Assistant Professor - Excellence in Mentoring

The School of Human Ecology (SoHE) and the American Indian & Indigenous Studies (AIIS) program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invite applications for the inaugural Excellence in Mentoring (EIM) position. This is a tenure-track, 9-month appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, with a tenure home in the Department of Civil Societies and Community Studies (CSCS) within the School of Human Ecology and a 50% joint appointment with the AIIS program. The Excellence in Mentoring Initiative aims to recruit outstanding faculty who, in addition to their demonstrated excellence or strong potential in research and teaching, have demonstrated the ability and commitment to mentor at-risk, first-generation, or underrepresented undergraduate or graduate students to achieve academic success. The faculty member in this position will join a cohort of EIM faculty across campus, contributing to a growing community of scholars dedicated to inclusive mentorship and student success.

The successful candidate will employ innovative research methods and pedagogical approaches that engage the field of American Indian and Indigenous Studies, along with one or more of the following areas: community development (including economic development), environmental justice, solidarity economies, incarceration, youth development, sustainability, food sovereignty, youth, media studies, transformative justice or political advocacy.

The faculty member will be expected to teach courses aligned with their expertise at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels, which may include co-teaching in active learning environments. Teaching may be delivered through in person, online, and hybrid formats. The two units will work collaboratively to coordinate teaching and service assignments that that reflect the faculty member's expertise and mentoring responsibilities in accordance of 50% in each of the units. A typical faculty-teaching load for a 50% appointment in SoHE is two courses per academic year, as determined by the Department Chair of CSCS. In the 50% AIIS role, the primary responsibility will be teaching one course per semester in the certificate program, including the introductory course on rotation with other faculty. The successful candidate will propose and teach new courses in AIIS, offer mentorship and guidance to students, and promote engagement and relationship building with American Indian and Indigenous communities. All AIIS faculty are expected to support and attend American Indian & Indigenous Studies events on campus and in the community as well as serve on campus-wide committees/initiatives.

Service to the school, university, and profession, and meaningful contributions to creating inclusive excellence are expectations of all tenure track faculty.

Tenure-track faculty teach courses, conduct research, mentor graduate students, and contribute to school, university, community, and professional activities through academic citizenship, service, and leadership.

RESEARCH RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and maintain a collaborative, innovative, robust, and highly visible research program that entails conceptualizing, designing, and conducting research studies; managing research staff; following all research compliance policies; disseminating research results; and seeking extramural research funding.

TEACHING and MENTORING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Teach courses aligned with their expertise at undergraduate and/or graduate levels. Teaching may include co-teaching in active learning environments and interprofessional education with students and faculty. Teaching may include in person, online, and hybrid delivery.
• Mentor* particularly first-generation and/or underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students to help them achieve success.

SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Positively contribute to School of Human Ecology, American Indian & Indigenous Studies, and University of Wisconsin-Madison goals for diversity and inclusive excellence.
• Contribute to school, university, community, and professional committees and other activities through academic service.

*In the event a more structured mentoring program at the SoHE school-level is desired and agreed upon beyond a typical expectation of a tenure-track/tenured faculty member, a course substitute may be provided. This special appointment may be established upon the candidate's arrival, taking into account their career stage, and will be made by mutual agreement in partnership with the Graduate Leadership Office and the Undergraduate Academic and Student Affairs Office.

SCHOOL OF HUMAN ECOLOGY: The mission of the SoHE is to understand the complex relationships and interdependence among individuals, groups and families, and to focus on quality-of-life issues through research, creative innovation, education, and outreach. The School has four academic departments with a collective undergraduate enrollment of over 2,200 students, and 100+ graduate students. See http://sohe.wisc.edu The School of Human Ecology is actively engaged in a comprehensive five-year strategic plan, to define our strategic priorities and vision pillars for 2026-2031.

CIVIL SOCIETY AND COMMUNITY STUDIES (CSCS)

The interdisciplinary department is home to an undergraduate major in Community and Organizational Development (COD) and a Ph.D. program in Civil Society & Community Research (CSCR). Our diverse faculty encourages COD undergraduate students to expand their worldviews and provides them with skills to both historicize contemporary social problems and address the root causes of systemic injustice.

The CSCS department is home to the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies (CommNS), which offers a graduate certificate program in Community-Engaged Scholarship, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Community and Nonprofit Leadership.

Emphasis on public service reflects the "Wisconsin Idea" that education should influence and improve people's lives beyond the classroom. In accordance with the CSCS departmental values, successful candidates for this position should be able to demonstrate their ability to form meaningful connections with community and campus partners.

AMERICAN INDIAN & INDIGENOUS STUDIES (AIIS): American Indian & Indigenous Studies is a program in the College of Letters & Science (L&S). We offer a Certificate in American Indian Studies, a 15-credit program for undergraduates and students enrolled in the Adult Career and Special Student program. As we aim to expand American Indian & Indigenous studies at UW, the program supports course development, interdisciplinary scholarship, and research that centers Indigenous knowledge and perspectives. Additionally, AIIS serves as a resource hub for individuals interested in Indigenous cultures, histories, and contemporary issues, offering academic advising, events, and opportunities that promote deeper engagement with Indigenous communities.

UW-MADISON: The University of Wisconsin-Madison has a strong reputation as a research university and for producing research that improves people's lives. The University consistently ranks among the top 10 institutions in national research See http://wisc.edu.

Negotiable, 9-month appointment

• Demonstrated excellence and/or strong potential in mentoring first-generation or underrepresented students in persistence to degree completion
• Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate and graduate courses
• Research training or experience in conducting research projects
• A record of research dissemination through publications and/or presentations
• Potential for developing an outstanding scholarly research program
• Potential for securing extramural grant funding
• Potential for contribution to the outreach and service missions of the School of Human Ecology and the American Indian & Indigenous Studies program
• Ability to work effectively within a diverse community and commitment to promoting a climate of inclusivity and belonging within our campus and associated communities

A PhD in Cultural or Medical Anthropology, Sociology, Cultural Geography, Media Studies, or other related Social Sciences or Interdisciplinary field required by the start date.

Please upload the following materials:

• A letter of application addressing your relevant background for and interest in the position
• A current CV
• A research statement (2 pages max.)
• A teaching philosophy statement (1 page max.)
• Mentoring statement (1 page max.)

In addition, you may be required to provide the names and contact information of three references willing to be contacted for reference check and letters of recommendation later within the application system. At a future date you may be asked to upload other application materials.

The deadline for assuring full consideration is October 15, 2025; however, the position will remain open and applications may be considered until the position is filled.

Michelle Hamilton, mehamilton4@wisc.edu, 608-890-0011

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

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