site).

• A current CV.

• A cover letter outlining your qualifications.

• A legible and updated set of unofficial transcripts.

• A diversity statement—A one-page document describing your experiences and commitments to diversity. You may consider addressing the following areas in your statement (*upload as a supporting document):  
  • Your personal values related to diversity.
  • Your experiences working with diverse populations.
  • Your future plans to promote inclusivity.
• Three professional references, including previous supervisors.

Review of application materials will begin immediately, to ensure full consideration you must apply by January 31, 2025, 11:55 pm Alaska Standard Time. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified.

📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE.

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Lisa Yancey, Director of Operations, at uaf-cis-hr-dept@alaska.edu or (907)474-5459.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

This position is designated as an officer of the university or senior administrator at the discretion of the president.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

UA is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, educational institution and provider and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.