Assistant or Associate Professor in Indigenous Literatures

Cornell University Department of Literatures in English; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 83,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Literatures in English and the American Indian & Indigenous Studies Program (AIISP) at Cornell University invite applications for an Indigenous Literatures appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, beginning July 1, 2027. The appointment will be a joint position with AIISP.

We seek scholars with expertise in Indigenous methodologies, literatures of the Northeast, treaty relations, and interdisciplinary approaches to ecocriticism and critical theory, with

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Literature, Indigenous studies, or related field is required.
• Specialization in Indigenous literatures and ability to teach across AIISP and Literatures in English.
• Commitment to Indigenous communities and interdisciplinary approaches.

Responsibilities

• Teach core AIISP and Literatures in English courses (2/2 load).
• Offer upper-level undergraduate courses and graduate seminars of your design.
• Supervise undergraduate and graduate students; contribute to AIISP, LLE, College and University service.

Skills

Indigenous methodologies

Northeast literatures

Treaty relations

Ecocriticism

Critical theory

Education

Ph.D. in Literature, Indigenous studies, or related fields

Job description

The Department of Literatures in English and the American Indian & Indigenous Studies Program (AIISP) at Cornell University invite applications for an appointment in Indigenous Literatures at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. The appointment will begin July 1, 2027. Ph.D. in Literature, Indigenous studies, or related fields must be in hand prior to the appointment. The candidate will hold a joint appointment in the Department of Literatures in English and AIISP.

We are open to all areas of specialty within Indigenous literatures, and are especially enthusiastic about candidates with expertise in Indigenous methodologies, literatures of the Northeast, treaty relations, and interdisciplinary approaches to ecocriticism and critical theory more broadly. We seek scholars who have ongoing connections to Indigenous communities. The successful candidate will contribute to shaping Indigenous Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell, a land grant university located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫʼ (Cayuga Nation).

Teaching responsibilities (2/2 load) include core introductory courses in AIISP and Literatures in English, first-year writing seminars, as well as upper-level undergraduate courses and graduate seminars of your own design. This would include joining rotations for one or more AIISP courses, including: Indigenous North America, Indigenous Issues in Global Perspective, Introduction to Native American Literature, and the graduate seminar in Critical Approaches to American Indian and Indigenous Studies. Other responsibilities include supervision of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as service to the AIISP, the Department of Literatures in English, the College, and the University, appropriate to rank and attentive to the nature of the joint appointment.

Application deadline: December 15, 2026.

Questions may be directed to Elisha Cohn ([e-mail]) and Juliana Hu Pegues ([e-mail]).

Disclosure: Consistent with Cornell’s practice, appointments to academic positions require candidates to disclose relevant information about their prior employment including whether they have been found to have violated institutional or employer policies related to or governing unlawful discrimination and harassment, academic and research misconduct, or financial misconduct.

Pay Range: $83,200 - $140,000. Actual salary offers in the College of Arts and Sciences will be based on education, experience, discipline, and relevant skills.

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