Roger Faust ’19 returns as Carleton’s second Indigenous faculty member
Carleton welcomed its second Indigenous faculty member at the start of fall term. A member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (one of two federally recognized tribes of Ho-Chunk), Roger Faust ’19 joins Environmental Studies as part of a broader effort to deepen and extend institutional Indigenous engagement—funded in part by a $1.5 million grant from the Mellon Foundation for Carleton’s Indigenous Engagement in Place initiative. He begins at Carleton in a two-year postdoctoral position before transitioning into a tenure-track role. But his academic journey wasn’t an easy one, he says, requiring perseverance, vision, and unforgettable support.
A top student at his Omaha high school, Faust struggled to find his footing when he arrived in Northfield in 2015. His first months were tough, especially his introductory biology and chemistry classes, which he barely passed: “On a couple occasions, professors basically dragged me into their offices asking, ‘Is there anything wrong? What’s not working for you?’”
He credits these mentors, notably biology Professor Dan Hernández, with helping him develop effective study strategies and build his confidence. A turning point was participating in Carleton’s FOCUS program, which supports underrepresented students in STEM fields. A FOCUS field trip to a local farm engaged with ethical agricultural practices catalyzed his interest in ecology. Combined with Hernández’s invitation to join his ecology lab, the experience helped Faust recognize his knack for asking scientific questions. Through an internship with the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at the University of California–Santa Cruz he developed research questions and conducted fieldwork at various sites, solidifying his enthusiasm for the scientific process and building his confidence to pursue graduate studies.
Faust’s scholarly interests continued to evolve as he leapt into higher education at the University of Minnesota. Initially interested in studying fisheries, his path took a turn when he was offered the opportunity to work on a master’s project on wolf ecology—a move that ultimately led him to consider the wider implications of wildlife management on tribal lands.
In his Carleton years and even throughout much of his master’s program, he hadn’t actively considered integrating his cultural heritage with his research. But as he continued his studies, he felt pulled back to his Indigenous community, and his identity began to influence his pursuits. In his PhD research, which on chronic wasting disease in deer populations on tribal lands, he began to engage directly with tribal communities, addressing real-world issues andto the preservation and management of natural resources from an Indigenous perspective.
Faust’s expertise spans both Indigenous and Western perspectives on environmental management, and he has ambitious plans for his teaching at Carleton. He hopes to create a Tribal Natural Resource Management class and an Indigenous Environmental Stewardship seminar focused on Indigenous authors. And he wants to offer a course on natural resource management to help students understand the decision-making processes of state and federal agencies regarding wildlife, including deer and wolves.
He envisions collaborative and interdisciplinary studies that combine ecological science with Indigenous knowledge to give students a greater understanding of how traditional ecological practices can inform modern environmental solutions. Faust plans to work closely with local Indigenous communities to cultivate an academic environment that honors and centers Indigenous voices. Building strong partnerships with these communities will both benefit students and contribute to the preservation of the rich cultures of Indigenous peoples. Most courses will offer the opportunity for hands-on engagement, whether through lab work or in-class projects co-designed with community members.
Another integral aspect of Faust’s mission at Carleton is to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all students, particularly those from Indigenous backgrounds, and to foster a better understanding of Indigenous knowledge systems and their relevance today. He intends to intertwine Indigenous perspectives and traditional ecological knowledge into the mainstream academic world. Joining Professor Meredith McCoy, Faust’s arrival doubles—from one to two—the Indigenous faculty presence on campus, signifying a moment of growth and revealing an encouraging opportunity to improve support for Indigenous perspectives at Carleton.
Faust’s return also brings a focus on mentorship. He’s deeply interested in helping underrepresented students navigate STEM fields, supporting them through academic challenges and encouraging them to pursue their interests. Remembering keenly how he was helped by faculty when he was a student, he wants to give back.
“I don’t know that I ever thought academia would be a pathway for me or that it would be something I’d pursue—or that it would even be possible,” he says. “Never in a million years, when I was a college student, did I ever imagine being a college professor. That just never seemed feasible to me.”
Now Faust is channeling his unexpected journey into ambitious plans, aiming to transform the academic environment and make a lasting impact through innovative and inclusive initiatives.
Graci Huff ’25 is a political science/international relations major and president of Carleton’s Indigenous Peoples Alliance.
Bobby Rogers is a Minneapolis-based visual artist and founder of The Bureau, a multidisciplinary art and design studio.