Dr. Gagnon joined the department in 1997, after teaching at a number of colleges and universities. He was a faculty member and academic vice president at Oglala Lokota College from 1981 until moving to UND. Professor Gagnon teaches Reservation Government and Politics, Federal Indian Law and Policy, North American Indians, Contemporary Amercian Indian Issues, History of the Sioux, and Introduction to Indian Studies. He and his wife often team teach Indians in Children's Literature as a special topics class. In 2005, Dr. Gagnon was awarded the UND Foundation/Thomas J. Clifford Faculty Achievement Award for Outstanding Faculty Development and Service.

Dr. Gagnon's research efforts parallel the courses taught with special emphasis on the operations of contemporary tribal government. Dr. Gagnon has a special interest in tribal colleges and consults regularly with several. Recent publications include Fiduciary For Seven Generations (2004) and An Indian Chapbook (2003). He is a member of the Higher Learning Commission consultant-evaluator corps, and team chairperson for accreditation visits.

Dr. Gagnon is an enrolled citizen of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa. He has three children and eleven grandchildren.