Stetson Law Launches Student-Led Civil Discourse Initiative
As they prepare to join a competitive profession that places profound value on relationships, law students must cultivate the ability to hold meaningful conversations despite differences.
To support students in developing this skill, Stetson University College of Law has launched a bold new initiative designed to prepare future lawyers to lead difficult conversations with clarity, empathy, and professionalism.
Championed by Dean D. Benjamin Barros, the Dean’s Fellows for Civil Discourse program empowers students to build a concrete, sustainable culture of respectful dialogue on campus and beyond.
The student-led program is part of a comprehensive effort to ensure that civil discourse remains a defining feature of the Stetson Law experience. For Barros, this initiative is a critical step toward a major goal he has had since he joined Stetson: creating an actionable policy that supports Stetson Law’s already robust culture of civility.
“One of my biggest priorities as dean of the College of Law has always been civil discourse,” he said. “We need to remain a place where people from very different backgrounds can come together and learn from each other.”
A three-part model
The initiative involves three key players: College leadership, student fellows, and an external expert partner.
Leadership sets the tone before classes begin. During orientation, students hear directly from Barros or Associate Dean for Assessment and Professional Engagement Anne Mullins about the centrality of civil discourse in their professional development.
“That early signal matters,” Mullins said. “It establishes that this work is not extracurricular or optional; it is part of professional formation.”
The nine inaugural fellows, all 2Ls, represent a wide cross-section of student organizations, ideological perspectives, and lived experiences. They volunteer their time to advise the College on how to best support students when challenging conversations arise. Their work will continue into their 3L year, providing continuity and building a peer-led infrastructure that can grow over time.
The third pillar of the program is the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI), a national leader in helping students engage productively across differences. Founded by Jonathan Haidt and Caroline Mehl, CDI works with institutions across higher education. Stetson is the first law school to partner with the organization directly, which allows CDI to tailor its approach to the unique demands of professional education and development.
Key questions guide the process
The program kicked off in the fall 2025 semester with a full-day training led by CDI for the fellows and selected student organization leaders. The trainer, who herself is a JD, brought immediate credibility and grounded the work in the realities of legal education.
The fellows are now tasked with developing core principles based on key questions:
- How should we treat one another when we disagree?
- How should we handle controversial outside speakers?
- How do we create a community that is engaged and civil rather than avoidant or conflict-free?
Stetson also supported CDI in the development of a skills-based training program tailored to issues of professional identity, power, and responsibility. The program will roll out to the Fellows and three of the Stetson Inns, supplemented by interpersonal dialogues the Fellows will facilitate.
Planning for real-life situations
When the guiding principles are in place, the fellows will turn to one of the biggest challenges campuses nationwide face: how to handle controversial speakers who come to campus.
Their task is to translate the principles they developed into universally applicable guidelines that reflect Stetson’s values, educational mission, and responsibility to students. The goal is neither censorship nor uncritical openness, but a thoughtful framework that supports learning and engagement.
“This is not about avoiding disagreement,” Mullins said. “It’s about ensuring our students graduate ready to lead difficult, high-stakes conversations in courtrooms, boardrooms, communities, and civic life.”
Leading the way on civil discourse
The fellowship reflects Stetson Law’s shared values and commitment to preparing students not just to think critically, but to lead responsibly in challenging moments.
“Our approach to this program is student-driven, skill-based, nonpartisan, and consistent with academic freedom,” Barros said. “We are training leaders, so we want our students to themselves set our community’s expectation for civil discourse.”
As the fellows continue their work, Stetson Law is positioning itself as a national leader in cultivating the next generation of lawyers who can navigate and elevate the conversations that shape communities and democracy itself.
Meet the inaugural fellows
The 2025-2026 fellows bring a remarkable range of experiences to the table.
Mark Boyle is an active member of the Federalist Society. Last summer, he served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Geoffrey H. Gentile, where he gained exposure to federal court practice and judicial decision-making, experience that informs his commitment to principled, respectful dialogue in the legal profession.
Caitlyn Green is a member of the Student Leadership Development Committee and a 2L Representative for Stetson Law Republicans, in addition to her membership in the Federalist Society. She externed last summer at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, gaining experience with federal litigation and judicial process that reinforces the importance of civility and professionalism in legal advocacy.
Spencer Greenwood is a member of Stetson’s Trial Team with a strong interest in litigation and advocacy. Last summer, he worked at Banker Lopez Gassler in St. Petersburg, where he deepened his appreciation for clarity and respectful engagement in adversarial settings.
Sassy Hill is a member of the Dispute Resolution Board and serves as Lambda Legal Society’s 2L representative and the Anti-Trafficking Coalition’s vice president. A Stetson Law Ambassador, Hill is also an entrepreneur and two-time business founder who brings a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to civil discourse informed by leadership, advocacy, and real-world problem solving.
Sean Patterson is an active member of the Black Law Students Association, the Student Bar Association, and the Student Veterans Association at Stetson Law. He works full time as the Senior Signals Intelligence Chief for Special Operations at U.S. Central Command on MacDill Air Force Base and mentors local youth through the RISE Program. His experiences underscore the value of trust, perspective, and disciplined communication in civil dialogue.
Patterson said he chose to participate in the Civil Discourse Fellowship because he believes meaningful dialogue begins with perspective.
“As a Black and disabled combat veteran (of a certain age), my lived experience has shaped how I see justice, disagreement, and community,” Patterson said. “Too often, I think we intend to engage in discourse to change minds (we are aspiring to be attorneys); I hope to instead help open hearts so we can foster a campus culture where students feel safe sharing their thoughts without judgment or fear.”
Sierra Shellabarger currently serves as secretary of both the American Constitution Society and the Legal Advocates for Reproductive Autonomy at Stetson. She also volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem for the Sixth Circuit, where she advocates children within the state welfare system. Last summer, as a law clerk at Coats Schmidt, P.A. in St. Petersburg, Florida, she gained experience in civil litigation and real estate law. This summer, she will join Moyer Law Group as summer associate, where she will focus on defense-side construction litigation.
Tika Singh is a member of the Stetson Law Review and is active in the Entertainment and Sports Law Society, Stetson Law Republicans, and the Federalist Society. She is currently externing with the Honorable Amy Williams of Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit and previously worked as a corporate paralegal at Rio Tinto in Washington, D.C. Her experiences shape her commitment to thoughtful dialogue and fairness across institutional and ideological differences.
“I chose to participate in the Civil Discourse Fellowship because I believe the legal profession demands not just strong advocacy, but the ability to engage thoughtfully with perspectives different from our own,” Singh said. “I hope to help foster a campus culture where disagreement is productive, respectful, and grounded in a shared commitment to understanding and growth.”
Joey Taylor serves as Secretary of the Entertainment and Sports Law Society and is pursuing a concentration in Social Justice Advocacy. His work with the NHL, IRONMAN, USF Men’s Hockey, and his community service reflect a commitment to teamwork, empathy, and constructive communication.
Taylor said he has been pleasantly surprised with how his fellow students come from such diverse backgrounds, from younger students fresh from undergraduate life to those who have already chosen to re-enter the classroom after years of professional experience.
“There’s no other environment where you’re surrounded by bright students learning from an expert on a subject, so I’m hoping we can lead the student body towards taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from each other by promoting constructive discourse both inside and outside of the classroom,” Taylor said.
Janet Worthman serves as vice president of the Stetson Law Democrats and is active in the Criminal Law Society and the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Last summer, she worked at the State Attorney’s Office in Sarasota, where she gained practical experience in criminal prosecution and public service that informed her dedication to respectful engagement on complex and contested issues.
“I chose to participate in the Civil Discourse Fellowship because I want to become more intentional and effective in how I engage across differing perspectives,” Worthman said. “My hope is to build on that growth by continuing to develop spaces at Stetson Law where civil discourse thrives among peers and across the broader campus community.”
Post date: Feb. 18
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
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