December 9, 2025 — Marist welcomed nationally recognized scholars Dr. Nicholas Longo and Dr. Timothy Shaffer on November 10 for a community forum exploring how the community can engage across differences in healthy, democratic ways. The event was part of Marist’s ongoing Making Space series.

The event, called Creating Space for Democracy, drew students, faculty, and staff to the O'Shea Lecture Hall in the Dyson Center for a discussion on how to foster respectful discourse, share stories across divides, and build common ground. The program was presented by the Office of Community and Belonging, the faculty Interfaith Committee, and the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs.

Dr. Nicholas Longo at Creating Space for Democracy event in the Dyson Center. Photo by Alexandra Rossi/Marist University.

Dr. Longo, Professor of Global Studies at Providence College, and Dr. Shaffer, the inaugural Stavros Niarchos Foundation Chair of Civil Discourse at the University of Delaware, brought deep expertise in civic engagement and conflict resolution. Their message: disagreement doesn’t have to divide—it can be a starting point for understanding.

“The question we need to ask is: How can campuses create spaces for practicing democracy?” said Dr. Longo. “Because if we don’t learn to talk with folks and across lines of difference, we’ll never build a true sense of belonging.”

Dr. Timothy Shaffer at Creating Space for Democracy event in the Dyson Center. Photo by Alexandra Rossi/Marist University.

“We need to be able to talk to each other — but civic engagement is more than just talking,” added Dr. Shaffer. “It’s about how we interact, how we connect within our mediated public square.”

Drs. Longo and Shaffer, co-authors of Creating Space for Democracy, travel the country speaking with college students about democratic engagement. Dr. Edward Antonio, Vice President for Community and Belonging at Marist, emphasized that the event offered a rare chance for the campus to engage directly with two nationally recognized voices on democratic participation.

“Marist has embraced the Making Space series as a signature program for educating citizenship, making dialogue, storytelling, and engagement across differences central to preparing students for a complex world,” said Dr. Antonio. “In a short time, we’ve become a thought leader, hosting nationally recognized voices and even creating a one-credit course on dialogue. At a time of deep polarization, Marist is modeling how the practice of dialogue can serve as a powerful, countercultural response.”

Students echoed this sentiment, underscoring how vital these conversations are to their education and sense of connection.

“One thing that stood out to me was the overall turnout for the event—a completely full room of students, faculty, and staff—which emphasized both the institutional commitment to civic dialogue and the community’s strong appetite for these conversations at Marist,” said Christopher DeVizio ’27, political science major. “For a democracy to function effectively, individuals who disagree must be able to come together and forge common ground and understanding.”

“Programs like this are essential for students' growth and preparation for life beyond college,” said Noelle Stamm '26, a fashion merchandising student. “Without spaces for these conversations, students can feel detached or apathetic toward issues that influence our communities and society as a whole.”

Earlier in the day, the scholars led an interactive workshop for faculty and staff from a range of disciplines and departments, offering practical strategies for engaging in dialogue across differences. Using real-world case studies, participants explored tools for critical thinking, empathy, and inclusive communication. Faculty and staff worked together on challenging conflict scenarios, learning how to build bridges as facilitators and mentors for students.

Dr. Edward Antonio at Creating Space for Democracy event in the Dyson Center. Photo by Alexandra Rossi/Marist University.

The Making Space series invites the Marist community to engage in challenging conversations with curiosity, respect, and a shared commitment to democratic values. Launched in 2023, the series was created in response to increasingly polarizing global events.

This initiative began when Marist was selected to participate in a nationwide institute focused on creating connections among students, faculty, and staff across the many differences that can often divide people.

“I’m thrilled that we were able to bring Drs. Longo and Shaffer to campus to explore engaged dialogue with us as a community,” said Dr. James Snyder, Dean for Academic Engagement. “Dialogue across difference is one of the most important skills students can build in college as they navigate their lives together. It is equally essential to their future careers and to living a life well-lived.”

This democracy-focused event marked the 15th installment in the series and provided the Marist community with a meaningful opportunity to deepen its commitment to inclusive dialogue and democratic practice.

Participants attended an interactive workshop for faculty and staff led by Dr. Nicholas Longo and Dr. Timothy Shaffer. Photo by Alexandra Rossi/Marist University.

“Attendance at the Making Space events has been extraordinary, reflecting Marist’s deep commitment to dialogue, storytelling, and engagement across differences,” said Dr. Antonio. “This level of participation shows that these practices are not add-ons but central to our mission of improving the world through education.”