Scholars Strategy Network

When Maine lawmakers introduced LD 2106, a bill that prevents ICE agents from targeting schools, hospitals, and other sensitive locations without a warrant, Maine SSN mobilized.

After being contacted by State Rep. Ambureen Rana to rally researchers to submit evidence-based testimony on the topic, Maine chapter co-leaders Robert W. Glover and Jordan LaBouff (University of Maine) quickly coordinated with SSN's policy team to organize and submit testimony from scholars across the state. In just 72 hours, 20 scholars wrote, received feedback on, and submitted testimony based on their research expertise and experience as educators in the state's public universities.

In the end, the coalition that mobilized in support of the bill — including the Maine SSN chapter — was successful. LD 2106 passed in the legislature and Governor Mills signed it into law on April 23rd.

🔗 Learn more about this story in our latest Chapter Spotlight via the link in the comments. ⤵️

SSN is excited to announce Mark Schmitt as the new chair of the Board of Directors. The Director of the Political Reform program at New America and a long-time friend and supporter of SSN, Schmitt has a wealth of insight from his time in government, philanthropy, and journalism to help guide the organization for years to come.

“I’ve long thought that state and federal policymaking would benefit from the insights of scholars, and that scholarship would benefit from engagement with urgent public questions,” Schmitt said. “As soon as I came across SSN, in its earliest days, I saw that it could change the incentives for both policymakers and academics, and support decisions based on real evidence and insight.”

At a time when American democracy is under threat, Schmitt will bring critical new insights to the board, drawing on his expertise on political reform, budget and tax policy, and U.S. social policy, as well as his extensive professional experience.

Since SSN’s founding, the board has been led by Robert Bowditch Jr, and he will continue to serve as a regular member of the board. Leaving SSN’s board are professors Amy Fried and Larry Jacobs. We thank these leaders for their years of dedication and service.

Finally, SSN is excited to announce Ethan Stein as the new Director of Chapters, working to strengthen chapter leadership and provide support to our 35+ chapters across the country.

Read the full announcement: https://scholars.org/features/ssn-welcomes-mark-schmitt-new-board-chair

🔎 We’re hiring a part-time Education Policy Intern/Fellow to support our Education Scholars Training Program (ESTP)!

The ESTP is an initiative that helps a diverse cohort of scholars who study education build relationships with policymakers and transform education policy in the United States. This internship is an opportunity for a current graduate or undergraduate student to learn about how to build connections between researchers and policy actors to support research-informed policymaking.

The Membership Intern/Fellow will assist with policy actor outreach and facilitating relationships with scholars, help with meeting preparation, support policy brief editing, and more.

• Remote
• $15-$18 per hour
• 10-15 hours a week

🔗 Learn more, share, and apply via the link in the comments! 👇 👇

Americans are struggling to navigate a broken health care system.

For health policy scholar Miranda Yaver (University of Pittsburgh), research is not meant to sit quietly behind journal paywalls. She believes it should move into government offices, newsrooms, classrooms, and everyday conversations with people navigating the American health care system.

Driven by that belief, Yaver co-leads the SSN Central Pennsylvania chapter, engages legislators and hospital systems, and helps other scholars bring their work into public debate.

🔗 Learn how she is turning research into real-world impact via the link in the comments. ⤵️

🔎 Are you a current undergrad or grad student interested in bridging the gap between research and policy, or know someone who is? We're a Trainings Intern/Fellow!

The SSN training program helps scholars learn how to build relationships with policymakers, civic organizations, and journalists so that research produced by academics can be used to improve public policy. We're looking for someone to join that work! The person in this role will help coordinate and execute virtual and in-person trainings, draft participant communications, and more.

• Remote
• 15–20 hrs/week
• $17–20/hr

🔗 Learn more, share, and apply via the link in the comments. 👇