Op Ed Project Returns to Expand Thought-Leadership Opportunities at UC

When the University of Cincinnati's College of Nursing Associate Dean Karen Bankston

wrote about racial disparities in Cincinnati

this fall, she little suspected the opinion piece she penned for WCPO Digital would be shared hundreds of times and lead to radio and television appearances.

The alumna of UC’s inaugural

Op Ed Project seminar

credits the program with encouraging her to make her voice heard and highlighting her personal and professional expertise.

“We’re so proud of Dr. Bankston and her work,” said Provost Beverly Davenport. “She’s a great example of why we are proud to host the Op Ed Project again this year and expand its reach at UC.”

Davenport helped bring the Op Ed Project to UC to combat the dearth of diverse viewpoints expressed in the media, both locally and nationally.

According the

Women’s Media Center

, women accounted for just 36 percent of bylines and on-air appearances in the top 20 TV, newspapers, online news sites and news wire services. The majority of male voices included are not those of underrepresented minorities.

“We want to prepare our faculty and staff to become visible thought leaders locally, nationally and internationally,” Davenport said. “We all benefit when their voices are heard.”

This year’s Op Ed Project class includes 20 women and underrepresented faculty and staff members. They come from the College of Medicine, the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences and organizations all over campus.

• Danielle Bessett, Sociology
• James Canfield, Social Work
• Donna Chrobot-Mason, Psychology-Organizational Leadership
• Andrea DeSantis, College of Medicine, Medical Scientist Training Program
• Jennifer Hearn, College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services
• Tracy Herrmann, Allied Health
• Stacie Furst-Holloway, Psychology-Organizational Leadership
• Amy Howton, UC Women’s Center
• Erynn Masi De Casanova, Sociology
• Laura Dudley Jenkins, Political Science
• Kayti Kennard, University Honors Program
  
• Nicole Mayo, Student Affairs
• Sarah Mayorga-Gallo, Sociology
• Carolyn Peterson, Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies
• Angela Potochnik, Philosophy
• Leisan Smith, LGBTQ Center
• Sarah Stitzlein, Philosophy
• Guy-Lucien Whembolua, Africana Studies
• Rina Williams, Political Science
• Robin Martin, Provost Office
  

Alumni from the first Op Ed Project at UC have had opinion pieces published in both mainstream and professional publications, with a half-dozen published by WCPO Digital alone.

The new group will gather Dec. 5 and 6 for training by Op Ed Project leaders, including

Michele Weldon

, one of the non-profit’s founders, whose work has been published internationally.

The Op Ed Project at UC is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Office of the President, UC LEAF, UC Women’s Center, the Department of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies and the Department of Journalism.