Facilitating Thought Leadership

SSD faculty are uniquely positioned to make essential contributions to public knowledge. From considerations of public health, to the global economy and political structures, to education, culture and social life, many faculty have highly relevant—and potentially transformative—expertise to share. This program facilitates thought leadership among SSD faculty, providing support in writing and placing op-eds based on their research or academic analysis.

Contributing op-ed expert Dave Nussbaum focuses on creating structures for busy faculty to write and pitch op-eds quickly and efficiently, without “dumbing down” research results or sacrificing accuracy. He will work with faculty to offer guidance and editorial feedback on their developing pieces, including assistance in writing, advice on including effective and timely news hooks, and assistance in pitching to likely editorial fits.

This program is implemented in close collaboration with the SSD and the University Communications Office, and with the Academic Communicators Network. As such, we can scaffold and benefit from existing communication infrastructure to amplify our faculty’s voices in the world.

To get involved, email Katherine Kinzler at kinzler@uchicago.edu. Please write with a specific idea or just with a general interest in writing for a broader audience—we are happy to help!

Kinzler
“Bias against African American English speakers is a pillar of systemic racism,” Los Angeles Times, July 14, 2020.
“The Superior Social Skills of Bilinguals,” The New York Times, March 13, 2016.
“How Kids Learn Prejudice,” The New York Times, October 23, 2016.
“Babies Watching People Eat,” The New York Times, August 21, 2016.

Nussbaum
“Courage could be contagious in the Senate,” The Boston Globe, January 1, 2020. 
“Reasoning behind a veil of ignorance,” The Boston Globe, November 22, 2019.
“Believing What You Don’t Believe,” The New York Times, November 1, 2015.
“American Dream? Or Mirage?,” The New York Times, May 3, 2015.