James Madison University said Oct. 14 that its Madison Center for Civic Engagement has launched a national Faculty Fellows program with the National Issues Forums Institute to strengthen civic dialogue at colleges and universities. The program is based at JMU in Harrisonburg and is supported by a $2.72 million grant, according to the university’s announcement.
JMU said the inaugural cohort includes faculty representatives from 12 institutions: Auburn University, Cerritos College, Colorado State University, Hofstra University, Hudson Valley Community College, Pacific Lutheran University, Stevens Institute of Technology, the University of Delaware, the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Southern California, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Winona State University.
The fellows were selected through a competitive national process, and JMU said their applications included plans for civic discourse on their campuses and evidence of institutional support. The university named Hollie Cost of Auburn University, Kimberly Rosenfeld of Cerritos College, Martin Carcasson of Colorado State University, Philip Dalton of Hofstra University, Peter Sawyer of Hudson Valley Community College, Justin Eckstein of Pacific Lutheran University, Lindsey Cormack of Stevens Institute of Technology, Timothy Shaffer of the University of Delaware, Cara Burnidge of the University of Northern Iowa, Jenifer Crawford of the University of Southern California, Brandon Kliewer of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Liberty Kohn of Winona State University as the inaugural fellows.
Over the next 12 months, the fellows will receive professional development in deliberative teaching, facilitation and helping students navigate difficult conversations, led by Dr. Kara Dillard, the center’s executive director, and Dr. Rebeca Barge, its associate director for civic discourse initiatives, according to JMU. The program will also develop nonpartisan issue guides for college campuses, the announcement said.
JMU said the fellows will learn strategies for dialogue across differences and for training students to facilitate discussions. The announcement did not provide dates for program events or contact details for the initiative.
