Meet NCDD's Summer 2025 Intern Cohort: A Diverse Group of Change-Makers Ready to Bridge Divides

The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation proudly welcomes its Summer 2025 intern cohort—a dynamic group of eight changemakers dedicated to bridging divides and strengthening democracy. With backgrounds spanning social work, civic tech, environmental mediation, education, and international policy, these interns bring a wealth of experience, passion, and fresh perspectives to the field of dialogue and deliberation. United by a shared commitment to inclusive engagement and constructive communication, they reflect the power of diversity in building stronger, more connected communities. Read more in the blog post below.

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​The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD) is proud to introduce its Summer 2025 intern cohort—a remarkable group of eight individuals who bring diverse backgrounds, fresh perspectives, and shared commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue across communities. From coast to coast and even internationally, these interns represent the next generation of bridge-builders and democratic innovators.

• Christian O. joins the cohort as both a project manager and Master of Social Work candidate, bringing strategic planning expertise paired with deep community care commitment. Her work spans the nonprofit and tech sectors, where she has led cross-functional initiatives, supported DEIB efforts, and championed workforce equity. With a passion for dialogue as a vehicle for healing, inclusion, and systems change, she brings both structure and soul to collaborative spaces.

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• Seonbin, a rising senior at the University of Virginia, is currently studying Commerce and Economics with a Minor in Public Policy. In his free time, he enjoys reading the news, writing stories, and watching old movies with friends. He was attracted to the Program Development internship with NCDD because of his interest and experience in both engaging in and organizing nuanced discussions on important issues between diverse groups of people.

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• Dawn brings specialized expertise in political bridge-building and environmental conflict resolution to NCDD. She specializes in using her research, bridge-building practice, and educational background to develop research-backed, hands-on, experiential training and learning opportunities for organizations, communities, and individuals. Dawn has served as lead researcher on projects including identifying innovative ways for clean energy advocacy organizations to work across political and rural-urban divides, and she co-founded Central Oregon's local Braver Angels alliance.

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• Carson M. is a recent graduate of Baruch College's Higher Education Administration master's program, with a background in admissions. Passionate about community engagement and people-centered work, Carson enjoys roles that blend communication, research, and relationship-building. He is especially interested in how education and public-facing institutions can foster trust and connection. Outside of work, Carson loves reading, spending time with friends and family, and going for runs.

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• Hannya G. is a working adult and DACA recipient completing her bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies from National Louis University in Illinois. She has a combined 6 years of experience in the care industry, focusing on the wellbeing of early childhood demographics and the geriatric community during her professional career. She looks forward to meeting everyone and is excited to learn more about this work.

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• Francesca R. is a master's student in Designing and Managing Participatory Policies and Processes at Perugia University. She is based between Brussels, Belgium and Bologna, Italy, and holds a BA in European Studies from Maastricht University and an MSc in Sociology from KU Leuven. Having worked briefly in both the private and public sectors, she now aims to build a career in democratic innovation and is deeply committed to creating new bridges through dialogue and deliberation between citizens and institutions.

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• Duffy B. is a recent graduate of the University of Iowa from Barrington, Illinois, with a particular passion for media of all kinds. As someone with dialogue deliberation experience, he's inspired by NCDD's mission to foster constructive dialogue and bring people together. He hopes to help NCDD lead the way for thoughtful communication.

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• Imre H. is a senior at the Mastery School of Hawken with interests in democracy building and civic engagement through innovative methods and technologies. He is the founder of Govvy, a civic technology platform designed to bridge the gap between young people and their local governments by simplifying civic participation and increasing youth representation. Imre also serves as a writing contributor at More Like US, where he has conducted research and co-authored articles on depolarization through various forms of social contact, and he previously served as a Youth Advisor to Congresswoman Shontel Brown.

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Together, these eight interns represent the diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that make dialogue and deliberation both challenging and essential. From social work to technology, from international relations to local government, from academic research to community care, they bring complementary skills and shared commitment to NCDD's mission. As they embark on their summer with NCDD, this cohort is positioned to advance the organization's work in fostering meaningful public engagement, expanding dialogue and deliberation practices, and building bridges across the divisions that too often separate our communities. Their diverse backgrounds and unified purpose embody the very spirit of dialogue and deliberation that NCDD champions—bringing different perspectives together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.