Title: Adjunct Professor
Company: Turtle Mountain Community College
Education: MA in Human Rights, The Catholic University of America (2024); Political Science and International Relations, University of Southern California (2024); PhD Coursework, University of Southern California (2019-2023); BA in History and Political Science, University of Minnesota Morris (2019); Coursework in History, Turtle Mountain Community College (2017); Coursework in History and Anthropology, The Catholic University of America (2016); Diploma, Bottineau School District 1 (2015)
Career History: Adjunct Professor, Turtle Mountain Community College, Belcourt, ND (2020-Present); Teaching Assistant, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (2020-2022); Research Assistant, University of Minnesota Morris (2019); Peer Mentor, University of Minnesota Morris (2018-2019); Teacher Assistant, University of Minnesota Morris (2018); Teachers Assistant, Bottineau School District 1 (2015)
Jair Nicholas Thomas Peltier, Adjunct Professor at Turtle Mountain Community College, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of education.
For nearly a decade, Mr. Peltier has dedicated his career to shaping young minds in the areas of political science, international relations, economic development, Indigenous sovereignty, Tribal constitutions, and American government. Since 2020, he’s excelled as an adjunct professor at Turtle Mountain Community College, where he teaches American government, its relationship to the tribes, and how Indigenous people fit into the American system; he’s also developed a world politics class.
In addition, Mr. Peltier currently serves as the graduate cultural ambassador for SEIP’s Native American Pasifika Student Lounge on the University of Southern California campus. He notably presented research, primarily on Indigenous sovereignty and tribal constitution, at the International Political Science Association World Congress, which was particularly impactful as it inaugurated the Indigenous politics research committee and brought his findings to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Mr. Peltier previously worked as a teaching assistant at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences and as a research assistant, peer mentor, and teaching assistant at the University of Minnesota Morris. He also prepared for his career by interning with the U.S. House of Representatives and earning a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from the latter university in 2019, where he also authored a prominent article for the undergraduate journal. He then conducted PhD coursework at the University of Southern California and ultimately obtained a Master of Arts in Human Rights from the Catholic University of America in 2024.
In addition to his primary positions, Mr. Peltier has been involved as a volunteer with the Indigenous Information Network, the American Indian College Fund, and a local Catholic university. He attributes his success to unwavering determination and resilience, overcoming numerous obstacles and setbacks throughout his life to reach his current place. Looking toward the future, his main focus is to secure the position of chairman within his tribe while also maintaining his role as a professor. He wants to facilitate strong economic development and initiate a reform of the tribal constitution over the next five to eight years, fostering a more transparent and accountable government structure with proper checks and balances.
Additionally, Mr. Peltier wants to leave behind a sustainable, long-term government structure at Turtle Mountain Community College. His ultimate aspiration is to run for the U.S. Senate once he reaches 30.