Research on social policy typically has direct implications for individuals, families, and communities who are impacted by social policy and federal, state, local, and institutional policymakers who design and implement social policy. Yet, researchers in academic settings are typically not trained in science communication to the public and, if they are involved in public-facing work, this work is rarely acknowledged or accounted for in the annual review process or in tenure and promotion criteria. Thus, there is little incentive for researchers in academic settings to produce public-facing scholarship. In addition, social policy research at Penn State is conducted by researchers across campuses and across colleges and departments, and there is no single office or center that coordinates or connects researchers who are interested in similar social policy issues. This presents a barrier to interdisciplinary research and building cross-campus/unit collaborations to address social policy issues.
SSRI’s Social Policy and Public Impact (SPPI) working group aims to provide a space for social policy researchers at Penn State to convene and discuss current work, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, enhance the capacity to conduct policy-relevant research, and integrate student participation.
Contact
Contact our SPPI working group leads if you want to be involved!
Working group leads:
- Kelly Rosinger, Associate Professor of Education and Public Policy, Penn State University (University Park)
- Erica Frankenberg, Professor of Education and Demography, Penn State University (University Park)
- Selena Ortiz, Associate Professor of Health Policy and Administration and Demography, Penn State University (University Park)
Events
Or attend our SPPI Fall 2026 events:
- Wednesday, Sept 23, 12-1pm: Social Policy & Public Impact flash talks
- Wednesday, October 21, 12-1pm: Social Policy & Public Impact - research presentations
- Wednesday, November 18, 12-1pm: Social Policy & Public Impact - panel on public impact resources at Penn State
- Wednesday, December 2, 12-1pm: Social Policy & Public Impact - open forum