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Public Scholarship Academy returns with expanded partners and programming
adults speaking during a panel discussion

A cohort of 50 scholars will participate in three days of intensive workshops focused on storytelling, media relations and podcasting. Applications are open until Thursday, March 12.

— Photo by Ted Pio Roda

Emory’s Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement (CPSE) will host the second Public Scholarship Academy this spring, a four-day professional development program designed to help academics translate their scholarly work for broad public audiences.

Scheduled for May 12-15 at the Forth Hotel in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, the academy builds on the success of its inaugural year and continues CPSE’s mission to bridge academic research and public discourse. The program brings together leading communications professionals to provide immersive, hands-on training in public scholarship.

“Our aim is to equip scholars with practical tools to communicate their work clearly, credibly and creatively beyond the academy,” says Ken Carter, founding director of the Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement and Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology at Emory’s Oxford College. “This year’s academy deepens that commitment with an expanded approach to storytelling and media engagement.”

A cohort of 50 scholars will participate in three days of intensive workshops focused on storytelling, media relations and podcasting. Media training will include guidance on engaging audiences through social media, op-eds, and television and radio interviews, with expert-led sessions offering best practices for reaching diverse publics across platforms.

The academy will incorporate programming from Dad’s Garage Improv Theatre, introducing improvisational techniques to help scholars strengthen presence, clarity and adaptability in live and media-facing settings. Media training will be provided by TVP Communications, offering participants professional coaching on on-camera interviews, message development and strategic communications.

Podcasting remains a core component of the academy. Public Radio Exchange (PRX), a leading podcast publisher and public radio distributor, will again lead a session on the evolving podcast landscape, helping scholars think strategically about audio storytelling and audience connection.

A full day will be dedicated to academic storytelling, led by specialists from the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. Through a custom-designed curriculum, participants will learn to craft compelling narratives that make complex research accessible, meaningful and trustworthy.

As in its inaugural year, the academy includes a distinctive follow-up component: each participant will receive a one-on-one coaching session after the program to apply newly acquired skills directly to their research and scholarly work.

Carter notes that the academy is intentionally designed as a personalized experience for scholars across all levels and disciplines. CPSE will sponsor up to 15 registrations for Emory faculty.

Established in 2023 and based at Emory’s Oxford College campus, the Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement supports faculty and students in engaging public audiences and strengthening confidence in evidence-based research. CPSE also produces IDEAS Festival Emory, which debuted in 2024 with nationally recognized speakers and continues to position the university as a hub for public-facing scholarship.

Applications for the Public Scholarship Academy are now open. Faculty interested in participating can learn more about the program and apply on the CPSE website.

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