JDEED- The OpED Project Commentaries Fellowship
Description
The Journal of Diversity and Equity in Educational Development (JDEED) is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal of the POD Network. Founded in 2024, the journal aims to (1) develop and sustain scholarly space for minoritized* voices in higher education and to (2) center dynamic conversations about DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging) practices, theories, and possibilities in educational development.
A defining feature of JDEED is that we accept a variety of manuscripts beyond standard empirical articles in order to welcome contributors with diverse interests and experiences. This includes Commentaries, which are brief op-ed pieces. Recognizing both the unique conventions of the op-ed genre and the critical need to diversify the voices contributing to public scholarship, JDEED is excited to partner with The OpEd Project to launch the JDEED- The OpEd Project Commentaries Fellowship.
The OpEd Project is a national non-profit organization that aims to change who writes history. Focusing on thinkers who have been underrepresented in the public sphere, The OpEd Project elevates new voices and new knowledge to broaden the range of writers engaging in public discourse. Participants of The OpEd Project’s signature “Write to Change the World” workshop leave with an outline of an op-ed in hand and receive access to a national network of mentors for individualized follow-up.
In this pilot year, JDEED will sponsor up to five Fellows to participate in a virtual The OpEd Project “Write to Change the World” workshop and receive mentorship to complete a commentary for potential publication in JDEED.
Through this fellowship and partnership with The OpEd Project, a mission-aligned organization, JDEED reaffirms its commitment to cultivating diverse scholarly voices and to fostering truly inclusive public discourse.
Benefits & Commitments
If selected, Fellows will receive:
Full funding to participate in ONE virtual The OpEd Project “Write to Change the World” workshop;
Mentorship and feedback through The OpEd Project, including one month of access to weekly “Ask A Journalist” office hours with the Project’s Editor-In-Residence and access to journalist mentors (aka Mentor-Editors) for individual feedback;
Eligibility to join a writing community of educational developers interested in public scholarship.
Fellows commit to:
Completing one online The OpEd Project “Write to Change the World” workshop by January 15, 2025 (date and time of your choosing);
Workshops are run exclusively by The OpEd Project, and all are held online. We have listed the upcoming workshop dates below; however, please check The OpEd Project’s website [link here] for any changes to scheduling or availability. Upon acceptance to the Fellowship, please coordinate with JDEED as soon as possible to sign up for a workshop that best aligns with your schedule.
Upcoming workshop dates:
October 16 & 17, 2-Day Intensive (10:00 am - 1:30 pm ET)
October 21 & 22, 2-Day Intensive (3:00 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
November 5 & 6, 2-Day Intensive (10:00 am - 1:30 pm ET)
November 13 & 14, 2-Day Intensive (12:00 pm - 3:30 pm ET)
December 4 & 5, 2-Day Intensive (10:00 am - 1:30 pm ET)
December 10 & 11, 2-Day Intensive (2:00 pm - 5:30 pm ET)
December 16 & 17, 2-Day Intensive (3:00 pm - 6:30 pm ET)
January 8 & 9, 2-Day Intensive (10:00 am - 1:30 pm ET)
January 14 & 15, 2-Day Intensive (12:00 pm - 3:30 pm ET)
2. Submitting an original, previously unpublished Commentary (op-ed) to JDEED on a topic aligned with the journal's aims and scope, by February 15, 2026, for review and possible publication in JDEED;
The piece cannot be under consideration elsewhere. If JDEED is unable to accept your Commentary, you may then submit the piece to any other publication of your choosing.
3. Attending one discussion in January or February 2026 (up to two hours) with other Fellows to share insights and plans for publication.
Date and time to be determined.
If you are unable to commit to all of the above requirements, we encourage you to apply in a future year.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this opportunity, you must meet the following criteria:
1. You must be a current or potential POD Network member to accept the Fellowship.
You do not have to be a POD Network member to apply for this opportunity. However, you must be a POD Network member or become one in order to register for a workshop. If membership poses a hardship of any kind, please DO NOT let that stop you from applying. If you are selected, we will work with the POD office to secure your membership.
2. You must not have previously published an op-ed, including in local publications such as city or town newspapers.
If you are unsure whether a past piece qualifies as a published op-ed, please feel free to contact us at jdeed@podnetwork.org.
Finally, the Fellowship is open to everyone. However, we particularly encourage applicants from historically underrepresented or minoritized groups in higher education. These groups include, but are not limited to:
Individuals who identify as BIPOC; LGBTQIA+ individuals; and individuals with disabilities;
Individuals working at institutions historically underrepresented in POD including, but not limited to: Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Native American Tribal Colleges, Hispanic-Serving Institutions or Hispanic Area Colleges and Institutions, Minority-Serving Institutions (or those aspiring to become MSIs), and community colleges; and
Applicants of any background who will join the POD Network, or who are current POD Network members, and who will, over the long term, contribute to POD’s mission of social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational development.
Timeline and Application Process
September 21, 2025: Application deadline
October 15, 2025: Notification of decision
October 21, 2025 – January 15, 2026: Attend a virtual The OpEd Project “Write to Change the World” Workshop (date and time of your choosing)
January or February 2026: Fellows discussion (date and time TBD)
February 15, 2026: JDEED submission deadline for a Commentary
To apply, please complete a brief application form [link] describing your interest in the program. All applications will be reviewed anonymously by the selection committee, using a standardized rubric to ensure fairness and consistency.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns, please email jdeed@podnetwork.org. To support transparency and ensure that everyone has equal access to information, we will anonymize your inquiry and post both the question and our response to this page on the JDEED website.
Questions
Q: I've published blog posts, do those count as op-eds?
A: Please feel free to share the posts with us [jdeed@podnetwork.org], but likely no, they would not be considered published op-eds. The OpEd Project offers a specific framework for crafting an op-ed, and you might still be eligible for and benefit from the workshop even if you've published blogs.
Q: I've participated in other JDEED opportunities, such as Academic Writing Scholars program. Am I still eligible to participate?
A: Thank you for participating in other JDEED events and opportunities! Yes, you are still eligible to participate and we encourage you to apply. One caveat, however, is that our goal is diversify academic scholarship; therefore, depending on the application pool, we may give priority to those who have not participated in major JDEED programs, such as Academic Writing Scholars.
Q: I don't work in educational development; may I still apply?
A: Yes, we welcome applications from individuals outside of educational development. However, please note that the op-ed you produce at the conclusion of the workshop should align with JDEED's aims and scope, which centers on educational development. Also note that in order to sign up for the workshop, you must be or become a member of the POD Network, a professional association for educational developers.
Q: I have a writing partner. May we apply as a team?
A: We encourage you all to apply. We ask, however, that each writer submits a separate application.
Q: Can you provide a preview of the application?
A: Yes! You may find a preview of the application at this link.
Note: *We use the term “minoritized,” rather than”minority,” to draw attention to the structural, historical, and ideological processes and practices that (1) transform groups of individuals, such as BIPOC individuals, women-identified people, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ individuals, into coherent social and political groups and (2) has historically and systematically restricted the rights and opportunities of individuals in these groups based on these socially constructed identities. Minoritization is not determined by numerical representation; rather, it occurs across various contexts regardless of whether these groups constitute a demographic minority or majority. Please see these two resources [link and link] for more information.