Stock illustration of people with thought bubbles engaged in dialogue, conversation
  • September 8, 2026

  • New UC Irvine School of Social Sciences pilot program will prepare first-year cohort to facilitate constructive conversations and become certified Campus Dialogue Ambassadors

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This fall, a small cohort of first-year UC Irvine social sciences students will begin learning how to lead difficult conversations with empathy, curiosity and respect.

The Dialogue Lab, a new yearlong academic and leadership program launching in the UC Irvine School of Social Sciences, will guide students through a three-quarter course series focused on civil discourse, dialogue facilitation and conflict navigation. By the end of the program, participants will put those principles into practice across campus as Campus Dialogue Ambassadors.

The program will be co-led by Jeanett Castellanos, social sciences associate dean of undergraduate studies and professor of teaching, and Teresa Neighbors, social sciences director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging programs. Combining academic learning with hands-on leadership development, the initiative will help students build moral, civic and interpersonal character to facilitate civil, reasoned discussion around complex topics, says Neighbors.

“The program aims to bring students with diverse perspectives to the table, creating opportunities to build understanding, navigate difficult conversations, and find more constructive ways to engage across differences,” she says. “They’ll put those skills into practice through collaborative problem-solving and civic engagement, helping create a campus culture where differences become an opportunity for dialogue and shared action.”

The 2026-27 pilot will begin with a cohort of up to 30 social sciences students. The long-term goal is to expand the program across grade levels and academic schools, building a network of trained student leaders who can facilitate dialogue throughout the campus and community.

“Social sciences has an opportunity to lead the way,” Castellanos says. “By working with first-year students, we can help develop the next generation of campus leaders while giving them skills that will shape how they communicate and lead well beyond UCI. And the School of Social Sciences - with our strong community of scholars and resources dedicated to studying democratic issues - is uniquely equipped to meet this responsibility.”

During fall quarter, students will explore the foundations of civil discourse and learn how empathy, active listening, evidence and lived experience shape conversations across difference. Coursework will also examine blind spots, misinformation, political disagreement, identity-based differences and strategies for managing conflict without shutting down conversation.

Winter quarter will move students from participation to facilitation. Through training labs, role-playing and guided practice, they will learn to design structured dialogue experiences, ask productive questions, manage group and power dynamics, respond to tension and help participants work through disagreement. Students will develop and lead a three-hour capstone dialogue session and earn certification as trained peer facilitators.

In spring, the cohort will take the skills they’ve learned beyond the classroom. Students will facilitate conversations with different campus audiences, receive coaching and feedback, and learn how to adapt their approach based on topic and setting. They will also begin preparing to mentor future participants, helping create a sustainable, student-led culture of dialogue at UCI.

At the end of the series, participants will become Campus Dialogue Ambassadors available to help facilitate constructive conversations and campus dialogue initiatives. The goal is to eventually invite other UCI schools to develop their own groups of trained facilitators, scaling the program’s reach campuswide.

“It’s exciting to be launching this program with first-year students; beginning day one as Anteaters, they’ll be able to start creating positive impact on campus climate while becoming super leaders of the next generation,” says Neighbors. “Over time, we’ll have developed a leadership community of student leaders of all grade levels who are trained in engaging and facilitating dialogue across difference. We’re giving young people a chance to change how conversations happen, and they’ll carry those skills into the communities, workplaces and organizations they will lead in the future.”

Interested in-coming first-year students should apply online for this pilot program or contact Teresa Neighbors, tneighbo@uci.edu, for further information.

-pictured: Illustration of people with thought bubbles engaged in constructive conversation

 

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