Assistant Vice Provost, Native American Initiatives

The Office of the Provost at the University of Arizona invites applications and nominations for the position of Assistant Vice Provost, Native American Initiatives. Ranked among the top 50 of all public universities in the nation according to U.S. News and World Report, UArizona is the state’s land-grant university, a federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). Located on the traditional homelands of the Tohono O’odham and Pascua Yaqui Tribes, the University of Arizona is committed to sustaining partnerships with all 22 sovereign Native Nations across the state of Arizona. The University of Arizona acknowledges the sovereignty status of Native Nations and is driven to support self-determination efforts through its Native partnerships and initiatives. The Assistant Vice Provost, Native American Initiatives will establish a vision, set goals, and enhance the university infrastructure to foster a culturally responsive and inclusive campus environment in accordance with the Native American Initiatives 2022-2027 Strategic Plan.

The University of Arizona maintains a strong track record of enrolling and graduating Native American students at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Over 700 undergraduates and approximately 200 graduate and professional Native American students attend the University of Arizona, reinforcing its commitment to supporting Indigenous education. Additionally, it ranks number one in conferring Ph.D.’s to Native Americans according to the National Science Foundation, further demonstrating its dedication to advancing the academic pursuits of Indigenous scholars. Further, UArizona is home to leading Native scholars whose work is contributing to Native Nations and has national and global impacts. The university is a leading institution driven to increase the number of Native faculty and staff across various colleges and disciplines.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Campus Community Building—Native Student Engagement

• Coordinate campus resources to develop and implement programs and initiatives that provide innovative transitions for Native students that ensure their enrollment, persistence, academic success, and career preparation;
• Integrate systems and services that support Native student recruitment, engagement, financial aid, student support services, and cultural identity;
• Engage with University Analytics & Institutional Research to develop effective data collection to accurately assess Native student success including data related to Native student enrollment, persistence, retention, academic achievement, research engagement, and graduation to assess the effectiveness of initiatives;
• Organize and participate in outreach events to connect with prospective Native American students and build a sense of community on campus;
• Work with tribal education departments and Tribal Colleges & Universities to better recruit and support Native students transitioning to/from the UArizona;
• Work with the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid to streamline financial aid and scholarship processes for Native students, addressing barriers to entry and making the process and supports more accessible;

2. Campus Community Building—Faculty Advancement

• Foster a sense of belonging among Native faculty and staff through material support of programing, staffing, training, and community engagement;
• Support the development of a learning community that is safe, respectful, and welcoming for Native faculty across disciplines;
• Support the development of standardized training and course curricula to increase awareness and understanding of the contributions of Native Nations and to improve community based participatory research with Native Nations;
• Effectively collaborate with UArizona’s Native and non-Native scholars, faculty, and staff to enhance Native ways of knowing, thinking, and learning, and to incorporate culture into curriculum, experiential learning, research, and co-curricular activities;
• Work to establish respect for Native traditions, knowledges, and perspectives to inform programming and curricula across colleges and including approaches to issues-oriented, policy-relevant, and community-engaged research.

3. Programmatic Development:

• Provide leadership in the implementation and advancement of the Native American Initiatives 2022-2027 Strategic Plan;
• Partner with the Office of Native American Advancement & Tribal Engagement to further cultivate relationships with Native American communities, organizations, and leaders to create partnerships that support the university’s goals and enhance the overall experience of Native students, faculty, staff, and tribal communities;
• Collaborate with the Native American Advisory Council to sustain community-driven partnerships and advocacy for Native students, faculty, and Native initiatives.
• Maintain accurate inventory of Native American serving initiatives across the institution to support strategic planning, reporting, and coordination of university effort and resources;
• Advocate for systematic reporting and representation in campus climate assessments to inform strategy development, address barriers, and create opportunities for Native American serving initiatives;
• Provide regular data-based reports to university leadership, highlighting progress, challenges, and recommendations for improvement;
• Collaborate in the coordination of university efforts, systems, programs, and processes to maximizes resources and support services contributing to the success of Native students, faculty, staff, and communities.
• Collaborate with Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other institutions to support the overall goals of Native Nations, students, and faculty.

 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Lived experience of Native worldviews, cultures, and values, with understanding of diverse Indigenous knowledge systems, epistemologies, and Native research methodologies.
• Knowledge and practice of cross-cultural relationship building at the academic and community level.
• Development of educational initiatives, programs, and transformative practices in support of Native student success.
• Ability to effectively articulate Native perspectives on current and emerging issues to diverse audiences.
• Ability to effectively engage external Native American communities and stakeholders to support
• Indigenous community-engaged research, teaching, and learning.
• Proven understanding of and appreciation for the culture of a university and the value of different approaches to scholarly, creative, professional, and cultural activities.
• Academic credibility demonstrated through a record of scholarly and professional achievement.
• Knowledge and ability to support Native faculty research, tenure and promotion, leadership, and advancement.
• Knowledge of issues and challenges facing Native American students in higher education.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills.
• Experience with receiving external funding through grants or other outside support.

• Ph.D. or equivalent degree, have experience and qualifications commensurate with the rank of Associate Professor or Professor (tenure or career track)

• Must demonstrate leadership, initiative, commitment, and an ability to motivate and influence others consistent with the UArizona’s land grant mission and commitment to institutional values.
• Candidates must possess a strong record of relationship building with Native American communities and scholars, successful oversight and implementation of strategic initiatives, and effective representation of Native American priorities.