The Division of Extension and Engagement is seeking a Director of Native American and Tribal Programs. This is a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position.
This Director of Native American and Tribal Programs will be a team member of the OSU’s Division of Extension and Engagement (Division). As a member of the Division, this position will have the opportunity to cross collaborate with a variety of Extension programs to meet the needs of the Native American/Alaska Native communities in Oregon. Housed in OSU Open Campus, a unit within the Division, this position will have statewide responsibilities. This position will report to the Associate Vice Provost for Partnership.
Due to systemic racism in government policies, such as relocation and termination of tribes, and the boarding school era, and many other factors have contributed to Native American/Alaska Native students facing significantly lower graduation rates (67.7% compared to 80% for the general population – *Oregon Indian Education Association, OIEA). Native American/Alaska Native students are overrepresented in disciplinary action and special education programming. A lack of representation of Native American/Alaska Native teachers and staff, lack of understanding of tribal history, and culture in higher education institutions compound the disparity. As a result of these issues, the need for dedicated culturally responsive programing to engage Native American/Alaska Native students and families in post-secondary education pathways is urgent.
There are a variety of Tribal and Native American/Alaska Native entities, communities, governments and educational partners that this position will need to develop strong collaborative relationships with, both within OSU and statewide entities to co-create culturally-relevant programming to serve the needs of Native American/Alaska Native and Tribal communities statewide.
The Director of Native American and Tribal Programs will provide leadership for curriculum development, scholarship, research, and data gathering in relation to Native American/Alaska Native and Tribal inclusion and traditional knowledge consideration in the educational programming and services of OSU’s Extension and Engagement. This position serves on the OSU Open Campus leadership team to advance and sustain its mission of providing local access to education through community-based partnerships and culturally-relevant programming to help meet the needs of Native American/Alaska Native Oregon communities.
About OSU’s Division of Extension and Engagement:
The Division of Extension and Engagement is core to Oregon State University’s mission. The Division helps create real solutions and positive impact across Oregon and beyond. The Division is aligned under the leadership of the Vice Provost for Extension and Engagement. To learn more about our Division and its core units and initiatives, please visit our website: https://engagement.oregonstate.edu.
OSU’s Commitment to Inclusive Excellence:
Oregon State University is committed to creating and maintaining compassionate and inclusive learning and working environments for all learners, visitors and employees. We envision collaborative community environments that enhance civility and embrace diversity. All employees are responsible for achieving this commitment. This commitment includes, but is not limited to, complying with Civil Rights and Language Access regulations.
OSU’s Extension and Engagement’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/about/diversity-equity-inclusion
OSU Moving Forward Together
https://leadership.oregonstate.edu/president/moving-forward-together
The Director of Native American and Tribal Programs will ensure the commitment of the University to a collaborative and inclusive community in all interactions and duties performed while fostering a welcoming and respectful workplace culture.
50% – Program Development and Leadership
- Identify and support existing Native American/Alaska Native and Tribal inclusion in Extension and Engagement programs, and co-develop new Open Campus programs with Native American/Alaska Native and Tribal communities.
- Develop needs assessments with partners, and extend culturally-responsive outreach programs to meet the needs of statewide Native American/Alaska Native communities.
- In partnership with the OSU Open Campus Partnership team, develop a plan that expands programming for Native American/Alaska Native and Tribal communities, including new grant opportunities.
- Develop plans to help support families and K-12 students gain access to career/college pathways, financial aid, internship exploration, and degree completion and community college transfer support.
- Connect students and families to resources to aid in post-secondary pathway selection and to resources on campus throughout their academic careers.
- Build relationships with Tribal partners and organizations that support Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. This includes development of memoranda of understanding, data sharing agreements, and consultation with Tribal government when necessary.
- Ensure all youth safety guidelines, state law, university policy and procedures are met for program development.
- Develop annual works plans and reports.
- Pursue in partnership with Tribal Communities to secure State/Federal grants to fund statewide initiatives.
- Serve as a member of the OSU Open Campus Partnership leadership team, attend weekly meetings, and provide input on decisions, vision, direction, and priorities.
- This position requires, face-to-face relationship building with all nine (9) federally recognized Tribes in Oregon. This position will also be supervising employees, not based in Corvallis, and will need to travel out to those sites.
40% – Administrative Leadership for New Beginnings for Tribal Students (NBTS) and other program development
- Supervise and assist New Beginnings for Tribal Students (NBTS) managers in program development, resource procurement, camp organization, and training delivery. Driving is essential as cultural camps are held on Tribal land and this person will need to drive to those camps.
- Manage budget to achieve the goals and objectives of Native American/Alaska Native and Tribal programs.
- Support and inform future expansion of the New Beginnings for Tribal Students Programs with USDA-NIFA alongside 1) primary Tribal partners: Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw, 2) OSU partners: Extension & Engagement, College of Forestry, College of Agricultural Sciences, College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, and Oregon Sea Grant Extension, and 3) Southwestern Oregon Community College subaward partners. See OSU’s NBTS website at https://opencampus.oregonstate.edu/nbts.
- Serve as NBTS program liaison across campus and with Tribes. Work with program managers to adapt and expand NBTS through evaluation, partnerships development, funding opportunities and encompassing additional Tribes as partners with NBTS.
- Complete annual and reports for USDA-NIFA, and attend program leader and PI meetings for national NBTS.
- Work in partnership and coordinate with the OSU Office of Governmental Affairs, specifically with the Tribal Governmental Affairs Director and Director of Tribal Initiatives.
- Follow the legislative proposals and policy implications as they impact Native American/Alaska Native and Tribal communities and connect to groups working on these issues.
- Participate as a steering committee member for the National YEA-CN Grant, Youth Innovators Empowering Native Agriculture Across America.
- Connect to Access OSU, which support students and families from Black/African American, Native/Indigenous/Pacific Islander and Hispanic/Latine/x communities in the Portland metro and supports the formation of long-lasting relationships that extend from elementary school to OSU enrollment and all the way to OSU graduation.
10% – Service
- Maintain active membership and participation in relevant professional organizations.
- Attend Pacific Northwest (PNW) and National conferences pertaining to job duties for networking, meetings, etc.
- Serve on the Division’s and Extension Service committees and work groups at the state, regional, and national levels.
- Serve on appropriate boards, councils and community committees.
https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/position_descriptions/142936