ID: 23-P053 Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
The Organization
As a public institution and Prince Edward Island (PEI)’s only university, the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) has a special obligation to the peoples of PEI and plays a distinct role in contributing to the success of the province. With a staff of 850 and more than 5,500 students from over 92 countries, UPEI offers a diverse range of academic programs including certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and a growing number of professional and graduate programs.
The Role – Dean, Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies
Reporting to the Vice-President, Academic and Research, and serving as a member of senior academic administration, this position will provide a transformative vision, leadership, and support to the Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research and Applied Studies – and the University as a whole – in the mission to further Indigenize the UPEI campus and academic curriculum. The successful candidate will provide leadership in the continued development and implementation of this Faculty. They will be involved in the development and implementation of UPEI’s new Strategic Plan, offering their expertise in administration, change-management, program development and Indigenous community relations.
As one of the University’s key contacts for Indigenous community engagement, the successful candidate must bring a strong record of consensus and relationship-building with Indigenous Peoples, communities, organizations, universities, and colleges. Bringing to life the concept of Etuaptmumk – Mi’kmaw word meaning ‘two-eyed seeing’ – the new Dean will ensure a balanced approach and cooperation across disciplines, faculty, staff, and community members while building and sustaining a culturally appropriate environment that supports academic, research, and operational excellence. Charting the path forward for UPEI regarding Indigenization and decolonization, the Dean, IKERAS is a forward-thinking, collaborative leader who will lend their expertise in multiple domains, which may include the re-thinking of research topics, Indigenous research ethics, epistemologies, and methodologies; program development; support resources and services; and recruitment and retention initiatives amongst others. This leader will be familiar with Indigenous ceremonies, imbue confidence and honour throughout the IKERAS as it continues to grow and lead the Faculty through its infancy. They will provide culturally-safe spaces for their team(s) to operate, and will undoubtedly be a strong project manager, team builder, and knowledge translator. The impact of this position is significant. Through reciprocal and collaborative approaches, the Dean will continue to grow Indigenous participation across the student, staff, and faculty communities, and embed Indigenous ontologies and epistemologies in all facets of UPEI operations. In helping UPEI to achieve its equity and inclusion goals, the Dean, IKERAS will also help position UPEI to better serve its community and to better address issues of national concern.
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