Do scholars study the world, do we actively shape and participate in it, or are studying and teaching their own forms of participation?  Organizational scholars, practitioners, university administrators, and state legislators are increasingly clamoring for academic work to be more relevant to those outside academia and the issues they face.  This clamoring creates a space for scholars to consider doing things differently and to think differently about the things we do.  Yet, in 2007 a university taskforce at UNC Chapel Hill noted that there still exist several stumbling blocks to creating new models of engagement.  These include, “the distinction between engaged scholarship and public service; the preconditions for engaged scholarship; the significance of its products for the development of academic theory, and the necessary infrastructure to initiate, sustain, and reward engaged scholarship” (p. 2).

The 2009 Aspen Articulating Engagements Aspen conference on Engaged Communication scholarship will provide a forum for exploring what being an engaged scholar can mean in the field of organizational communication both theoretically and practically.  To accomplish our goal, we will delve into various meanings of the verb, “to articulate,” including:  to express clearly, to formulate, and to connect or unite. 

Since 2001, scholars in Organizational Communication have gathered together in Aspen in mid-summer to explore and advance the role of engaged scholarship in our discipline.  The focused time, and intimate setting have helped foster important contributions to our research, teaching, and understanding of how we can and do engage organizations and communities in our work.

We hope you will consider joining us this summer.

Articulating Engagements

The 7th Aspen Conference on Engaged Communication Scholarship