THE PERICLEAN: Sharing updates and stories from our network of civic champions, delivered on the first Friday of each month. | | Reflections from COMPACT25:
Fortifying Our Collective Commitment | | |
The recent COMPACT25 conference, hosted by Campus Compact in Atlanta, GA, was a powerful reminder of our duty to advance higher education’s public purpose and an opportunity for hundreds of leaders committed to democracy, civic participation, and community engagement to convene in solidarity. Throughout the conference, we were energized as we engaged in key conversations and sessions on critical topics, including:
- Incorporating engaged scholarship into tenure and promotion criteria
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Embedding High Impact Practices (HIPs) and the Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Coalition’s (CLDE) Learning Framework into academic pathways
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Leveraging the Democracy Inventory Project to assess institutions' activities and outputs around democracy, community, and engagement
- Spotlighting innovative civic projects led by students, including Macalester’s Bonner Scholars and Swarthmore’s Civic and Lang Scholars
We celebrate the many Pericleans who attended and presented at the conference from Carleton, Goucher, Macalester, Swarthmore, and Wagner College. Project Pericles also hosted a lively community lunch for, and engaged in events with, collaborators including the Bonner Foundation, Campus Vote Project, Constructive Dialogue Institute, the Hoover Institution's Center for Revitalizing American Institutions, Made By Us, Partners for Campus Community Engagement, Stanford Democracy Hub, Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, Third Way Civics, and Unify America. Check out photos from the conference here.
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This conference underscored the need for continued collaboration and collective action within our sector in the service of protecting and strengthening democracy.
As we move forward, we are committed to applying the insights and strategies shared at the conference through our ongoing work with Periclean programs. In tandem with our peer organizations, we are reinforcing higher education’s vital role in creating a better future for all.
We look forward to continuing this together.
Warmest wishes,
Sanda Balaban, Executive Director
Arielle del Rosario, Associate Director
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Arielle Mizrahi (Unify America), Arielle del Rosario, Sanda Balaban, Matt Pollard (Unify America) | | Campus Corner: Skidmore College Turns Passion into Action through Public Policy Competition | | |
In this new section, we will highlight outstanding civic engagement and Periclean-related work happening on one of our member institutions. From student-led projects to faculty collaborations, our campuses are preparing students for lives of meaningful impact and public purpose.
College students have the drive and desire to change the world but often need to be provided with clear paths to make an impact. Skidmore College’s annual Make Your Voice Heard Public Policy Prize Competition bridges this gap. Designed to turn passion into tangible action, the competition teaches students that civic engagement is more than casting a ballot - it's about using their voice to shape policy and improve communities. By researching pressing issues, writing to officials, and proposing real solutions, students gain the confidence and skills to advocate for change.
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Participants write letters to elected officials, outlining a feasible policy solution and justifying their choice of recipient. They also develop a plan for how they would use $500 to promote their cause. Since its launch in 2018, the competition has seen over 120 student submissions strengthening their research, writing, and advocacy skills while demonstrating how grassroots efforts can influence policy.
Skidmore’s commitment to civic engagement extends far beyond this competition. Since joining Project Pericles in 2015, the college has had seven Periclean Faculty Leaders (PFLs) who have integrated community-based learning into diverse disciplines, from Dance and Social Work to Environmental Studies and Music. This spring, President Marc Conner, who serves on Project Pericles' Board of Directors and chairs the Board Nomination Committee, will host a special reception to honor their PFLS and encourage broader faculty engagement in civic education. Additionally, Skidmore will welcome Program Directors from Periclean institutions nationwide when it hosts the Annual Program Directors Conference this October.
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“Project Pericles provides the intellectual and programmatic framework for these terrific projects, and we have been so proud to see our faculty embrace the opportunities that Project Pericles makes possible,” said Skidmore President Marc Conner. “Such efforts at embodying civic democratic action is at the heart of a liberal arts education.”
Want to bring a similar initiative to your campus? Learn key insights from Skidmore’s experience and explore how you can empower students to take actions.
| | Sarah DiPasquale's PFL course at Skidmore, “Dancing Toward Success: Arts Education for Public Schools” built local community connections through the arts | | Sustainability Starts with Us:
Integrating Environmental Stewardship at Wagner and Ursinus | | |
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April is Earth Month, and we are highlighting faculty in our programs whose innovative courses and pedagogies mobilize students to be stewards of the earth.
At Wagner College (Staten Island, NY), Professor Eric Dean Wilson, an English professor and Periclean Faculty Leader, utilized community-engaged learning to bring texts to life in his U.S. Environmental Literature course. By partnering with local organizations including Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Botanical Gardens, and The Alice Austen House, Wilson’s students didn't just study in nature - they experienced it firsthand. Restoring local wetlands, planting a “queer ecology” garden, and exploring lush gardens, students experienced how literature and nature intersect in addressing contemporary environmental challenges. Wilson extols the profound impact of the Periclean Faculty Leadership program, noting how the course inspired students to take on environmental crises with renewed commitment.
At Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA, Professor Brieanne Berry, a two-time Civic Engagement Fellow, used deliberative dialogues in her courses to explore food waste and the 2024 Farm Bill. In her Introduction to Food Systems class, students discussed the intersection of environmental and social priorities, while in Introduction to Environmental Policy, they explored diverse stakeholder priorities. These dialogues helped students understand the complexities of policy-making and how diverse viewpoints contribute to stronger, more inclusive solutions.
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These are just two examples of Periclean faculty exemplifying the power of innovative pedagogy in fostering environmental stewardship among students. Through hands-on learning and critical dialogue, they are inspiring the next generation to actively engage with and address pressing environmental challenges. We are proud of these faculty members who are helping students connect environmental issues with practical, real-world action, and fostering a sense of responsibility, advocacy, and engagement that extends far beyond the classroom.
| | Project Pericles Welcomes Nearly 50 New Civic Engagement Mini-Grant Recipients! | | |
Project Pericles is thrilled to announce 49 new Civic Engagement Mini-Grants to faculty and staff across 46 institutions in 21 states, including public universities, private liberal arts colleges, and community colleges.
These $1,000 grants support innovative projects that engage students with public issues in inclusive, collaborative ways, fostering deeper civic participation.
From using birdwatching to spark conversations around feminism and immigration, to exploring voting rights through the lens of the food business at a culinary institute, each Fellow is implementing a unique project to help students gain critical skills for life-long civic leadership, while drawing upon and contributing to our Civic Engagement Resources.
The fellowship has three tracks that each reflect a commitment to fostering informed, active, and critical thinkers who will shape the future of our society: Deliberative Dialogue, Voting Rights Expansion, and our new track, Beyond Media Literacy: Enhancing Information Ecosystems to Bridge Divides which supports students in effectively navigating the complex media landscape. We are grateful to the Mellon Foundation and the Eugene M. Lang Foundation for supporting this program.
Congratulations to our new fellows! We are honored to support their critical work at the intersection of education, democracy, and civic engagement and empowering students to develop the skills and knowledge to be life-long engaged citizens. Stay tuned for more updates on their exciting projects and impact.
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Pericleans Lead Conversations at AAC&U’s AI Week | | |
From March 24-27, AAC&U’s Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum hosted AI Week, a series of expert-lled webinars exploring the rapidly evolving role of AI in higher education. The event featured several Pericleans as key speakers, offering insight into how institutions are adapting to advancements in AI in order to create transformative learning opportunities. The week kicked off with a panel featuring former Goucher College President José Antonio Bowen discussing AI’s impact on teaching and institutional strategy. Other sessions featured Beck Krefting (Skidmore College) on how colleges are responding to AI with policy development and curricular reform, Bethany Miller (Macalester College) on AI’s influence on writing pedagogy, and Connie Book, President of Elon University and Periclean Board Member, on navigating the AI revolution. Pericleans are leading the conversation on harnessing AI’s potential while maintaining high quality educational values. More information and recordings available through AAC&U
In addition, earlier this week, the Imagining the Digital Future Center at Elon University released Being Human in 2035: How Are We Changing in the Age of AI? a new report in which hundreds of technology experts explore how advancements in AI may impact core human traits such as empathy, creativity, social intelligence, and our overall sense of purpose. 61% of the experts interviewed said they expect the change related to the evolution of humans and AI systems will be either “deep and meaningful” or “fundamental and revolutionary.” The report also includes 21 edgy predictions and compelling ideas about the world in 2035. A highly recommended read!
| | In Case You Missed It:
Technology Empowered Dialogue Webinar | | |
Did you know that 64% of students say they don’t have the opportunity to engage in face-to-face conversations with people who hold different perspectives? Project Pericles is working to change that, partnering with Unify America’s digital platform so students engage in meaningful dialogue across political and geographical divides. On March 14, Project Pericles hosted a webinar featuring Dr. Emily Stacey, a Periclean Civic Engagement Fellow and Political Science professor at Rose State College, who shared how she integrates Unify America’s tools to complement Project Pericles’ deliberative dialogue modules into her courses. Through these initiatives, students don’t just talk about civic engagement - they practice it, gaining skills needed to foster a stronger, more connected democracy.
Key Webinar Resources:
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🗓️ April 17th Teaching Creativity to Inspire Social Good from 4:30 - 5:15 PM ET. Register here (Open to all)
Join the Center for Artistic Activism and Project Pericles for an uplifting webinar about how creativity is a powerful tool for civic engagement and inspiring social good. Hear from faculty about how they’ve used innovative creative expression in the classroom, inspiring students to engage with civic issues in meaningful and joyful ways. Take these insights further with practical resources you’ll receive to implement in your own work.
🗓️ May 16 Periclean Community Conversation from 2 - 3 PM ET. Register here (For colleagues at Periclean institutions or participating in Periclean fellowships only).
These virtual convenings offer the opportunity to connect with other Periclean fellows, faculty, and staff to share ideas, exchange resources, and spark inspiration.
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| ✍️ Pericleans in the Press ✍️ | | |
📰 Marvin Krislov, President of Pace University, joined the FutureEd’s podcast, FutureU (Episode 189: Building an AI-Ready College) to discuss the transformative impact of AI on higher education. In conversation with hosts Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo, along with Ann Kirschner (CUNY and ASU) and Christ Hein (Google), Krislov explored the opportunities and challenges AI presents for higher education. The discussion covered campus-wide AI strategies, the evolving future of work, and the critical role of partnerships in ensuring equitable access to AI innovations.
📰 Emily Stacey, Civic Engagement Fellow and Professor of Political Science at Rose State College, and her course American Federal Government were featured in Commonweal Magazine, highlighting how the course provides a pivotal experience for students to explore political viewpoints and navigate democratic engagement.
📰 Marc Conner, President of Skidmore College and Board Member of Project Pericles, has been appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of the Commision on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU). In this role, he will contribute to advocacy efforts aimed at increasing access to higher education and supporting student success across New York State.
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📖 What Staff are Reading 📖 | |
📚 Sanda (Executive Director) is reading Abundance, by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, which posits that scarcity is a choice, and that the United States can drive broad-based prosperity through a shift in mindset, strategic policy, technological advancements, and ambitious public investment.
📚 Arielle (Associate Director) is reading Pluralism cannot exist under authoritarianism, by Jasmine Ramsey. This short piece is a powerful call to action with thought provoking ideas like, “Do we need a NATO-style approach to defending pro-democracy orgs (and foundations)? If you come for one, you come for all.” This piece was featured in the Democracy Notes Substack by Gabe Lerner.
📚 Jason Vadnos (Intern) is reading Eliot Nelson’s The Beltway Bible, a humorous but informative dictionary of the processes and agendas driving modern American politics and policymaking.
What are YOU reading (or listening to--Sanda listens to most of her reading these days...)? None of us have enough time to read all that we wish we could, and we appreciate tips from readers and thinkers we admire. We would love to share your suggestions in our next newsletter! Email: Sanda@projectpericles.org
| If you have a story, event, or publication you'd like us to feature, please reach out! E-mail: arielle@projectpericles.org | | | | |
