Fostering Our Culture of Meaningful Dialogue

On Monday, I had the privilege of sitting down with Chancellor Bonita Brown of Winston-Salem State University for a conversation moderated by Wake Forest’s Dean Corey D. B. Walker. The topics we explored centered on the importance of courageous leadership and community building, and the distinct identities and impacts of our respective universities on our Winston-Salem community. It was a great opportunity for the kind of nuanced, thoughtful public discussion that defines the best of academia. Open conversations can be challenging, and that’s the point! I left that conversation feeling inspired — and deeply thankful to belong to a community that views talking with one another as not just an event, but as a regular, essential practice. 

I have long believed that face-to-face communication is the bedrock of a healthy society. However, as we see playing out vividly and regularly, the ability to engage in positive ways across deep difference is desperately needed. It is not an elective—knowing how to foster a culture of meaningful dialogue should be a requirement for every member of our community, for a civil and humane community. Silence might sometimes seem easier; but, when we choose avoidance, we do so to our own detriment and to the detriment of ourselves and others. We must engage, especially when the topics are difficult, because it is through the friction of diverse perspectives that we sharpen our own thinking and discover better solutions to our shared problems. 

Learning to listen, to question, and to find common ground is a core competency that our students learn to cultivate within our campus community. And when they graduate, they translate these skills and mindset to the world at large. By being dedicated to fostering thoughtful, principled dialogue, universities do essential and tangible good. This commitment to dialogue has guided the creation of several initiatives during my tenure, each designed to move us beyond “polite” silence and toward authentic engagement.

To reach people where they are, we must also create intentional spaces for openness and authenticity. Two programs in particular have been highlights of this work:

• Wednesdays with Wente: These lunches with faculty and staff have offered me an opportunity to hear directly from those whose skill and dedication make Wake Forest the exceptional place it is. Through your great questions, shared joys, and honest concerns, I have seen firsthand how Pro Humanitate is truly lived in our work here. I look forward to the remaining lunches planned for this spring!
• Gold and Black Chats: Dr. Shea Kidd Brown, Vice President for Campus Life, and I have cherished these sessions with our students. Hearing directly about the undergraduate and graduate experiences allows us to remain student-centered in our leadership.

I also want to highlight Deacon Dialogues. Managed by the Office of Civic and Community Engagement, these sessions empower students to navigate diverse and complex topics with mutual respect. I encourage everyone to visit the Deacon Dialogues website to see upcoming opportunities to participate.

How do we further support this work?  Wake Forest is a proud member of College Presidents for Civic Preparedness (CP2), an organization focused on how we foster meaningful engagement across difference, critical thinking and discernment, mutuality and problem-solving as necessary skills for thoughtful participation as local, national and global citizens. 

As part of CP2, I am excited to spotlight the Campus-wide Immersion (CWI) initiative. The CWI mission is to weave the skills of civil discourse and collaborative problem-solving into the very fabric of our campus culture. This is not just a program, but an institutional commitment to ensuring every student has the skills, tools, and social permission to navigate complex information and differing viewpoints. To bring this vision to life, a dedicated Action Council of Wake Forest faculty and staff will convene over the coming year to build connections across departments, support evaluation, and ensure this work reflects the voices and needs of the campus community.

I am grateful to the Action Council for their forthcoming work, to Dr. Shea for her leadership, and to the entire Wake Forest community. Thank you for continuing to meet one another with compassion, openness, and curiosity, and I look forward to talking with as many of you as I can this spring!