The Public Scholar with David Perry

The Public Scholar with David Perry

From Teaching in Higher Ed by Bonni Stachowiak

May 7, 2026 · 42 min · Episode 621

About this episode

David Perry discusses his book, The Public Scholar, and the importance of teaching as a form of public engagement.

David Perry shares about his new book, The Public Scholar, on episode 621 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast. Quotes from the episode Teaching is the most important form of public engagement that any of us do. -David Perry If we are really practiced at teaching, and as we develop our skills as teachers, those are the skills that can also take us into other spaces outside of the classroom. -David Perry Academia is structured around all kinds of failure. Once you recognize that, and then bring yourself into another context where you’re going to experience rejection, you already have the skills to cope with it. -David Perry I think all writers, and certainly in academia, worry a lot about our worst faith readers. How do we not get ripped apart? You have to write for your best faith reader. You have to really shift your focus. -David Perry Resources The Public Scholar: A Practical Handbook by David M. Perry Tressie McMillan Cottom Kevin Gannon — The Tattooed Professor Irene Maweu Higher Love Pluribus The Drop Kick Murphys ‘Streets of Minneapolis’: 32 protest songs inspired by the Twin Cities’ ICE resistance The Neighborhood Kids, “Breaking News”

People in this episode

Host: Bonni Stachowiak

Guest: David Perry

Topics covered

  • public scholarship
  • teaching
  • academic skills
  • writing
  • engagement
  • rejection

Keywords

  • public scholar
  • teaching skills
  • academic rejection
  • writing for readers
  • engagement strategies

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Drop Kick Murphys

Books & works: The Public Scholar

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