LEO Intermittent Lecturer - Lakes Water Policy and Advocacy

LEO Intermittent Lecturer
- Great Lakes Water Policy and Advocacy Job Summary

The Program in the Environment (PitE) at the University of Michigan seeks applicants for one part‑time lecturer position to teach one course in the Winter 2027 term. The FTE will be 33%.

This is an Intermittent Lecturer appointment which is a non‑tenure track position and subject to the terms of the LEO bargaining agreement which can be found at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Specifically, the successful candidate will be prepared to teach the following course or something similar:

The Great Lakes contain approximately 20 percent of the world’s surface freshwater and provide drinking water to more than 40 million people in the United States and Canada. These waters support globally significant ecosystems, regional economies, transportation networks, Tribal treaty rights, recreational opportunities, and the cultural identity of an entire region.

At the same time, the Great Lakes face mounting challenges from climate change, aging infrastructure, pollution, invasive species, emerging contaminants, competing water demands, and persistent environmental inequities.

This course examines how public policy, governance institutions, politics, economics, and advocacy shape the management and protection of Great Lakes water resources. Students will explore the legal frameworks, political dynamics, stakeholder relationships, and decision‑making processes that influence water policy outcomes at local, state, federal, Tribal, and binational scales.

Using historical and contemporary case studies-including the Clean Water Act, Great Lakes Compact, Flint Water Crisis, invasive species management, PFAS contamination, Line 5, and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative-students will analyze how policy decisions are made, why some policy efforts succeed while others fail, and how advocates build coalitions capable of advancing meaningful change.

The course emphasizes professional skill development through policy writing, legislative testimony, opinion and influence writing, coalition‑building exercises, and development of a comprehensive Great Lakes advocacy campaign.

Our PitE faculty represent a wide range of disciplinary expertise, with many having joint appointments with other units on the University of Michigan campus. For this position, we will consider candidates from a broad range of environmental and climate studies. All courses are expected to be taught in person on the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus unless there is a compelling pedagogical reason for remote or hybrid instruction.

In addition to teaching one course, the selected individuals will be expected to hold office hours and handle all routine matters related to instruction. While teaching is expected to take place in‑person, office hours can be held remotely.

• A PhD in environmental studies, public policy or another sustainability‑related discipline OR a Masters Degree with at least five years of relevant professional experience.

• Demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentoring.
• Professional experience in the areas of climate, environment, and/or water policy, design, or advocacy.