Agenda

Explore the agenda and detailed session descriptions for SSN's 2026 National Leadership Convening. All times are in EST.

Monday, June 22, 2026

Visit the registration table to receive your name tag and any other information you might need to have a successful SSN National Leadership Convening.

Grab lunch and head to regional tables to meet fellow SSN members and leaders in your area, who you can continue to connect with locally after the convening.

12:15pm - 12:30pm, State of SSN

Hear an update from Executive Director Paola Maynard-Moll on the state of the Scholars Strategy Network, including highlights from across the network and reflections on the role scholars can play in the current moment.

12:30pm - 1:00pm, A Conversation on Backlash and Democratic Renewal

SSN’s incoming Board Chair, Mark Schmitt, sits down with Taeku Lee to discuss his new book, Billionaire Backlash: The Age of Corporate Scandal and How it Could Save Democracy, on corporate scandal, political backlash, and the future of American democracy. Drawing on Lee’s argument that public anger and distrust can also become catalysts for democratic change, the conversation will explore what it could take to channel frustration into collective action, institutional renewal, and a more resilient democracy in the years ahead

Many conversations about American democracy begin with what’s broken. This one starts with where we’re headed. We open the 2026 SSN National Leadership Convening with a forward-looking conversation about the future of American democracy. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this session asks what a stronger, more resilient democracy could look like, and how we get there. The session brings together scholars laying out pathways to rebuild key democratic institutions and practices, from federal governance to civic engagement. The goal of this conversation will be to ground the convening in a shared sense that progress is possible, and that scholars have a critical role to play in shaping what comes next.

Facilitator: Suzanne Mettler, Cornell University
K. Sabeel Rahman, Cornell Law School
Philip Rocco, Marquette University
Mallory E. SoRelle, Duke University

Take a break before going to your chosen breakout session.

Chapter leaders often ask how to more actively engage members and build stronger, more connected chapters. This interactive session will focus on how intentional one-on-one conversations can support member recruitment, welcome new members, develop future leaders, and spark chapter projects. Participants will learn practical strategies for conducting effective 1:1s and practice applying them to their own chapter contexts.

Facilitators:
Mandana Mohsenzadegan, Scholars Strategy Network
Ethan Stein, Scholars Strategy Network

Federal education policy has undergone restructuring as the role of the Department of Education has diminished. With significant reductions to research infrastructure, fewer policy decisions are based on research evidence. This session will highlight how federal education policy is operating in a changed environment and what this means for scholars committed to evidence-informed policy. Panelists will discuss which education issues may define the 2026 agenda given the election year and where there are opportunities for researchers to contribute to the policy space.

Facilitator: Larry Walker, University of Central Florida
Jorge Ambriz, Office of Representative Adelita Grijalva (AZ-7)
Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
Allison Rose Socol, EdTrust
Samantha Wilkerson, Committee on Education & Workforce

This session will examine the current landscape of voting rights and election administration in the U.S., with a focus on emerging federal and state pressures that could reshape how and whether voters participate, and explore concrete strategies for scholars and civic advocates to support resilient, accessible election systems at the state and local level.

Facilitator: Paola Maynard-Moll, Scholars Strategy Network
Andrea Benjamin, The University of Oklahoma
Rachael Cobb, Suffolk University
Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge
Monica Holman Evans, DC Board of Elections
Ian Simmons, Democracy House

Break and return to the Salon AB for the plenary session.

The policymaking plenary features Beth Pearson, Chief of Staff for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sarah Groh, Chief of Staff for Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and Sarah Ghermay, Chief of Staff for Rep. Yassamin Ansari, in conversation with Suzanne Mettler. Drawing on both of their experiences as senior Capitol Hill staffers, Beth and Sarah will discuss how scholars can build productive relationships with policymakers and congressional staff in today’s political environment. Sarah’s background in grassroots advocacy, along with Beth’s as an academic researcher, will inform their advice as scholars navigate policy engagement during the current election cycle and beyond. The session will conclude with an audience Q&A.

Facilitator: Suzanne Mettler, Cornell University
Sarah Ghermay, Office of Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-3)
Sarah Groh, Office of Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-7)
Beth Pearson, Office of Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA)

Join us for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and take the opportunity to connect with fellow convening attendees from across SSN and beyond.

Join us for dinner as we gather to celebrate the efforts of SSN leaders in fostering communities of engaged scholars dedicated to informing public policy and strengthening democracy. We will recognize chapter award winners from 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Grab breakfast and meet fellow SSN members and leaders.

This interactive workshop will focus on one of the most consistent challenges facing chapters: how to identify and develop the next generation of chapter leaders before current leaders step down. Organizational strength depends on leadership cultivation rather than selection. Participants will explore what manageable, meaningful cultivation looks like in the academics-organizing-academics context. Chapter leaders will contribute their experiences and crowd-source suggestions from their peers.

Facilitator: Ethan Stein, Scholars Strategy Network

The overturning of Roe v Wade led to public outcry, national discourse, and electoral and policy agendas being dominated by pursuing justice for abortion seekers. Yet, as more instability in economic, health, civil rights, and other global crises have evolved, abortion is at risk of deprioritization despite ongoing legal restrictions, criminalization, and inequities in access. This panel examines how attention cycles shape abortion politics, media coverage, and movement strategy, and what it takes to sustain urgency when the issue is no longer front-page news.

Facilitator: Lisa Hernandez, Scholars Strategy Network
Carolette Norwood, Howard University
Krystal Leaphart, Guttmacher Institute
Tarina Keene, REPRO Rising Virginia
Sofia Resnick, Stateline

Economics and affordability concerns are key in every election, and politicians are vocal about these issues at all levels of government. But how can researchers wield their expertise to drive meaningful change once lawmakers are in office? Drawing on experiences from panelists, this session will explore ways in which scholars can effectively energize policymakers and communities on topics such as tax credits, SNAP, and cost of living in a continuously shifting political landscape.

Facilitator: Jessica Thompson, Scholars Strategy Network
Sen. Jennifer B. Boysko, Virginia State Senate
Fiona McCarthy, Economic Security Project
Ellen Nissenbaum, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Break and return to Salon AB for the plenary session.

The media landscape has undergone challenging transitions over the last few years, reshaping what it means to reach the public. From polarized echo chambers to a news cycle that moves at break-neck speed, it’s harder than ever for researchers to break through. But despite these trends, there are still a plethora of opportunities for SSN members and chapters to engage in the media. In this plenary session, two editors join two media-experienced researchers to discuss the role of researchers in today’s media landscape and what scholars and chapters should know about using the media to reach their target audiences.

Facilitator: E.J. Dionne, Jr., Brookings
Carrie Baker, Smith College
Lee Drutman, New America
Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Beacon
Michael Tomasky, The New Republic

Grab lunch and head to topical tables to connect with fellow SSN leaders and members of the media.

This interactive session helps chapter leaders move beyond events by grounding their work in clear goals and designing initiatives that meaningfully advance them. After hearing brief examples of diverse chapter projects, from policy engagement to media partnerships, participants will articulate their own chapter goals and begin developing a concrete initiative aligned with those priorities. The session emphasizes using events and activities not as endpoints, but as strategic tools for building relationships, gathering insight, and driving ongoing impact.

Facilitators:
Lizzy Ghedi-Ehrlich, Scholars Strategy Network
Shannon Kelly, Scholars Strategy Network

Health policy is made and implemented by federal, state, and local governments. Federal policy is changing across a range of key health issues and programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, and public health guidelines and recommendations. Panelists will discuss how scholars and policy actors work across different levels of government to ensure positive health outcomes for communities.

Facilitator: Becca Murdoch, Society for Research in Child Development
Adriane Caslotti, National Association of County and City Health Officials
Caleigh Lynch, Office of VA State Delegate Rodney Willett
Priya Amilineni, Office of Representative Mark Takano (CA-39)

This session explores the evolving threats to academic freedom and public scholarship, from legislative interference and funding pressures to harassment and reputational attacks. Drawing on perspectives from higher education coalitions and scholar safety practitioners, the session will examine both institutional and individual dimensions of academic freedom.

Facilitator: Paola Maynard-Moll, Scholars Strategy Network
Mike Gavin, Alliance for Higher Education
Rachel Homer, Democracy Forward
Bethany Letiecq, George Mason University
Katharine Zeiders, University of Arizona

Break and return to Salon AB for the closing session.

Conclude the SSN National Leadership Convening on a high note with an inspiring roundup of insights and reflections from the past two days. Closing speakers will spotlight key takeaways from plenary and breakout sessions, highlight ideas and strategies gained for enhancing academic public engagement, and uplift fellow attendees by sharing impactful quotes and noteworthy moments from the convening. We hope this closing session will leave you feeling motivated, inspired, and equipped to achieve SSN’s mission to foster a nationwide culture where research regularly informs public debate and policy at every level.