A panel discussion exploring “The Value of Public Scholarship” will be held Wednesday, Jan. 21, at noon in the Jones Room of the Woodruff Library.

Timothy R. Holbrook, associate dean of faculty and professor in the School of Law, will serve as moderator.

Additional panelists include:

• Claire E. Sterk, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs
• Andra Gillespie, associate professor of political science
• Carlos Moreno, associate professor in pathology and laboratory medicine
• Megan McRainey, assistant director of media relations

The discussion “will explore why public scholarship is so important and should be viewed as a way of advancing one’s academic career and not as a distraction,” Holbrook explains.

“As scholars, we tend to focus intently on our work and the impact it will have on the broader scholarly community. At times we lose sight of the fact that our work can, and should, have a broader societal impact,” he says.

“Thinking in ways of engaging the general public, be it through interviews with the media or op-ed writing, provides a way for us to translate our scholarly work in a way to immediately impact the public.”

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the event is free and open to the public.  RSVP to Joyce Alston by Monday, Jan. 19.

The discussion is part of the Public Scholarship discussion series. Two other panels are planned for this spring:

• Writing and Placing Op-Eds
• Challenges and Opportunities in Managing a Public Intellectual Profile

If you would like to serve on either panel, contact Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law Dorothy Brown.