The North Carolina Student Dialogue Ambassadors (SDA) program aims to remedy the current culture of political echo chambers, institutional mistrust, and chronic disconnection through the power of student leadership.
Each year, the SDA program recruits a cohort of three to four campuses in the NCCE network. Each campus selects Student Dialogue Ambassadors and staff/faculty mentors who are trained in multiple formats of dialogue. Then, they host dialogues on their campuses with the goal to create spaces for students to authentically express their views on crucial topics that impact their lives. Since the program’s inception in 2022, eleven campuses have participated.
The third cohort of SDA’s included eight students from Duke University, Greensboro College, NC A&T State University, and Queens University of Charlotte. On their respective campuses, the Ambassadors facilitated vulnerable and honest discussions with their peers on topics related to immigration, service, school spirit, equity, race, unity, healthy relationships, gender dynamics, mental health and more.
Ambassadors reflected on the dialogues they hosted and shared what stood out to the them, and what they learned from their time as an SDA.
Reflections from the 2024-25 NC Student Dialogue Ambassadors
- “Students could reflect on how they could create conversations like this outside of today’s setting. It encourages students to continue being open and honest with the ways the recent election impacted them.“
- “Being in this program taught me that dialogue isn’t just about talking, it’s about truly listening and creating space for others to feel heard. I’ve learned that bridge-building starts with understanding, not agreement, and that real change happens when we slow down and stay open, even when it’s hard.“
- “Sometimes the solutions to these problems are not initiating a great change but a push towards a more courageous filled future…In a period of time where discussions between groups of people can be narrow, the dialogue and deliberation can create a positive group of people with a common goal not necessarily centralized on whose right or wrong but who is here and willing to contribute for a better future.“
- “I have learned that we all have the capability of establishing some sort of common ground with each other if we can just be intentional about it.”
- “Many of the inputs were very helpful and the conceptualizing of putting ourselves into the minds of others was insightful. We also had stories about people really coming forth and talking about their own perspectives…that weren’t naturally discussed in their past. I felt that the group of people that attended [was] able to take away something from this discussion and enjoyed being there.“
- “It was interesting to see two people who had never met each other have a similar view on how they felt they were engaged in [the topic].“
- “I’m glad we can respect each other’s differences.“
- “The participants reflected on the discussion, saying that they felt heard and not judged – like everyone truly saw them and wanted to listen to what they had to say….We all also agreed to speak when we see each other around so that our conversation actually means something.“
At the conclusion of the 2024-25 SDA term, the Ambassadors on each campus worked with campus staff to lay the groundwork to sustain dialogue initiatives in future years.
When students have opportunities to respectfully engage in open, challenging dialogues with their peers, they build skills that are essential for life and leadership after graduation. North Carolina Campus Engagement eagerly looks forward to growing and deepening the work of the NC Student Dialogue Ambassadors program in coming years.
