An upcoming RHSU Edu‑Scholar Public Influence Rankings release and an accompanying explanation argue that higher education undervalues practical policy influence relative to grants and traditional scholarship. The author contends that measuring scholars’ real-world reach—testimony, media presence and policy impact—helps align incentives with public needs. The piece warns that universities’ focus on narrow journal metrics can discourage scholars from engaging in contentious policy debates and urges institutions to reward translational work. It also cautions that “influential” does not automatically equal “accurate” or “useful,” recommending scrutiny of methods and consequences when scholars shape policy. Academic leaders should consider whether tenure and promotion frameworks properly credit policy engagement, media outreach and implementation partnerships that translate research into practice.