Higher Education Leaders Convene to Address Civic Discourse Crisis

Dr. Belinda BiscoeHigher education leaders from across the Mid-Atlantic region will gather next month to confront mounting challenges facing universities, from political polarization and declining public trust to workforce preparation gaps and rising student debt.

The Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies, partnering with American University's Center for Student Belonging, is launching the Mid-Atlantic Regional Institute on Higher Education, a professional development initiative targeting practitioners from Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.

The opening panel, "Civic Discourse and the Role of the Academy in Public Life," will kick off the Oct. 9 event at 1:30 p.m. ET, examining how institutions can maintain relevance amid what organizers describe as "a time of political polarization and social transformation."

Dr. Jamal Watson, an award-winning journalist and Trinity Washington University faculty member, will moderate the discussion featuring three higher education executives. 

Panelists include Dr. Belinda Biscoe, who oversees 1,400 staff and a $125 million budget at the University of Oklahoma and has secured more than $400 million in grants; Dr. Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the world's largest international education association; and Dr. Amanda Taylor, who leads civic and global engagement initiatives at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

The panel will explore strategies for promoting media literacy, engaging across ideological divides, and rebuilding public trust in higher education institutions.

The institute addresses eight critical areas: civic discourse and engagement, financial aid systems, student access for nontraditional populations, workforce transitions, pedagogy, institutional mission, leadership development, and student activism.