Native Nations Liaison

Native Nations Liaison And Program Activities Specialist

The Southern Oregon University Native Nations Liaison and Program Activities Specialist ("Native Nations Liaison") supports the University in its recruitment, retention, and educational efforts designed to meet the unique needs, experiences, and challenges faced by Native/Indigenous (Native Nations/Native American/First Nations/Alaskan Native/Native Hawaiian) students at Southern Oregon University, helps to guide the University in its advocacy on behalf of the preservation of the sovereignty of all Native Nations, and supports the President with Native Nations Relations.

This position reports to the President with dotted reporting lines to the Dean of Students and the Director of Government Relations.

Minimum Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with Native/Indigenous communities, including but not limited to K-12 and college students and parents;
  Tribes; faculty and administrators;
  Native/Indigenous organizations; and community organizations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Tribal protocols, cultures, histories, sovereignty, and government relations; and a nuanced understanding of the experiences and needs of Native/Indigenous communities.
• Demonstrated experience in college or university student program coordination, and in admissions outreach and recruitment activities.
• Outstanding communication skills, high emotional intelligence, and exceptional program planning, coordination, and service delivery skills.
• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited higher education institution.

Preferred Requirements

• A Graduate Degree in Native American Studies, Ethnic Studies, College Student Personnel, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated creativity and innovation in developing strategies to improve academic success, recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of Native/Indigenous students.
• Demonstrated knowledge of issues in higher education and campus-specific issues, as they relate to the Native/Indigenous student access in post-secondary education.
• Familiarity with Native/Indigenous communities and organizations in Oregon and Northern California.
• Supervisory experience

Essential Functions

(40%) Student Activities and Programs Support

• Identifies professional staff and related tasks necessary to organize and facilitate recruitment, retention, and graduation activities for Native students [e.g. conducting of Native American Student Union's (NASU) activities, including but not limited to SOU's annual Powwow and other planned cultural heritage observations; and student initiatives
• Participates in the awarding of the Native Connections Scholarships
• Develops a planning committee of staff, faculty and students to plan the annual Indigenous Peoples' Day event.
• Collaborates with University programming in support of Native/Indigenous students, including Native American Student Union, Konaway Nika Tillicum,.
• Serves as a member of University Committees as assigned.

(25%) Retention Support

• Collecting, analyzing, and presenting data related to the experiences of Native /Indigenous student recruitment, enrollment, academic performance, social success and persistence to and degree attainment.
• Identifying and developing tools and strategies designed to improve data practices that support a complete and accurate representation of the Native/Indigenous student population.
• Identifying community partnerships that enhance campus programs and services.
• Assisting Native/Indigenous students in making connections with available university resources designed to support student academic, financial, social, and emotional well-being and success.

(15%) Outreach & Recruitment Support

• Collaborating with University admissions to design and implement…