2026-2027 Positions
Native American House (NAH) Ambassadors
NAH Ambassadors serve an essential role in advancing Native student life at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In partnership with Student Affairs staff, Ambassadors support the daily operations of NAH and contribute to the design, implementation, and assessment of programs that promote student success, inclusion, and a strong sense of belonging. As official representatives of the University, Ambassadors help cultivate an engaged and welcoming campus environment that supports student retention and community connection.
A distinctive feature of the 2026–2027 NAH Ambassador Program is the opportunity for Ambassadors to contribute to knowledge creation and storytelling efforts connected to the 25th Anniversary of the Native American House, helping document and uplift our unit's ongoing impact.
Ambassadors assume their roles for the full academic year, beginning in August with mandatory training, Indigenous Scholars Orientation, Welcome Celebration, and NAH's Welcome Event.
- Start Date: August 2026
- End Date: May 2027
- Undergraduate Student Pay Rate: Range of $15-$17/hour
- Graduate Student Pay Rate: Based on experience
- Work Hours: Up to 15 hours per week (up to 20 hours per week for Graduate Students)
Duties and Responsibilities
- Positively represent the Native American House (NAH) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
- Attend and support regular and annual NAH-led programming and events, such as, but not limited to, Dinner on Us, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Native American Heritage Month, and NAH Congratulatory Ceremony. Support includes assisting with set up and clean up, food service, photography, managing the i-card swipe station, and welcoming guests.
- Develop and implement programs to meet the cultural, academic, and personal development of Native students.
- Serve as referral agents and maintain knowledge of Student Success, Inclusion & Belonging units, including knowledge of NAH, its history, current programs, and outreach services.
- Attend and participate in weekly staff meetings, supervisory meetings, and professional development sessions.
- Maintain a clean and organized workstation and shared spaces within the NAH, including sanitizing surfaces and discarding rubbish.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education and Experience
- Current University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign student
- Experience and familiarity with campus life and campus resources
Skills
- Have a genuine interest in supporting college students.
- Enthusiastic, reliable, responsible, and willing to play a key role in student support.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to be innovative, imaginative, and motivating.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Intersectional and cultural awareness.
- Ability to balance the demands of an academic workload with the requirements of the Native American House Ambassador position.
- Students who are a good fit for this position are approachable, knowledgeable, and open to learning about Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing, and are willing to engage in cultural introspection.
Supervision
Native American House (NAH) Ambassadors are mentored, supported, guided, and supervised by the NAH Director and Assistant Director.
Support and Evaluation
- Professional and constructive feedback is provided regularly.
- Frequent verbal contact and regular meetings with the NAH Director and the Assistant Director are expected and part of continuous learning and growth.
Benefits
There are many benefits to becoming a Native American House Ambassador:
- Unique opportunities to enhance leadership and academic identity development
- Professional and personal skills development
- Networking and collaborative opportunities
- Graduation recognition
Recruitment Timeline
- Application Opens: February 27, 2026
- Application Closes: April 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CT
Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview the week of April 27.