Plural Identities, Singular Purposes: How Faculty Members Are Inspired to Produce Public Scholarship

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Twelve
  In Roundtable Session: Inspired Researcher Engagement and Identity Development (Table 3)

Abstract

As a growing number of higher education institutions develop relationships with media, more faculty have become versed with public scholarship. However, sparse research has investigated how faculty are influenced and inspired to produce this scholarship for audiences beyond academia. Through a phenomenological approach that centered an intersectional framing, this study interviewed 14 tenure-track and tenured faculty members to explore these motivations. Findings suggest that academic, personal, and intellectual identities inspire public scholarship, with marginalized identities often being cited as catalysts for public intellectualism, and a desire to connect with one’s community or public, and a sense of responsibility to the public good. Implications for faculty socialization and support are addressed.

Authors

• M. Yvonne Taylor, University of Texas at Austin
  Presenting Author

• Zach Taylor, University of Southern Mississippi
  Presenting Author

• Joshua Childs, University of Texas at Austin
  Presenting Author