Join Us

Outstanding Scholars Named As 2025 Career Enhancement Fellows

The Institute for Citizens & Scholars has named 20 new Career Enhancement Fellows for the 2025–26 academic year. The Career Enhancement Fellowship, funded by the Mellon Foundation and administered by Citizens & Scholars, seeks to increase the presence of outstanding junior faculty committed to campus engagement and thought-provoking research in the humanities and humanistic social […]

Youth Civics Solution Winner’s Art Inspires Civic Engagement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g7pWpakK3I David Guo, a Youth Civic Solutions Competition winner, was featured on The Fulcrum’s Democracy Forum series. In this interview with Hugo Balta, he talks about giving Gen Z a platform to be engaged in their communities and the power of art as a teaching tool. Read the full article.  Learn more about David’s project. 

2025 Mellon Emerging Faculty Leaders Named

The Institute for Citizens & Scholars has named 10 scholars as Mellon Emerging Faculty Leaders (MEFL) for 2025. Funded by the Mellon Foundation, the MEFL Awards support junior faculty whose research focuses on contemporary history, politics, culture, and society, and who are committed to the creation of thriving campus communities for students and faculty. The […]

Colleges & Universities: Hubs of Civic Preparedness

https://vimeo.com/1119960524?fl=pl&fe=cm Beverly Sanford of Citizens & Scholars hosts a conversation with President Suzanne Rivera of Macalester College and Dr. Elizabeth Matto of the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers University. President Rivera and Dr. Matto share tangible examples from their campuses on ways they are committed to being hubs of civic preparedness. They’re integrating dialogue into all […]

Generational Changemakers: Investing in Young People

https://vimeo.com/1120868792?fl=pl&fe=cm Dr. Audra Watson of Citizens & Scholars hosts a conversation with Yaa Ampofowaa Awuah, Andrew Brennen, and Lina Lin. These young civic problem solvers share how they are turning into mentors for younger peers, advocating for the inclusion of student voice in policy decisions in their state, and using social media to create resources for young […]

Spotlight On The University of Pittsburgh, a campus dedicated to having better conversations

In a time of deep division, The University of Pittsburgh champions the idea that equipping the campus community with the civic skills and tools to engage respectfully, listen deeply, challenge one’s assumptions, and expand previously held beliefs is crucial to strengthening democracy.      What started as a theme year dedicated to discourse and dialogue transformed into […]

College and University Presidents Unite to Inspire Graduates to Lead

College Presidents Launch “From Campus to Community” to Elevate Civic Skills in 2025 Commencement Ceremonies, Reaffirming Mission to Advance Next Generation of Civic Leaders Across America. PRINCETON, N.J., May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A coalition of college and university presidents from across the United States today announced From Campus to Community, a new national campaign to champion civil discourse and democratic engagement […]

Rajiv Vinnakota and College President Coalition Voices Featured in The New Yorker

Read Rajiv Vinnakota and coalition voices Marlene Tromp, Lori S. White, Tania Tetlow, Roslyn Clark Artis, and Michael Roth featured in The New Yorker. Emma O. Green’s article discusses the ongoing work across higher education to help our students develop the skills they need to live in a productive democracy. The examples here underscore our mission to equip America’s next generation with the […]