Creating a Culture of Credibility and Leadership Among System-Impacted Persons: The Role of the Academic as Ally

• In Event: Creating a Culture of Credibility and Leadership Among System-Impacted Persons

Abstract

Academia has long positioned itself as the authority on system-impacted individuals, often studying or speaking for them rather than working alongside them. This presentation challenges that dynamic, exploring how academics can serve as true allies—leveraging institutional power, resources, and networks to amplify leadership rather than reinforcing hierarchies of expertise. As the only academic on a panel of formerly incarcerated colleagues, I will critically examine how scholars can serve as allies, or accomplices, in ways that center lived experience, rather than positioning expertise as a form of gatekeeping. In professional and advocacy spaces, credibility is often contested for those with system involvement, even when they bring the deepest knowledge of the issues at hand. How can academics leverage institutional access, resources, and networks to create space for credible messengers rather than speaking for them? This discussion will challenge traditional researcher-subject dynamics, offering a framework for collaborative, power-conscious partnerships that elevate leadership rather than extract knowledge. By rethinking the role of the academic, we can foster a culture of credibility that is truly equitable and transformative.

Author

• Amber Kelly, Quinnipiac University