Provost’s Fellows for Public Engagement

In fall 2024, Johns Hopkins University launched the Provost’s Fellows for Public Engagement, a program to further strengthen our institution’s capacity to bring the benefits of discovery to the world. Responding to the Ten for One goal to develop new pathways to translate cutting-edge research into meaningful policy ideas and become a preeminent source of academic expertise in service to society, the Provost’s Fellows for Public Engagement is an investment in our faculty’s capacity to communicate knowledge, foster meaningful dialogue, and increase the reach and societal impact of our frontline researchers. The Provost’s Fellows for Public Engagement affirms the value of public scholarship as a vital academic pursuit, extending the benefits and impact of our research to shape our world for the better.

About the Program

The Provost’s Fellows for Public Engagement program aims to empower outstanding faculty members to communicate their leading-edge research and evidence-based insights in effective and compelling ways to national and global audiences. Each year, a cohort of 6-8 Fellows will benefit from tailored training and engagement opportunities over the course of a year and have the opportunity to mobilize project funds to pilot their own innovative efforts. By the end of the term, we expect Fellows will be comfortable providing expert commentary across a range of media platforms, proficient at adapting their message to various audiences and stakeholders, able to identify emerging topics of broader interest, and equipped to craft illuminating narratives.

Program Goals

Broadly, this program aims to enhance public engagement with research, scholarship, and creative works across a wide array of disciplines while bridging the gap between academic expertise and its relevance for society in the face of growing skepticism of institutions of higher education. By expanding the capacity and skillset of faculty for effective public engagement, the program seeks to increase the visibility and accessibility of the university’s research, as well as broaden the range of faculty and disciplines engaged in this work. We also strive to foster a culture of outreach and dialogue within the university and broader community, positioning Johns Hopkins as a leader in translating academic expertise for public audiences, helping to inspire and enrich humanity, inform public discourse and encourage evidence-based policymaking.

Enhancing Public Engagement

Fellows will play a pivotal role in improving public engagement across the institution by:

• Engaging in public conversations on new discoveries and pressing societal issues related to their expertise.
• Writing op-eds and articles for mainstream media outlets.
• Providing expert commentary on current events and emerging trends in their field.
• Creating engaging content for various platforms (e.g. media, social media, podcasts) to reach diverse audiences.
• Developing clear, jargon-free explanations of complex concepts in their field.
• Participating in public lectures and community events.
• Engaging with federal and local policy makers.

Training and Opportunities

Provost’s Fellows will have the opportunity to:

• Receive training from communication professionals on translating scholarly ideas and findings for general audiences, media engagement and public speaking, audience-specific communication strategies, and using storytelling to convey complex concepts.
• Engage and cultivate relationships with key journalists, community partners, and other private- and public-sector stakeholders relevant to their field of expertise.
• Benefit from peer mentorship by successful faculty communicators.
• Engage with diverse audiences, including policymakers and government officials, journalists and media professionals, community groups and the general public.
• Collaborate with various university entities, including University Communications, Federal Strategy, the Hopkins Bloomberg Center team and more.
• Access to limited funding for piloting innovative public engagement projects.

Program Details:

• Duration: The fellowship will span one year, beginning with a short retreat. Training opportunities and engagement activities will be tailored throughout the year.
• Cohort Size: 6-8 professorial rank faculty members will be selected from disciplines across the university.
• Financial Support: A stipend or 20% FTE coverage (subject to dean approval) will be offered to fellows to support their dedicated efforts towards public engagement.
• Project Funds: Project funding will also be available for fellows to propose and pilot public engagement efforts during their fellowship.
• Start Date: The first cohort will be selected by late November 2024 to begin the fellowship in January 2025.

Eligibility and Selection

We welcome applications from professorial faculty of all ranks, across all disciplines at Johns Hopkins University. We also welcome nominations from divisional leadership. Fellows will be selected based on:

• Demonstrated commitment to public engagement and broader communication, or strong interest in building this capacity;
• Potential for broad interest and societal relevance of their research areas;
• Innovative ideas for improving public understanding in their field; and
• Alignment with the university’s strategic and communications goals.

Faculty Advisory Commitee

• Keri Althoff, Professor of Epidemiology & former Provost’s Fellow for Research Communications, BSPH
• Otis Brawley, Professor of Oncology & Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, SOM and BSPH
• Sean Carroll, Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy, KSAS
• Peter DeCarlo, Associate Professor of Environmental Health and Engineering, WSE
• Henry Farrell, SNF Agora Institute Professor of International Affairs, SAIS
• Lilliana Mason, SNF Agora Institute Associate Professor of Political Science, KSAS

Staff Partners

• J.B. Bird, Assistant Vice President, Media Relations & News
• Cybele Bjorklund, Inaugural Executive Director of the Hopkins Bloomberg Center & Vice President for Federal Strategy
• Camille Johnston, Vice President for University Communications
• Melisa Lindamood, Assistant Vice President of Federal Strategy
• Lymari Morales, Associate Dean for Communications and Marketing, BSPH
• Kristen Reek, Director of Federal Strategy
• Jill Rosen, Director of Research Media Relations

Apply by Friday, November 1, 2024.

Apply on JHU InfoReady.

Questions?

Please contact Emily Henson, Director for Provost’s Communications at [email protected]