Navigating Conflict, Encouraging Conversation, and Defending Academic Freedom

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM East Coast USA Time

Location: Chinatown - Level M3

Moderator(s)

Nancy Thomas

Senior Advisor to the President for Democracy Initiatives and Executive Director, IDHE
American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U), United States
Rhonda Fitzgerald

Executive Director
Sustained Dialogue Institute, United States

Presenter(s)

Ande Diaz

Vice President
Tree of Life Consulting
Tiverton, Rhode Island, United States
Leah Murray

Professor
Weber State University, United States
Michele Holt-Shannon

Director and Co-Founder, New Hampshire Listens, University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy
University of New Hampshire, United States
Lara Schwartz

Director, Project on Civil Discourse
American University

Pre-registration is required.

Educators nationwide face growing challenges that can feel isolating, confusing, and even threatening to their academic freedom and well-being. This workshop will bring together experts in dialogue, academic freedom, and conflict resolution to explore the political climate for teaching, learning, and engagement. Topics include managing conflict, addressing external and internal pressures on teaching; responding to threats or challenges related to research or course content; fostering inclusive, respectful classrooms while upholding truth and academic standards; and taking a united stance for the freedom to teach, learn, speak, and engage. The session will also offer strategies for collective advocacy and may lead to a virtual learning community for continued support.

This session will be offered by AAC&U’s Help Desk, a collaboration between AAC&U’s Institute for Democracy & Higher Education (IDHE) and the Sustained Dialogue Institute.