Saint Olaf College

Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies (Geospatial Specialist)

Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies (Geospatial Specialist)

The Department of Environmental Studies at St. Olaf College invites applications for a full-time, tenure track position as a Geospatial Specialist at the Assistant Professor level, to begin August 2024.

The successful candidate should:

• have completed their Ph.D. by the position start date.

• center their teaching and research on environmental geospatial analysis with emphasis on the social sciences or humanities. We are especially interested in candidates whose research and teaching intersect with one or more of the following areas: environmental justice, Indigeneity, Black ecologies, food sovereignty/security, or environmental public health.

• demonstrate potential for teaching GIS and other courses in the candidate’s area of interest and facility training with ArcGIS Pro

• show potential for developing a research program amenable to participation by undergraduate students.

• have a strong and demonstrated commitment to promoting the equitable inclusion of students and colleagues of all backgrounds in all aspects of college life.

The normal teaching load is five courses per year. (Note, our current GIS/Remote Sensing course with two lab sections can count as 2 courses towards that total.) Primary teaching responsibilities include EnvSt 255 (GIS/remote sensing), at least one integrative core course within the environmental studies major, and developing one or more GIS-based or spatially oriented courses in your area of specialization. The integrative core courses comprise EnvSt 137 (Introduction to Environmental Studies), EnvSt 237 (Integration and Applications in Environmental Studies, making use of civic engagement), and EnvSt 399 (Senior Capstone). Duties also involve advising, committee service, departmental and institutional obligations such as attending faculty meetings.

Qualifications:

We are looking for candidates who hold a Ph.D., and we welcome applications from geographers and those in related disciplines with expertise in geospatial analysis.

We seek an excellent teacher-scholar who uses and can teach contemporary geospatial analysis skills, whose teaching and research center environmental themes, and who demonstrates a commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship. Candidates with experience or interest in integrating analysis of big data into their teaching and research are encouraged to apply. We are especially interested in candidates whose research and teaching intersect with one or more of the following areas: environmental justice, Indigeneity, Black ecologies, food sovereignty/security, or environmental public health.

Postdoctoral research, industry, non-profit or government experience, and/or prior teaching experience are desirable additional qualifications.

About the Department:

Nourished by dedicated and collaborative faculty and staff, enthusiastic and thoughtful students eager for hands-on learning, and local living learning laboratories, the Environmental Studies department cultivates an integral understanding of the relationships between humans and their surroundings. Its courses and field experiences attend to a rich array of places, organisms, human experiences and histories, institutions, wisdom traditions, ideas and practices of justice, and the interconnectivity of systems. Students experience integrative approaches across three broad study areas: natural/physical sciences, social sciences, and the arts and humanities as we examine and model observed phenomena, interrogate contested ideas and practices, and seek meaningful and just solutions to problems. We invite you to join a learning community that embodies a big tent where the identities, gifts, talents, and experiences of each person enables a richness and depth to our work. For more information about the department, visit wp.stolaf.edu/environmental-studies/.

Diversity:

At St. Olaf College, we are committed to equity and inclusion. We strive to be a campus of welcome where students, faculty, and staff thrive by bringing their full humanity—gender identity, sexuality, race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic class, disability, religion, spirituality, and age—to the Hill each day. Our goal is to generate conversations and processes that over time create greater clarity, transparency, trust, cooperation, consensus, respect, and measurable outcomes. Practices that support this goal include listening, cultivating a growth mindset, respecting those with different views, being informed by data, and understanding that the work is ongoing, collaborative, organic, and ever evolving. We encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan to learn more about our commitment and to identify how you might contribute to these efforts.

How to Apply:

A complete application includes:

1. Cover letter

2. Curriculum vitae

3. Diversity statement (200-500 word limit): Describe how you would contribute to the development of a diverse and inclusive learning community at our college through your teaching, research, and/or service. Include examples of your contributions when possible.

4. Graduate transcript (unofficial is acceptable)

5. Statement of Teaching Philosophy: Describe your teaching experience, interests, and ideas about effective pedagogies including active learning with examples of teaching approaches in Geospatial Information Systems and Environmental Studies (approx. 500 words)

6. Statement of Research and Interest: Describe your envisioned research program at St. Olaf and include the potential for undergraduate involvement, funding sources, and publications (750 to 1250 words)

7. The contact information for three professional references who can speak to your abilities in teaching and scholarship (St. Olaf solicits letters directly after an initial round of screening.)

Review of applications will begin on September 1, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled. Applications received by that date will receive fullest consideration. Finalist interviews are expected in November. Questions about the position, department, or College may be directed to Paul Jackson, Search Committee Chair, at tt2024es@stolaf.edu.

Who We Are:

Founded in 1874, St. Olaf College is a residential, coeducational liberal arts college with approximately 3,000 students and 800 faculty and staff employees. The college is located on a picturesque 300-acre campus in Northfield, Minnesota, a vibrant, restored, historic river town of 20,000 located 45 minutes south of culturally rich and diverse Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The college offers an academically rigorous, nationally ranked liberal arts education that fosters the development of the whole person in mind, body, and spirit and emphasizes learning in an inclusive and globally engaged community. We encourage applications from candidates committed to multicultural understanding and the enrichment of our diverse community.

The college offers a comprehensive benefits package including a 9% company retirement match, company monthly contributions to a retirement healthcare account, company contributions to eligible employee’s health savings account, significant tuition discount (up to 80% off) at ACM and ELCA colleges and universities for employee’s children, and generous paid time off. For a full review of benefit offerings, see the summary of the benefits program here: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/benefits/

To provide a safe and secure educational environment, St. Olaf College verifies the accuracy of all credentials presented by applicants and conducts a criminal background check on every new hire.

A link to our DEI page: https://wp.stolaf.edu/equity-inclusion/

A virtual campus tour: https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?p=483

An overview of Northfield: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/northfield/

An overview of the Twin Cities: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/twincities/

The college strongly recommends that incoming students and new employees complete the primary COVID vaccine series before beginning their studies or work on campus, and that all members of our campus community remain up to date with COVID vaccines, per CDC guidance.

St. Olaf College is an equal employment opportunity and voluntary affirmative action employer. The College is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community. With regard to its hiring and employment practices, the College prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based upon an individual’s legally protected status including race, color, creed, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, or status with regard to public assistance.

For Staff Application Assistance:

employment@stolaf.edu

507-786-3068

For Faculty Application Assistance:

facultysearch@stolaf.edu

507-786-3356

Title IX Contact Information:

Pamela McDowell, Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator

1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Tomson Hall 180

Northfield, MN 55057

507-786-3465

mcdowell@stolaf.edu