Researching the strategies and practices of scholar-practitioners a decade ago (Sanders, 2015), my “aha” moment came when I realized that who these intervener-researchers were as individuals was at least as important as what they did. This ongoing research carries that idea forward, exploring the intersectionality of multiple social identity groups as being critical to success in the boundary-spanning role of a scholar-practitioner in three ways: 1) What personal characteristics allow them to be comfortable being an outsider in intersections of the various professional and perhaps social groups in which they live and work? 2) How do they exercise agency – the ability to exercise choice, power, and leadership in what they do (Miller & Katz, 2024). 3) How do they create new knowledge that is applicable and relevant to the broader scholar and practitioner communities? In summary, scholar-practitioners are boundary-spanners within and between organizations and other knowledge communities. The study examines the intersectionality of social identities and personal characteristics required for them to be successful in that role.
