About Me
I have a checkered past -- as a litigator (not so good) and as university counsel (pretty good). By 1990, however, I was exhausted by the adversarial nature of public life and inspired by the few but potent examples of democratic leadership and civic education demonstrated on some campuses. I left the practice of law to study leadership, ethics, and decision making at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. There, I experienced a form of collaborative and discussion based learning that I had never dreamed could exist.
My life's work is in democratic education, ethical decision making, participatory governance, conflict transformation, and dialogue and deliberation. I direct the Democracy Imperative at the University of New Hampshire, a network of academics and practitioners committed to strengthening public life and deliberative democracy in and through higher education. I work with colleges and universities to set up study circles programs, issue forums, intergroup dialogues, and other discourse communities. My work includes conflict (and crisis) prevention and management, organizational change, faculty development and curriculum reform, diversity, and community ethics. I am often brought in to help campuses sort through challenges related to academic freedom, free speech, workplace ethics and civility, and diversity.
I live outside of Hartford, Connecticut and work nationally. I live with my husband, our two great kids, ages 12 and 16, and a snarly but cute-to-look-at dog in a cottage-like home with great sunsets and yoga mats in everyroom..
NCDD Involvement
I'll be coordinating the higher education group.
I am co-facilitating a pre-conference workshop the day before the 2008 NCDD conference begins in Austin. The workshop is entitled "Deliberative Democracy and Higher Education: A Workshop on Innovative Democratic Education and Leadership."
About My Work
Organization Name
The Democracy Imperative at the University of New Hampshire
Description
The Democracy Imperative is a national network of educators and practitioners dedicated to strengthening public life and advancing deliberative democracy in and through higher education This is a free, national network. Members work in communities of practice or design collaborative projects (e.g., working papers, workshops, convenings, programs on campuses). Our focus areas are teaching and curriculum, leadership and governance, civic engagement, and research. We welcome collaborators and members!
Contact Info
I'd like to
I'll be organizing a pre-conference workshop for NCDD on higher education and DD. Collaborators welcome!
This group is for anyone involved in higher education. Faculty, students, administrators, staff, scholars... all are welcome to join this group to discuss D&D successes and challenges in higher education (or just to network!).
We wanted to create one group that every NCDD member is a part of, so we can provide a space where all members can take part in discussions here in the members network.
