Is finding focused time to finish that looming dissertation chapter, journal article, or proposal narrative difficult? Do you need people to talk to about your writing ideas? Do you want feedback on drafts of your paper or proposal? Do you sometimes find it challenging to get started on that writing project? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this Writing Community of Practice is the place for you.
During the Spring 2027 semester, Stephen John Quaye, Professor and Associate Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Training, will be leading a 10-week Writing Community of Practice (WCoP) for 16 terminal-degree graduate students and postdocs in any discipline or field. A community of practice is a group of people who share a common goal and achieve this goal through regular, sustained engagement.
In this WCoP, participants will practice the art of writing, receive guidance and feedback from Dr. Quaye and peers/colleagues, discuss helpful tips for writing and communicating complex ideas, learn how to turn their writing into a publication, and accomplish one writing goal by the end of the semester. Sessions will consist of a mini-lecture on a writing topic followed by dedicated time for writing.
The WCoP will meet the following dates from 4:00-6:00 pm in University Hall (230 N. Oval Mall).
- Session 1 January 12: Introduction, WCoP Agreements, and Goal-Setting
- Session 2 January 19: Free-Writing and Navigating First Drafts
- Session 3 January 26: How to Address Common Writing Roadblocks
- Session 4 February 2: Block Writing 1 with Goals Assessment
- Session 5 February 9: Revisit Writing Goals and Plan for Break
- February 16: No Session: Space to make writing progress and reflect
- Session 6 February 23: Peer Review 1
- Session 7 March 2: Block Writing 2 with Goals Assessment
- Session 8 March 9: How to Turn Your Writing into a Publication
- March 16: Spring Break, No Session: Continue writing and/or rest
- Session 9 March 23: Peer Review 2
- Week 10 March 30: Celebrations, Close, and Next Steps
If you are interested in being considered for this WCoP, please complete a brief online application by October 12, 2026. Accepted participants will be notified by October 26, 2026.
About the Facilitator
Stephen John Quaye, Ph.D., is Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs and Associate Dean for Excellence in Graduate and Postdoctoral Training in the Graduate School at The Ohio State University. His scholarship, which focuses on student activism, engaging in productive dialogues about difficult issues, and strategies for healing from racial battle fatigue, is published in venues, such as The Review of Higher Education and the Journal of College Student Development. He is also Editor of The Journal of Higher Education, one of the leading journals in the field of higher education. As Editor, Dr. Quaye works to shepherd manuscripts through the peer-review process by providing feedback to authors and making decisions on submissions. Notably, he facilitates an annual onboarding session for new editorial board members, where they learn strategies for providing constructive feedback to authors. Dr. Quaye has led several writing workshops, most recently for scholars at the University of Cincinnati. He is deeply committed to supporting new scholars in developing as writers and utilizes active facilitation strategies to build community and facilitate healthy dialogue with participants.