Outreach and Engagement Practitioners Network (OEPN)

Advancing community-engaged practice through connection, collaboration, and shared learning

About OEPN

The Outreach and Engagement Practitioners Network (OEPN) brings together professionals across higher education who are advancing community-engaged work within and beyond their institutions. OEPN creates space for connection, shared learning, and collaboration among those working at the intersection of communities and universities.

Grounded in the work of engagement practitioners and boundary spanners, OEPN supports individuals who navigate institutional and community contexts to build meaningful, reciprocal partnerships and advance impactful work.

Our Work

OEPN's work is centered around two core areas that support both in-person engagement and ongoing connection throughout the year:

Annual Preconference

OEPN has a long-standing history of convening through its annual preconference, held in conjunction with the Engagement Scholarship Consortium (ESC) conference. This gathering brings together practitioners from across institutions to share strategies, explore emerging issues, and build relationships.

The preconference continues to serve as a key space for:

Professional development
Knowledge exchange
Collaborative dialogue
Strengthening a national network of engagement practitioners

Community of Practice (CoP)

Building on this foundation, OEPN is expanding in a year-round Community of Practice (CoP).

This CoP provides an ongoing space for practitioners to connect, reflect, and learn from one another while collectively exploring key challenges and opportunities in community-engaged work.

Through regular virtual gatherings, the CoP supports:

Cross-institutional connection and collaboration
Sharing of tools, strategies, and models
Exploration of emerging issues in engagement practice
Identification of priority areas for collective learning and action

This work is grounded in the ideea that leadership and impact are developed through shared practice, relationships, and ongoing dialogue.

Get Involved

Whether you're new to OEPN or have participated in past preconferences, there are multiple ways to connect and engage with this work:

Participate in the Annual Preconference

Join us at the ESC conference for in-person learning, dialogue, and connection

Join the Community of Practice

Become part of an ongoing network of practitioners engaging in shared learning and collaboration

Interact with OEPN on Social Media