Photos

Fall 2022 Symposium Photo Gallery (83 Photos)

Keynote Speaker and Audience Members at Fall 2022 Symposium 1

Keynote Speaker and Audience Members at Fall 2022 Symposium 2

Keynote Speaker and Audience Members at Fall 2022 Symposium 3

Keynote Speaker and Audience Members at Fall 2022 Symposium 4

Keynote Speaker and Audience Members at Fall 2022 Symposium 5

Keynote Speaker 2022 Symposium Table Décor

Winter 2022 Symposium (79 Photos)

2019 Civil Discourse Symposium (23 Photos)

On November 19, Grand Valley faculty, staff, students, and community members participated in the 6th Annual Padnos/Sarosik Civil Discourse Symposium titled, Civil Discourse Café: Complicated Conversations. Elizabeth Arnold, associate professor of anthropology and the current Padnos/Sarosik endowed professor of civil discourse, focused the event around storytelling as a means of building rapport and empathy. Four storytellers shared stories and represented a variety of perspectives: Lin Bardwell, Grand Rapids Community Relations commissioner and project coordinator for GVSU’s Division of Inclusion and Equity, Victoria Vuletrich, Assistant Dean at the Grand Rapids campus of Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, Brian Plachta, a shareholder with Plachta, Murphy & Associates, and Peter Sinclair, a videographer who specializes in climate change and renewable energy issues. Attendees were then invited to practice civil discourse in roundtable discussions which were facilitated by student hosts.

During the event, Jeff Kelly Lowenstein, assistant professor of journalism, was introduced as the next Padnos/Sarosik Endowed Professor of Civil Discourse. Jeff is the fourth professor in this role following Lisa Perhamus, Jack Mangala, and Elizabeth Arnold. Housed within the Brook College of Interdisciplinary Studies, the Padnos/Sarosik Endowed Professorship of Civil Discourse was founded in 2013 through a generous gift from longtime university supporters, Shelley Padnos and Carol Sarosik with the mission to prepare GVSU students to be leaders in advancing respectful, informed dialogue around vital social issues in their communities.

Elizabeth Arnold, endowed professor of civil discourse, introduces the 2019 symposium

Victoria Vuletich, one of the evening's storytellers, shares her story

Victoria Vuletich smiles while speaking to the attendees from the podium

Brian Plachta, one of the evening storytellers, speaks to the crowd while students and other attendees look on

Brian Plachta shares his story with the attendees

Director of Civil Discourse, Lisa Perhamus, addresses announces the next endowed professor of civil discourse

2018 Civil Discourse Symposium (23 Photos)

Over 200 Grand Valley faculty, staff, students, and community members participated in the 5th Annual Padnos/Sarosik Civil Discourse Symposium: Civil Conversations on Climate Change on October 25 at the L.V. Eberhard Center. Elizabeth Arnold, associate professor of anthropology and the current Padnos/Sarosik endowed professor of civil discourse, selected this year's topic of climate change and facilitated the event. Three panelists representing various views on climate change were Jordan Chrispell, West Michigan Clean Energy Organizer for the Sierra Club's Michigan Chapter, Steve Goreham, author and Executive Director of the Climate Science Coalition of America, and Kelly Parker, professor of philosophy and Director of the Environmental Studies program at GVSU. Attendees were then invited to practice civil discourse in roundtable discussions which were facilitated by hosts and focused on a unique climate change issue.

Housed within the Brook College of Interdisciplinary Studies, the Padnos/Sarosik Endowed Professorship of Civil Discourse was founded in 2013 through a generous gift from longtime university supporters, Shelley Padnos and Carol Sarosik with the mission to prepare GVSU students to be leaders in advancing respectful, informed dialogue around vital social issues in their communities.

Dean Hiskes welcomes attendees to the event.

Padnos/Sarosik Endowed Professorship of Civil Discourse, Elizabeth Arnold, introduces the panelists.

Over 200 attendees are seated at round tables in the Eberhard Center.

Elizabeth Arnold explains the importance of civil discourse and how to listen to understand.

Jordan Chrispell, West Michigan Clean Energy Organizer for the Sierra Club's Michigan Chapter, speaks about climates change and social justice.

Jordan Chrispell speaks on vulnerable people groups affected by climate change.

2016 Symposium Photos (12 Photos)

2015 Symposium (13 Photos)

Dean Hiskes, Shelley Padnos, Carol Sarosik, Jack Mangala

2014 Symposium (31 Photos)

Inaugural Introduction of Padnos/Sarosik Endowed Professorship Event (8 Photos)

Dean Hiskes with Lisa M. Perhamus, Carol Sarosik, and Shelley Padnos

Carol Sarosik, Jack Lessenberry, Lisa M. Perhamus, and Shelley Padnos

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