NC Student Dialogue Ambassadors

Launched in 2022, the NC Student Dialogue Ambassadors (SDA) Program seeks to:

Mobilize a trained cohort of student leaders passionate about bridging divides through dialogue and civil discourse
Help students build the skills and habits of democracy by engaging in deliberation and dialogue on the critical issues facing our state
Empower students to engage in open exchange of ideas, especially with people who think differently

Each year, NCCE selects three to four campuses from within the NCCE member network to participate in the NC Student Dialogue Ambassadors program for the academic year. Selected campuses are asked to choose two undergraduate students to serve as Student Ambassadors, plus a staff or faculty mentor, who receive training from NCCE in how to facilitate multiple dialogue models on their campus. After training, each participating campus is expected to host and facilitate dialogues and a dialogue training for other students who are interested in dialogue skills. Campuses receive ongoing support from NCCE as well as their cohort as they plan, prepare, practice, and execute dialogues for their communities during the program term.

Ambassadors receive a stipend upon completion of the program and each participating campus will receive a modest Activity Fund to support dialogue hosting. We are grateful to the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation for funding support from 2022-24.

Assessing Impacts of the SDA Program

The NC-SDA Program utilizes the Social Cohesion Impact Measurement (SCIM) tool – a resource empowering bridging groups and other institutions to evaluate and measure the impact of their programs. The SCIM is provided by the Goals and Measures Program of the Bridging Movement Alignment Council (BMAC). Utilizing this framework, student ambassadors and campuses contribute to understanding how bridging movement initiatives collectively make an impact toward shifting societal conditions.

Students who have participated in dialogues led by SDA’s have demonstrated statistically significant positive growth in attitudes towards Listening, Intellectual Humility, Self Efficacy, Openness & Sharing.

New for 2024: SDA Facilitation Certification

Student Dialogue Ambassadors are now eligible to earn a Facilitation Certification, created in partnership with the Interactivity Foundation’s Collaborative Discussion Project.

SDA’s earn credit for the certification during the annual training and cohort meetings throughout their term in the program.

2024-25 Student Dialogue Ambassadors

The third cohort of Student Dialogue Ambassadors consists of four NCCE member campuses. Ambassadors were trained in fall 2024, and will begin hosting dialogues on their campuses in spring 2025.

Duke University – Alexis Mosu & Katelyn Cai

Greensboro College – Jaylon Brunson & Liya Veale

North Carolina A&T State University – Donovan Bethea & Olu Rouse

Queens University of Charlotte – Blair Crawford & Spencer Malinauskas

2023-24 Student Dialogue Ambassadors

The second cohort of Student Dialogue Ambassadors consisted of three NCCE member campuses. The Ambassadors hosted dialogues on topics such as tribalism, affordable housing, climate, consent culture, mental health, and more.

High Point University – Avery Miles & Keonna Elliott

Lenoir-Rhyne University – Dan Pardis & Sahar Sana

UNC-Chapel Hill – Jaya Dayal & Valeria Orozco

2022-23 Student Dialogue Ambassadors

For the pilot program year, four NCCE member campuses were selected. The Ambassadors hosted dialogues on topics such as trust, abortion, preventing mass shootings, mental health, the climate crisis, “Does your vote really matter?”,
women in society, food insecurity, and student support services.

Alamance Community College – Avery Aquila & Frank Anderson

Elon University – Clara Watkins & Kylie Winterling

NC Central University – JaKarrie Miller

UNC Pembroke – Cara Martin & Yaniasia Royal