Educating for America’s Next 250: Using Deliberation Across Diverse Campuses for America’s Semiquincentennial and Beyond

Friday, January 23, 2026

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM East Coast USA Time

Location: Georgetown University - Level M1

Primary Presenter(s)

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Kara Dillard

Executive Director of the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement and Assistant Professor
James Madison University, United States

Co-Presenter(s)

Cristin Brawner

Executive Director
National Issues Forums Institute, United States

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Bob Frigo

Assistant Dean and Director, Kernodle Center for Civic Life
Elon University, United States
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Leslie Garvin

Executive Director
North Carolina Campus Engagement, United States
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Kimberly Rosenfeld

Professor and Department Chair
Cerritos College, United States

With 2026 marking our nation’s 250th birthday, now is the time to strengthen the contributions of higher education to advance the common good. This session will showcase how a diverse group of colleges and universities, including community colleges, regional public universities, and private institutions, from coast to coast, as well as a statewide network of colleges and universities, will engage their campuses in deliberation on the future of our democracy during the semiquincentennial in 2026. These institutions will join the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, in utilizing the new deliberative issue guide What’s Next America? as a tool to foster robust deliberations on campuses about the future direction of America. Attendees will receive a copy of What’s Next America?, a moderator guide, and an assessment protocol; have opportunities to ask the panelists questions; and engage in a mini-deliberation using the What’s Next America? issue guide.