The Civil Discourse Advisory Group, under the leadership of Provost Joy K. Ward, is dedicated to enhancing civil discourse at Case Western Reserve University. Composed of diverse members, the group focuses on advancing students' skills in active listening, empathetic understanding, and managing challenging conversations. They aim to foster respectful debate and mutual understanding on critical issues. Their work will support the university's mission of cultivating open-mindedness and critical thinking among students, both in and out of the classroom.
During the spring of 2024, the Advisory Group developed a list of 10 skills for engaging in civil discourse on campus and in the classroom.
Representatives of this advisory group include:
- Bryan Adamson, the David L. Brennan Chaired Professor of Law and associate dean of diversity, School of Law
- Jonathan Adler, the Johan Verheij Memorial Professor of Law and director of the Coleman P. Burke Center for Environmental Law, School of Law
- Mark Aulisio, the Susan E. Watson Professor and chair, Department of Bioethics, School of Medicine; and professor, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
- Katie Brancato, vice president, chief of staff, and strategic advisor to the president, Office of the President
- Shannon French, director and Inamori Professor in Ethics, Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence; professor, Department of Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences; and professor, School of Law
- Ayesha Hardaway, director and research coordinator, Social Justice Institute; and professor of law and director of the Social Justice Law Center, School of Law
- Greg Harris, assistant vice president for student affairs and senior associate dean of students in the Division of Student Affairs
- Andrea Hauser, assistant provost for strategic initiatives and special advisor, Office of the Provost
- Maysan Haydar, assistant professor, Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences
- Anna Maria Hibbs, professor of pediatrics, School of Medicine
- Justine Howe, associate professor and chair, Department of Religious Studies, and director of the women’s and gender studies program, College of Arts and Sciences
- Ramez Islambouli, full-time lecturer of Arabic, Department of Religious Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
- Kenneth Ledford, Hiram C. Haydn Professor in History, Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences; and associate professor of law, School of Law
- Barbara Mann, Stephen H. Hoffman Professor of Modern Hebrew, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures, College of Arts and Sciences
- Danny Manor, professor and vice chair, Department of Nutrition, and professor, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine; and member of the Molecular Oncology Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Peter Giano Poulos, vice president, general counsel, secretary of the corporation, and chief risk management officer, Office of General Counsel
- Deepak Sarma, professor, Department of Religious Studies, College of Arts and Sciences; and professor, Department of Bioethics, School of Medicine
- Peter Shulman, associate provost for curriculum and Elizabeth and Raymond Armington Associate Professor, Department of History, College of Art and Sciences
- Robert Solomon, vice president, Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Engagement
- Glenn Starkman, Distinguished University Professor and vice chair, Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences
- Camille Warner, associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
- Aaron Weinberg, chair and professor, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine; professor, Department of Otolaryngology and Department of Pathology, School of Medicine; and member, Population and Cancer Prevention Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Travis Apgar, vice president for student affairs