Holmes Fall Learning Series- Crafting Impactful Op-Eds: Amplifying Your Research and Impact

In a time when political talking points often aim to polarize and undermine education access, it is more important than ever for student voices and subject matter experts to enter the conversation. Your research and experience hold the power to inform and shape education policy, but it needs to reach a broader audience to make a real impact. This exclusive workshop, designed for AACTE Holmes Scholars and program coordinators, will demonstrate how to make your work accessible and influential beyond the confines of academia. By crafting and pitching compelling, research-based op-eds, you can ensure your vital insights reach policymakers and the public, driving change at local, state, and federal levels. 

Led by the Scholars Strategy Network (scholars.org), this webinar will equip you with the skills to write a strong lead, incorporate timely news hooks, signal your expertise, and structure your op-ed for maximum impact. Attendees will be guided through the process of shaping your ideas into a clear outline, increasing the likelihood of publication and the visibility of your research. Do not miss this chance to learn from SSN, a national network dedicated to connecting scholars with policymakers and the media to strengthen democracy through informed public engagement. 

Speakers Information: 
Natalya Green 
Ph.D. candidate, University of Florida
Education Scholars Training Program Fellow
Scholar Strategy Network 

Natalya Green is the Education Scholars Training Program (ESTP) Fellow where she supports the implementation of the ESTP, a new initiative that supports cohorts of education scholars to engage within policy work. Green is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida working toward her degree in Educational Leadership concentrated in Education Policy. Her dissertation focuses on the experiences of college students diagnosed with cancer while pursuing higher education. 

Shannon Kelly, Ph.D.
Director of Trainings
Scholar Strategy Network 

Shannon Kelly, Ph.D., is the Director of Trainings at the Scholars Strategy Network, where she leads the development and delivery of public engagement training programs for academics. In this role, she focuses on enhancing curricula, cultivating external partnerships, and evaluating the efficacy of SSN’s training programs. Kelly has a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Kansas where she studied the biological bases of neurodevelopmental disorders.