{"id":33644,"date":"2026-02-18T15:52:04","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:52:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/?p=33644"},"modified":"2026-02-19T10:06:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T15:06:08","slug":"stetson-law-launches-student-led-civil-discourse-fellowship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/18\/stetson-law-launches-student-led-civil-discourse-fellowship\/","title":{"rendered":"Stetson Law Launches Student-Led Civil Discourse Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"590\" height=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Civil-Discourse-News-Preview-Feb-2026.jpg\" alt=\"A male and a female student smile as they converse in front of the Stetson Law tower building.\" class=\"wp-image-33645\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Civil-Discourse-News-Preview-Feb-2026.jpg 590w, https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Civil-Discourse-News-Preview-Feb-2026-500x331.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Championed by Dean <strong>D. Benjamin Barros<\/strong>, the Dean\u2019s Fellows for Civil Discourse program empowers students to build a concrete, sustainable culture of respectful dialogue on campus and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s already robust culture of civility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne of my biggest priorities as dean of the College of Law has always been civil discourse,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to remain a place where people from very different backgrounds can come together and learn from each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A three-part model<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The initiative involves three key players: College leadership, student fellows, and an external expert partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leadership sets the tone before classes begin. During orientation, students hear directly from Barros or Associate Dean for Assessment and Professional Engagement <strong>Anne Mullins<\/strong> about the centrality of civil discourse in their professional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat early signal matters,\u201d Mullins said. \u201cIt establishes that this work is not extracurricular or optional; it is part of professional formation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"590\" height=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Dean-Orientation-Civil-Discourse-Feb-2026-News.jpg\" alt=\"Dean D. Benjamin Barros smiles for a selfie in front of a class of students at orientation in the Great Hall.\" class=\"wp-image-33646\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Dean-Orientation-Civil-Discourse-Feb-2026-News.jpg 590w, https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Dean-Orientation-Civil-Discourse-Feb-2026-News-500x331.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students begin to learn about civil discourse as an aspect of professional development as part of their 1L orientation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The third pillar of the program is the <a href=\"https:\/\/constructivedialogue.org\/\">Constructive Dialogue Institute<\/a> (CDI), a national leader in helping students engage productively across differences. Founded by <strong>Jonathan Haidt<\/strong> and <strong>Caroline Mehl<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key questions guide the process<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fellows are now tasked with developing core principles based on key questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How should we treat one another when we disagree?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How should we handle controversial outside speakers?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How do we create a community that is engaged and civil rather than avoidant or conflict-free?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/index.php\/2024\/05\/10\/an-inn-ovative-approach-to-acclimating-students\/\">Stetson Inns<\/a>, supplemented by interpersonal dialogues the Fellows will facilitate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Planning for real-life situations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their task is to translate the principles they developed into universally applicable guidelines that reflect Stetson\u2019s values, educational mission, and responsibility to students. The goal is neither censorship nor uncritical openness, but a thoughtful framework that supports learning and engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is not about avoiding disagreement,\u201d Mullins said. \u201cIt\u2019s about ensuring our students graduate ready to lead difficult, high-stakes conversations in courtrooms, boardrooms, communities, and civic life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Leading the way on civil discourse<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fellowship reflects Stetson Law\u2019s shared values and commitment to preparing students not just to think critically, but to lead responsibly in challenging moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur approach to this program is student-driven, skill-based, nonpartisan, and consistent with academic freedom,\u201d Barros said. \u201cWe are training leaders, so we want our students to themselves set our community\u2019s expectation for civil discourse.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Meet the inaugural fellows<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2025-2026 fellows bring a remarkable range of experiences to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mark Boyle<\/strong>&nbsp;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Caitlyn Green<\/strong>&nbsp;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Spencer Greenwood<\/strong>&nbsp;is a member of Stetson\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sassy Hill<\/strong>&nbsp;is a member of the Dispute Resolution Board and serves as Lambda Legal Society\u2019s 2L representative and the Anti-Trafficking Coalition\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sean Patterson<\/strong>&nbsp;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 <a>mentors<\/a> local youth through the RISE Program. His experiences underscore the value of trust, perspective, and disciplined communication in civil dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patterson said he chose to participate in the Civil Discourse Fellowship because he believes meaningful dialogue begins with perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs a Black and disabled combat veteran (of a certain age), my lived experience has shaped how I see justice, disagreement, and community,\u201d Patterson said. \u201cToo often, I think we intend to engage in discourse&nbsp;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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sierra Shellabarger<\/strong>&nbsp;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Tika Singh<\/strong>&nbsp;is a member of the <em>Stetson Law Review<\/em> 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI 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,\u201d Singh said. \u201cI hope to help foster a campus culture where disagreement is productive, respectful, and grounded in a shared commitment to understanding and growth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Joey Taylor<\/strong>&nbsp;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\u2019s Hockey, and his community service reflect a commitment to teamwork, empathy, and constructive communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere&#8217;s no other environment where you&#8217;re surrounded by bright students learning from an expert on a subject, so I&#8217;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,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Janet Worthman<\/strong>&nbsp;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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI chose to participate in the Civil Discourse Fellowship because I want to become more intentional and effective in how I engage across differing perspectives,\u201d Worthman said. \u201cMy 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.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":33645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2019,3],"tags":[2664,2621,266,2601,1933,2603,2631,2659,2665,1190],"class_list":["post-33644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-campus-life-news","category-news-1","tag-civil-discourse","tag-dean-d-benjamin-barros","tag-faculty","tag-lawportal-home-top","tag-news","tag-news-and-stories","tag-news-top","tag-professional-development","tag-professional-identity","tag-stetson-today"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Stetson Law Launches Student-Led Civil Discourse Initiative - Stetson Law News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Reflecting a key College priority, Stetson Law has launched a student-led initiative to promote a culture of civil discourse on campus.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/18\/stetson-law-launches-student-led-civil-discourse-fellowship\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Stetson Law Launches Student-Led Civil Discourse Initiative - Stetson Law News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Reflecting a key College priority, Stetson Law has launched a student-led initiative to promote a culture of civil discourse on campus.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/18\/stetson-law-launches-student-led-civil-discourse-fellowship\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Stetson Law News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-18T20:52:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-19T15:06:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www2.stetson.edu\/law\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Civil-Discourse-News-Preview-Feb-2026.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"590\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"391\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kate Bradshaw\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kate Bradshaw\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www2.stetson.edu\\\/law\\\/news\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/18\\\/stetson-law-launches-student-led-civil-discourse-fellowship\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www2.stetson.edu\\\/law\\\/news\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/18\\\/stetson-law-launches-student-led-civil-discourse-fellowship\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kate Bradshaw\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www2.stetson.edu\\\/law\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5cd014dbaadbd64833384ca0968ed162\"},\"headline\":\"Stetson Law Launches Student-Led Civil Discourse Initiative\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-18T20:52:04+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-19T15:06:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www2.stetson.edu\\\/law\\\/news\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/18\\\/stetson-law-launches-student-led-civil-discourse-fellowship\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1599,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www2.stetson.edu\\\/law\\\/news\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/18\\\/stetson-law-launches-student-led-civil-discourse-fellowship\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www2.stetson.edu\\\/law\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/Civil-Discourse-News-Preview-Feb-2026.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"civil discourse\",\"Dean D. 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