Student project manager Kylie De La Cruz ’27 interviews Juliana Tafur Juliana, director of UC Berkley’s Greater Good Science Center’s Bridging Differences program. Tafur was inspired by the polarization and “othering” she witnessed during the 2016 U.S. presidential election to start the List(e)n Courageously Movement and help individuals bridge political and cultural divides. Tafur discusses tools and strategies to have meaningful “bridging” conversations, explores what it means to find commonality versus common ground, and stresses the significance of one’s positionality or “situatedness” in these discussions. Read more
Shayna Herzfeld ‘25, student project co-supervisor, interviews Professor of Linguistics and Translation, Amélie Josselin-Leray from the University of Toulouse, Jean Jaurès. During this conversation, they discuss the process of translation and the ways in which it has changed over time. In the past several decades, translation technology has experienced rapid growth, especially in the realm of artificial intelligence, though translators have been using machine assistance in their work for nearly 100 years. Listen to learn about Dr. Josselin-Leray’s proposed path forward, where translators can work with and benefit from machine translation tools and artificial intelligence. Read more
Clarke Forum Student Project Manager Supasinee Siripun ’27 sits down with Dr. Jacqueline Pfeffer Merrill, director of the Campus Free Expression Project to discuss the importance of free speech in higher education institutions. Pfeffer Merrill brings real world experience to describe the current need for constructive discourse among young adults, spotlighting Dickinson’s own program – Dialogues Across Differences. Read more
Student Project Manager Noah Salsich ’25 interviews Michael Kotutwa Johnson, a 250th generation Hopi dry farmer and an assistant professor of Indigenous resilience at the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment. In this interview, Kotutwa Johnson talks about the importance of Indigenous recognition, as well as comments on modern sustainable agricultural techniques and land-back movements. The interview also touches on some of the pushback Indigeous people have faced from the scientific community and Dr. Johnson’s responses to this. Read more
Student project manager Kylie De La Cruz ’27 interviews Dr. Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Dr. McNutt shares her thoughts on the rise of scientific misinformation and disinformation and discusses how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can exacerbate, but also combat, the spread of false information. As a geophysicist, Dr. McNutt describes her experience integrating the use of AI into her work, and comments on the role the NAS will play in the future of AI in science.
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Student project manager Kylie De La Cruz ’27 interviews Sarah Niebler, associate professor of political science at Dickinson College. Professor Niebler shares her thoughts on the 2024 U.S. presidential election and discusses trends in political behavior, election processes, and political science scholarship. She describes how media and emotionality have shaped American politics, and comments on the future of the U.S. and its election process. Read more
In this interview, student co-supervisor Georgia Schaefer-Brown ’25, talks with Pascaline Dupas, development economist and professor at Princeton University, who discusses her specific areas of research: health, education, and access to financial tools, and describes how exploring the interconnectedness of these issues originally drew her to this field. The interview also covers how different approaches to research projects are heavily influenced by qualitative observations or discussions– Dupas states that it is important that the data and project direction match the lived experiences of people. She discusses her privilege in research work, and how she considers foreign development in Africa to be reparations, not charity. The second half of the interview does a deep dive into one of Dupas’s research papers, a 2015 project examining labeled cash transfers in Morocco, and the impact of its unique findings on the development community. Lastly, Dupas gives advice to undergraduate students interested in pursuing work in development economics. Read more
Dr. Robin Darling Young, professor of church history at the Catholic University of America, discusses her translation process, the role of Western scholars in the Middle East, her journey to her area of expertise, and misconceptions about Gnosticism. She also highlights the importance of differing interpretations of ancient texts and of studying topics that arouse your curiosity. The interview is conducted by Sarah Ruschak ’27, Clarke Forum student project manager. Read more
Dr. Carlos Vargas-Ramos, adjust associate professor in the Department of Political Science at Columbia University, and director for public policy, external and media relations, and development at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, is interviewed by Student Project Manager Layla Ilarraza ‘26. Dr. Vargas-Ramos sits down to discuss the historical and contemporary politics surrounding Puerto Rico’s status as a commonwealth. He explains how status referendums on the island are unreliable measurements of public opinion. He also considers what he believes to be the future status of the island. Read more
Manu Meel, CEO of BridgeUSA, shares his thoughts on political division, how bridging differences can be achieved in communities, and the importance of the 2024 Presidential Election. He is interviewed by Student Project Manager Supasinee Siripun ‘27. Read more
Student Project Manager Ella Layton ’26 interviews Katherine Gressel, curator at the Old Stone House & Washington Park in Brooklyn, about the art exhibition Picturing the Constitution. Gressel discusses the important role of artists when interpreting the Constitution and other political documents such as the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court case. She talks about the value of working with Constitutional scholar Steven Mazie to provide expertise during the curatorial process. Gressel also shares her interest in site specific and participatory art in nontraditional spaces to make art more accessible to engage communities. Read more
In this interview with Joanne Golann, associate professor at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College and Clarke Forum student project manager Shayna Herzfeld ’25, the two discuss Dr. Golann’s recent book, Scripting the Moves: Culture and Control in No-Excuses Schools. Dr. Golann explains her research in these no-excuses schools: the effects that they have on students in and out of school and the reception of her work, including the school administration’s response and alternative teaching methods. Read more
Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman, Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology and director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, is interviewed by Student Project Manager Layla Ilarraza ’26. Dr. Seligman, the “father of positive psychology” sits down to discuss what well-being is and how it is applicable to everyday life, especially among college students, and institutions as a whole. He discusses the building blocks of well-being: PERMA, and how recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence have expanded the accessibility of positive psychology. Dr. Seligman also offers advice to listeners on how they can lead a more positive life. Read more
Student Project Manager Ella Layton ’26 interviews Dr. Matthew Guariglia about his book Police & the Empire City: Race & the Origins of Modern Policing in New York (2023). Dr. Guariglia talks specifically about the technologies and ideas that formed the New York Police Department starting in the middle of the 19th century and how those persist today. He argues that surveillance-based policing harms all Americans and provides examples on how he’s fought these invasive police practices as a Senior Policy Analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Guariglia also discusses policing and the prison system more broadly on the question of reform or abolition. Read more
Student Project Manager Ella Layton ’26 interviews Dr. April Baker-Bell about her book Linguistic Justice: Black Language, Literacy, Identity, and Pedagogy (2020). Dr. Baker-Bell discusses how she needed a framework to explain the discrimination her Black students faced because of their language. She asserts the autonomy of Black language because of its historical and social factors leading to its existence. Baker-Bell offers advice on how to practically dismantle white linguistic hegemony and uplift speakers of Black language. Read more
In this interview with author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Hagir Elsheikh and Clarke Forum student project manager Shayna Herzfeld ’24, the two discuss a wide range of issues such as political activism, domestic violence, and running a business. Elsheikh shares her empowering life story and hopes that it will inspire others to believe in themselves and live their best lives. Read more
Professor Eunji Kim, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Columbia University, is interviewed by Isa Mester ’26, Clarke Forum student project manager. Professor Kim discusses her research and how she became interested in the topic of entertainment media how it affects political opinions. Prof. Kim’s perception of the American Dream, the relationship between entertainment media industry and the political system of capitalism, and the perceptions of rags to riches shows are also discussed.
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In this interview Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe sits down with Xenia Makosky ’24, Clarke Forum student project manager and co-student supervisor, to share stories and wisdom from over two decades of working with women and children at St. Monica’s Girls’ Tailoring Center in Gulu, Uganda and the Sewing Hope Village in Atiak, Uganda. Sister Rosmary also offers advice for listeners to serve others and alleviate suffering through total acceptance, unconditional love, and unwavering hope. Read more
Michael Gaines is interviewed by Natalia Fedorczak ’24, Clarke Forum student project manager. The William R. Gaines Jr. Veteran Memorial Foundation is discussed as well as his service in the US Army. The Beirut Bombing is discussed as well as how we can better educate ourselves about the bombing. And how the Foundation is helping Beirut Veterans. Read more
Farida Mohammadi, who served in the Afghan National Army and the Afghan Female Tactical Platoon, discusses her experiences in those roles with Ella Layton ’26, Clarke Forum student project manager. Read more
