About UsFounded in 2018 as the Project on Civil Discourse, the Project on Civic Dialogue provides opportunities to listen and communicate across differences. Submitter's Note: This StratML rendition was compiled from the source by ChatGPT and edited in the XForm at https://stratml.us/forms2/Part1Form.xmlProject on Civic DialoguePCD_7d12bc78-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea00The Project on Civic Dialogue at American University provides opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to listen, communicate across differences, practice dialogue skills, and engage in rigorous inquiry.American UniversityInstitutional home of the Project on Civic Dialogue.American University StudentsPrimary participants in PCD academic, co-curricular, and dialogue programs.American University FacultyContributors to dialogue programming and educational integration through Faculty Fellows.American University StaffMembers of the campus community eligible to participate in and support dialogue programming.PCD TeamLara SchwartzProgram Director ^^ Lara Schwartz specializes in dialogue across differences, constitutional law, civil rights, politics, communications, and policy. Drawing on her experience as a legislative lawyer, lobbyist, and communications strategist in leading civil rights organizations, Lara encourages students to approach complex questions from multiple perspectives, listen generously to one another, challenge themselves, and support one another. ^^ Prior to joining the SPA faculty, Lara served as Director of Strategic Engagement at the American Constitution Society for Law & Policy. Previously she served as Courts Matter director at Media Matters, Legal Director at the Human Rights Campaign, and Vice President of External Affairs at the American Association of People with Disabilities. Lara has appeared on national and local radio and television programs and written op-eds published in national papers and local papers of record. from June 2019-June 2020 she was a fellow at the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement.Rahul KirkhopeProgram Coordinator ^^ Rahul Kirkhope joined the Project on Civic Dialogue in the Spring of 2025, arriving at AU after working in business development for a civil engineering firm located in Alexandria, Virginia. ^^ With a background in political communication research at Carleton College, Rahul looks forward to further developing his skillset while supporting the PCD Student Affiliates in their academic careers, running the grant program, and growing the Project on Civic Dialogue. SPA Civic Dialogue Faculty FellowsCivic Dialogue Faculty Fellows ^^ The American University School of Public Affairs (SPA) challenges its students and faculty to explore our society’s most challenging questions with rigor and intellectual curiosity. We recognize that by engaging in dialogue with one another and attempting to understand diverse viewpoints, students can refine and improve their own ideas. ^^ The SPA Civic Dialogue Faculty Fellows program supports efforts to infuse dialogue across disagreement, active and collaborative learning, dispute resolution, problem solving, peer leaders, and / or depolarization into an SPA course.Kevin BoyleFall 2025 Faculty Fellow ^^ Introduction to Law (Justice/COVID and the Constitution) ^^ Professor Boyle uses active learning exercises including mock trials, hearings, and collaborative research assignments. His students will revisit COVID-era public health decision-making and use dialogue, deliberation, and research to critically examine these policies.Tingli QuFall 2025 Faculty Fellow ^^ Administrative Politics ^^ Professor Qu will strengthen students’ ability to engage productively across differences by embedding structured dialogue and active learning exercises throughout the semester, using mock hearings, collaborative case simulations, and a dialogue-based reflection assignment.Stacie St. LouisSpring 2026 Faculty Fellow ^^ Advanced Seminar in Corrections (Corrections: Confined and Surveilled). ^^ Professor St. Louis will integrate dialogue-centered classroom activities where students engage opposing viewpoints using empirical evidence, legal frameworks, and lived experiences. Some examples of this include mock sentencing or parole hearings, reform debates on solitary confinement or prison abolition, or community-engaged learning through partnerships with local organizations, such as touring correctional facilities or attending community forums on justice reform.Rachel WhiteSpring 2026 Faculty Fellow ^^ Children, Law, and Policy ^^ Professor White will integrate a structured civic dialogue activity centered on the film Losing Isaiah. Students will participate in a role-play debate from the perspectives of key stakeholders — birth parents, adoptive parents, child advocates, social workers, and judges — supported by legal precedent, developmental psychology, and relevant policy research. They will prepare collaboratively in groups, developing arguments, anticipating counterarguments, and learning to work across differences within their teams.Tongtong ZhangSpring 2026 Faculty Fellow ^^ Authoritarian Politics and Digital Governance ^^ Professor Zhang is designing a new graduate level seminar. This seminar explores how authoritarian regimes employ foundational governance strategies and emerging digital technologies to maintain domestic control and extend international influence. Students will engage with leading theories and empirical studies across diverse autocratic contexts, with particular attention to how digital tools—such as social media, AI, and surveillance technologies—interact with or transform conventional mechanisms of authoritarian governance.Janice Iwama2024-2025 Faculty Fellow ^^ Associate Professor Janice Iwama redesigned her course SPA 300: Experimenting with Violence to incorporate dialogue between students and individuals inside and outside of the criminal justice system.Alan Levine2024-2025 Faculty Fellow ^^ Associate Professor Alan Levine conducted research on the efficacy of various dialogue practices in the classroom through gathering and interpreting student data.Jim Quirk2024-2025 Faculty Fellow ^^ Senior Professorial Lecturer Jim Quirk infused dialogue on the 2024 election into GOVT 322: American Political Parties this fall semester.Jeremy Janow2024-2025 Faculty Fellow ^^ Senior Professorial Lecturer Jeremy Janow redesigned GOVT 208: Justice and Citizenship to incorporate civic dialogue in its consideration of the good citizen.Jason Fabrikant2024-2025 Faculty Fellow ^^ Senior Professorial Lecturer Jason Fabrikant included sessions on dialogue and freedom of expression in a revamped version of SPA 220: American Constitution.A campus driven by intellectual curiosity and good conversations._7d12bdb8-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea00To provide opportunities to listen and communicate across differences by teaching and practicing dialogue skills, supporting expressive and academic freedom, and fostering rigorous inquiry and self-reflection._7d12be94-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea00DialogueAffirming that dialogue and disagreement are skills requiring learning and practice.FreedomUpholding expressive and academic freedom as necessary conditions for dialogue.InquiryPromoting rigorous inquiry and self-reflection as foundations for civic dialogue.CommunityBuilding shared spaces for listening, connection, and constructive engagement.DialoguePromote the learning and practice of dialogue skills across the university community._7d12beda-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea001SkillsTeach foundational dialogue skills including listening, disagreement, mediation, and inquiry through academic and co-curricular offerings._7d12bf16-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea001.1Training & SupportTrain and support student facilitators who lead discussions, assist in programming, and contribute to curriculum development._7d12bf52-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea001.2Student FacilitatorsFaculty EffortsSupport faculty efforts to incorporate dialogue practice, collaborative inquiry, and dispute resolution into academic courses._7d12c006-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea001.3OpportunitiesProvide academic, co-curricular, and community opportunities for constructive civic dialogue._7d12c04c-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea002Courses & CertificationsDeliver courses and certificate programs that build dialogue competencies and public affairs engagement skills._7d12c088-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea002.1Co-Curricular ActivitiesSupport grants, cohort programs, and student-led dialogue initiatives for the campus community._7d12c0ec-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea002.2EventsHost dialogue-focused events such as Disagree with a Professor, peer-led discussions, and monthly speaker programs._7d12c132-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea002.3Campus CultureStrengthen the campus civic culture through participation, connection, and awareness of dialogue opportunities._7d12c16e-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea003AwarenessIncrease awareness of dialogue-related programs through newsletters, outreach, and social media channels._7d12c2cc-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea003.1EngagementEncourage broad participation from students, faculty, and staff in dialogue events and programming._7d12c312-cfa1-11f0-acc7-28400b83ea003.22018-12-312025-12-02https://www.american.edu/spa/civic-dialogue/OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net