Become a Public Scholar

Benefits

Benefits of being a Public Scholar

The prestigious title of Concordia Public Scholar comes with many benefits, including:

Receiving a $10,000 award
Representing graduate research and student success at Concordia
Having a personal feature on the Concordia Public Scholars Program webpage
Receiving unique professional development training and individualized coaching
Access to the Public Scholars' community, which offers continuous support during their term and the prestige of being an alumnus of the program.

Being a Public Scholar

Concordia Public Scholars have the honour of being the face of graduate education at Concordia University. Each Scholar is expected to dedicate 10 hours a week to meet the requirements of the program and make the most of this opportunity.

Testimonials

Abu Saleh Mohammad Sowad – Public Scholar 2024

“The program’s biggest highlight was the supportive community of fellow scholars committed to making research matter outside the university. The mentorship, skill-building workshops and public visibility helped me grow professionally and personally. Academically, I’ve become more intentional about the public dimension of my work. Professionally, I’ve built networks across sectors. Personally, I’ve gained confidence and clarity in how I want to use my voice and research to foster social change. The Public Scholars program was a turning point; it connected purpose with practice.”

Sarah Farahdel – Public Scholar 2024

“The Public Scholars Program offered exactly what I needed to grow — connection, visibility and practical experience. It helped me build a stronger presence in the sustainability space through meaningful networking opportunities and public-facing work like op-eds and the extraordinary spotlight event. More than anything, it gave me the confidence and tools to share my research beyond academia and continue building my impact with more courage throughout the years.”

Brogan Stewart – Public Scholar 2023

“Being part of the Public Scholars program changed how I share my research with the world. The training gave me the tools to confidently present myself as an expert in my field, and I now feel much more prepared to engage with the media. One of the biggest changes was how much stronger and more polished my LinkedIn presence became, which was something I hadn’t prioritized before. I also discovered new ways to communicate my research, like writing op-eds or contributing to policy conversations. Hosting my own event through the program was a definite highlight! It was fun to host a panel and invite the experts that I wanted to speak with. Overall, I’ve come away from this experience feeling much more confident and capable when it comes to public engagement.”

Elizabeth Eley – Public Scholar 2024

“The Public Scholars program is multi-faceted. It not only provides practical tools for building an online presence and communicating our expertise to public audiences, but also offers tangible resources, such as opportunities to host events and access to experts for writing support. In doing so, the program demonstrates a commitment to our professional development and a deep belief in the quality of PhD research at Concordia. One of the most valuable aspects of the program was the consistent support from the program coordinator, who guided each of us individually and helped us each reach our unique professional and academic goals.

When I joined the program, I felt lost and unsure of how to communicate my research to a broader audience. I left with a clear, grounded perspective and the confidence to engage the public. Simply put, the program helped me own my expertise. Finally, the cohort model created a strong sense of community and collaboration across Concordia’s diverse academic disciplines.”