University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel announced earlier this month that Karen Diver will be the institution’s inaugural Senior Advisor to the President for Native American Affairs. Diver will assume this newly created position — an uncommon role in higher ed with only a few comparables nationwide — May 28.

Diver was Reservation Business Committee Chairwoman for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa from 2007 through 2015. As Chair, she expanded the land base of the Fond du Lac Band, grew the employment base from 1,600 to 2,200 and led the investment of more than $13 m...