English - American Indian and Indigenous Studies
Green River CollegePosition Summary
First review of applications begins April 12, 2026
Green River College invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty position in the English division with a concentration in American Indian and Indigenous Studies (AIIS). The position will primarily include the development and teaching of composition courses, as well as literature, creative writing, and cultural studies courses depending on the course schedule, along with service responsibilities such as committee work and student advising. The faculty member will also support the development of an AIIS program at Green River College in partnership with the Muckleshoot Tribal College, as well as collaborate with other Indigenous staff, programs, and initiatives on campus. We are seeking candidates who are passionate about teaching and committed to the mission of community colleges.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We would like to acknowledge the Federally Recognized Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, the ancestral keepers of the land on which Green River College is located. We thank them for their immense contributions to our state and local, history, culture, economy, and identity as Washingtonians.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE
Green River College's student body is made up of approximately 41% Academic Transfer students, 34% Professional-Technical, 15% Adult Basic Education, 3% Applied Bachelor degrees. Green River College has four campuses, including the main campus in Auburn, with satellite campuses in Kent, downtown Auburn, and Enumclaw. Green River programs serve high school graduates, Running Start students (dual enrollment in local high schools and the college), those seeking retraining for the workforce, international students, students learning English, and Continuing Education students. Green River's service areas are increasingly ethnically diverse, comprising African Americans, African immigrants, Asian Americans, Asians, Latinx, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Middle Eastern Americans, among other communities.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Green River College is committed to enhancing and supporting a diverse campus environment, incorporating principles of equity in order to promote inclusive practices. Diversity is understood in terms of intersectional identities defined by culture, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, social class, disability, religion, veteran status, immigration status, and age. Given the diversity of our student population and service areas, we encourage applications from faculty, staff, and administrators with demonstrated experience and expertise in supporting, sustaining and serving people from a wide range of backgrounds and collaborating effectively with others.
ABOUT THE ENGLISH DIVISION
The English Division offers courses in developmental composition and reading, transfer-level composition, literature, technical and professional writing, cultural studies, humanities, creative writing, film, and study skills. The mission of the English Division is to support our students in developing skills and critical approaches that will enable them to engage and transform the world around them. The Division is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion for students, faculty, staff, and administration. We integrate diverse literary and cultural texts in our curriculum, affirm students’ multiple literacies, and foster pedagogical innovation. The English Division promotes a culture of mutual respect and collegiality among 18 tenured and tenure-track faculty and 35 adjunct faculty, who bring a wide range of backgrounds and expertise. The Division’s impact and leadership extend to the campus and community, including through the operation of the Writing & Reading Center.
Position Responsibilities
Teaching
***This position includes a 2/3 teaching load of 2/2/2 (two courses per quarter) to be evaluated during the tenure process.
Primary teaching responsibility consists of composition courses, including ENGL 101 and research writing, as well as literature, creative writing, and cultural studies courses as available on the schedule, based on candidate's education, experience, and interest.
Curriculum and course development (e.g., composition, literature, cultural studies, learning communities, study abroad, etc.) related to American Indian and Indigenous Studies with a focus on the local Muckleshoot Tribe, WA’s federally recognized Tribes, and other US Indigenous communities.
Classes are to be offered in both face-to-face, as well as synchronous and asynchronous online and hybrid modalities.
Service
***This position includes 1/3 course release (reassignment) time for additional service responsibilities to be evaluated during the tenure process.
Join in the commitment of Green River College and the English Division to develop and sustain relationships with the federally recognized Muckleshoot Tribe, including following the protocols for the representation of and engagement with their literary, oral, and traditional knowledges.
Participate in the development of an interdisciplinary and multi-divisional program in American Indian and Indigenous Studies (AIIS) at Green River College, including the development of articulation agreements with our transfer partner institutions.
Support as possible the Indigenous Student Success Center (ISSC) and the Native American Student Organization (NASO).
Standard faculty service responsibilities, not related to the release time, include participation on English division, instructional, and campus committees and projects, including assessment and improvement processes, and student advising.
Qualifications
Minimum
Master’s degree in English literature, Rhetoric and Composition, MFA in Creative Writing, American Indian Studies, or similar degree.
Complementary degree, certificate, substantial coursework, or expertise in American Indian Studies, Native American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Multicultural Studies, or related interdisciplinary fields.
Experience teaching English and/or American Indian Studies at the college level.
Demonstrated experience and commitment to build strong and effective relationships with Indigenous communities.
Demonstrated ability and commitment to equity in working with students and colleagues from under-represented, marginalized, and under-served communities and identities.
Preferred
Lived experience working in and with Tribal communities.
Demonstrated experience in Indigenous pedagogies and methodologies.
APPLICATION
Complete ALL of the following steps:
Cover letter that explains your experience and education related to teaching Indigenous literatures and curriculum and that addresses the position responsibilities and qualifications.
Curriculum Vitae
Names of three references
Supplemental DEI questions
Describe your experience, education, and professional development regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, and intersectionality.
Please share your teaching philosophy related to Indigenous curriculum and provide specific examples of your pedagogy.
Supplemental Information
This is a full-time tenure-track position beginning Fall 2026, continuing with annual nine-month contracts.
The salary will be determined according to the candidate's educational background, teaching experience and applicable work experience.
This position has been designated as a bargaining unit position represented by The Green River United Faculty Coalition.
At this time, Green River College is not sponsoring for H1-B Visas.
All offers of employment are subject to background checks. (Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.)
Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law RCW 28B.112.080.
Green River College is a tobacco free campus. For more information on the tobacco policy, please visit the following link: https://www.greenriver.edu/campus/policies-and-procedures/general-administrative-policies/ga-2-tobacco-use-policy/
Jeanne Clery Statement: Notice of Availability of Annual Security and Fire Safety Report— Green River College’s Annual Safety and Fire Report is available online at www.greenriver.edu/CleryASFR, containing mandated information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues, required statistics, and other related information for the past three calendar years. To obtain a paper copy of the report, please call 253-288-3350.
The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Executive Director of Human Resources, 12401 SE 320th Street, Auburn, WA 98092-3622, (253) 288-3320.
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Support Services at (253) 833-9111, ext. 2631; TTY (253) 288-3359.
Equal Opportunity Employer and Statement of Non-Discrimination: Green River College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status age, perceived or actual sensory, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal.
Green River College prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including sex-based harassment, and sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and its regulations, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to Green River College’s Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both.
Reporting Any employee, student, applicant, or visitor who believes that he, she or they have been the subject of discrimination or harassment should report the incident or incidents to the College’s appropriate Title IX Coordinator identified below. If the complaint is against that Coordinator, the complainant should report the matter to the President’s office for referral to an alternate designee.
For students/employees/public/visitors/applicants: Korland Simmons, Title IX Coordinator • Equity, Diversity, Inclusion