Faculty Bridgebuilding Fellows Support Healthy Civil Discourse Initiatives

Twelve Baylor faculty "Bridge the Gap" by equipping others to create positive connections in a polarized world

Extending Baylor University’s year-long focus on civil discourse, 12 Baylor University faculty members have joined together as the first faculty cohort of Bridgebuilding Fellows. Each faculty member serves as a role model and works to equip the campus community to make positive connections with one another across deep divides.

On Aug. 15-16, the faculty Bridgebuilding Fellows completed training using the Bridging the Gap (BTG) curriculum, a grant-funded program through Interfaith America that equips participants with the skills and knowledge to better engage across divisions in polarized contexts. Civil discourse is interwoven into the University’s new strategic plan, Baylor in Deeds, with faculty programs such as bridgebuilding, helping students develop the skills to effectively lead and serve in complex, diverse – and sometimes polarized – environments.

With the theme “Facilitating Civil Discourse in the Classroom,” Bridgebuilding Fellows meet monthly as a faculty cohort and work to incorporate bridgebuilding skills into their classroom contexts and academic departments as appropriate. They also will generate ideas for larger, campus-wide bridging events in which they might also participate. 

“I’m very encouraged by our first cohort of faculty Bridgebuilding Fellows. Their commitment to fostering healthy civil discourse both inside and outside of the classroom is inspiring,” said Kevin J. Villegas, Ed.D., dean of Intercultural Engagement and Division of Student Life Initiatives. “I’m especially grateful for the ways in which these teaching faculty support the co-curricular programming on civil discourse by promoting events to students and colleagues and by showing up to participate in them.” 

Faculty Bridgebuilding Fellows

• Candi Cann, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Baylor Interdisciplinary Core (Honors College)
• Joanne Cummings, M.A., Lecturer, Political Science (College of Arts and Sciences) and Baylor Interdisciplinary Core (Honors College)
• Samantha Dvorak, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders (Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences)
• Rebecca Flavin, Ph.D., Director of Engaged Learning Curriculum in Arts & Sciences, Political Science (College of Arts & Sciences) 
• Aric Gooch, Ph.D., Lecturer, Political Science (College of Arts & Sciences)
• Luci Hoppe, M.S.W., Clinical Associate Professor, Social Work (Diana R. Garland School of Social Work)
• Lisa Jones, D.N.P., Associate Dean for Pre-Licensure Programs/Clinical Associate Professor, Nursing (Louise Herrington School of Nursing)
• David Justice, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow, Baylor Interdisciplinary Core (Honors College), Senior Faculty Bridgebuilding Fellow
• Scott Moore, Ph.D., Associate Director, University Scholars and Associate Professor, Great Texts (Honors College)
• Jon Singletary, Ph.D., Dean and Professor, Social Work (Diana R. Garland School of Social Work)
• Lauren Weber, M.F.A., Senior Lecturer, Theatre Arts (College of Arts and Sciences)
• Melody Zuniga, M.S.W., Clinical Associate Professor, Social Work (Diana R. Garland School of Social Work)

As senior fellow, Justice was eager for opportunities to bring bridgebuilding skills to work on campus, after attending a training opportunity this summer at the Interfaith America conference.

“I joined the Bridgebuilding Fellows program to promote pluralism and constructive dialogue on Baylor's campus,” Justice said. “I think universities like Baylor are important sites for modeling constructive communication and cooperation across differences and for educating people on how to do so effectively. The training emphasized to me that listening to and understanding other people are skills that require practice; they are things that everyone can improve on. The Fellows program was a way for me to continue to educate myself on these important issues and hopefully add to Baylor's efforts to build a healthy community on campus.”

Building upon student work

The faculty Bridgebuilding Fellows group builds upon the work done in the spring by Baylor’s inaugural cohort of student Bridgebuilding Fellows. After working their way through the eight-week Bridging the Gap program, the student Bridgebuilding Fellows held a university-wide demonstration in April of a model that bridges divides by cultivating curiosity, deep listening, story sharing and navigating tension constructively.

While individuals may not always agree, civil discourse requires mutual respect and objectivity without hostility – demonstrating an appreciation for the experiences of others. Against that backdrop – and with a call to be salt of the earth and light of the world – Baylor launched its focus on broader civil discourse initiative in January with a Baylor Conversation Series discussion on faith and politics. Since then, the University has held a range of conversations, trainings and presentations focused on civil discourse, acknowledging the importance of this topic as the University strives to be a marketplace of ideas and extend the love of Christ toward others.

To learn more about civil discourse efforts within the Division of Student Life, visit the Intercultural Engagement website. To learn more about partnering to host a bridging event, send an email to intercultural@baylor.edu. 

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