Bridging Worlds: My Journey as a Pracademic in Community Engagement

I often get asked what exactly I do, and when I say I’m a "pracademic," I usually get some puzzled looks. It's a term that blends two of my biggest passions: academic research and hands-on community work. For me, it’s not just a job—it’s a calling that lets me connect with people and make a difference in their lives.

In simple terms, being a pracademic means I get to take all the theories and ideas from my academic work and see how they play out in the real world. It’s kind of like taking a recipe and testing it in the kitchen, except instead of cooking, I’m working with communities to find practical solutions to their challenges. And just like cooking, sometimes you have to tweak things to get them just right. That’s the beauty of it—there’s always room for learning and growth.

One of the things I love most about my work is seeing the direct impact it has on people’s lives. Whether I’m sitting down with community members to hear their stories or collaborating on a project to improve health outcomes, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of knowing that you’ve helped someone. It’s a reminder that the work we do isn’t just about numbers and data; it’s about people—real people with real needs and dreams.

But I won’t sugarcoat it—being a pracademic has its challenges. Balancing the demands of academic research with the needs of the community can be tricky, and there are days when it feels like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Yet, those moments when everything comes together and you see the positive change happening make it all worthwhile.

In the end, this journey is about more than just blending research with practice. It’s about building connections, empowering others, and making a lasting impact. It’s a path that I’m grateful to walk, and one that I hope makes a difference in the communities I care so deeply about.