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
The NC-SDA Program utilizes evaluation tools in partnership with the Listen First Project to help show how the bridging movement is moving the needle. Utilizing this framework, student ambassadors and campuses are active participants in contributing to the narrative of how partners in the bridging movement are collectively making an impact toward shifting societal conditions. Participating campuses have demonstrated proven impacts on attitudes towards Listening, Intellectual Humility, Self Efficacy, Openness & Sharing.
Each year, NCCE selects three 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 will 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 a minimum of four dialogues, plus 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.
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Applications for the 2024-2025 cycle are currently closed. Please check back in spring of 2025 for information on the next application cycle.
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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.
2023-24 Campuses:
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.
2022-23 Campuses:
Alamance Community College – Avery Aquila & Frank Anderson
Elon University – Clara Watkins & Kylie Winterling
NC Central University – JaKarrie Miller
UNC Pembroke – Cara Martin & Yaniasia Royal
Pictured above: Alamance Community College 2022-23 Dialogue Ambassadors, Avery & Frank.
Pictured to the left: A flyer for the UNC Pembroke dialogue training
