Voices of Discovery: Dialogue Across Difference
About Voices of Discovery
Miami’s Voices of Discovery is an intergroup dialogue program piloted by Global Initiatives in Spring of 2019 and assessed by Miami’s Discovery Center. When combining the last 3 semesters of student survey data, Voices students reported gains consistent with those of the University of Michigan’s peer cohort in many significant measures. Voices students reported larger positive changes in communicating with people from other groups, confidence levels of taking self- and other-directed actions, confidence levels of intergroup collaboration, anticipated post-college involvement in redressing inequalities, involvement in social justice activities at Miami, and skills in dealing with conflict.
How can it help?
New knowledge, awareness, mindsets, and active listening skills acquired through the practice of IGD serve to help individuals communicate better at school, in the classroom, and on the job.
Meet our Peer Dialogue Facilitators
Alia Agee, Fourth Year Undergraduate Student, Social Work and Spanish
Alia (she/her/hers) is a fourth year undergraduate student studying Social Work and Spanish. She hopes to continue her education and pursue a Master’s of SW at Miami once she graduates. She is extremely passionate about social justice and the older adult population. In addition to working as a Peer Dialogue Facilitator, Alia will be interning with the Council on Aging in the Molina healthcare division for the semester. In her free time she loves to watch horror movies and go out with friends!
Tyler Eyster, Second Year Master's Student, English Literature
Tyler (he/him/his) is a second-year Master’s student in English literature, focusing on contemporary literature, animal studies, and the environmental humanities. He hopes to continue on to an English or Cultural Studies PhD program, or to work for an animal rights nonprofit. Aside from his work as a Peer Dialogue Facilitator, Tyler works as a consultant at the Howe Writing Center and is a Graduate Student Fellow for the Humanities Center’s 2022-2023 Altman Program. In his spare time he loves old movies and music, reading books, and hiking.
Annika Goldman, Fifth Year PhD Candidate, Clinical Psychology
Annika (she/her/hers) is a 5th year PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology with an area of interest in geropsychology. She is passionate about social justice education and mental health equity. In addition to co-facilitating IGD this semester, she is teaching Abnormal Psychology, and working on her dissertation. Outside of school, she loves to rock climb, draw and paint, and cuddle with her dog.
Chris Gray, Third Year Undergraduate, Social Work
Chris (they/them/theirs) is a junior undergraduate majoring in Social Work with minors in Disability Studies; Women, Gender & Sexuality; and criminology. They are passionate about advancing social justice, focusing on juvenile justice, while examining epigenetics & intergenerational trauma in connection to incarceration. They hope to one day work as an advocate for youth in the juvenile justice system, and develop programing to decrease juvenile recidivism rates. In their free time Chris enjoys hanging out with friends, reading a good book, and cuddling with their cat.
Isabelle Sistino, Fourth Year Undergraduate Student, Diplomacy and Global Politics and Comparative Religion; Graduate Student, Political Science the American System
Isabelle (she/her/hers) is a senior undergraduate double major in Diplomacy & Global Politics and Comparative Religion and a graduate student of Political Science the American System. She is hoping to pursue law school after this year. She has a deep love for everything art, fashion, and cinema. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, cooking, and picnicking.
Hannah Sroka, Fourth Year Undergraduate, Professional and Creative Writing
Hannah (she/her/hers) is a senior undergraduate double majoring in Professional and Creative Writing, and minoring in Education, Digital Marketing, and English Literature. She’s also a Global Readiness Certificate scholar, a member of the Honors College, and a student ambassador for the Education Abroad office. She is the vice president, ritual of Sigma Alpha Iota and the secretary of Miami Dance Corps. She hopes to someday get an MFA and ultimately work in publishing or teach English abroad. In her free time, Hannah likes to drink tea and annoy her cats.
Jonathan Waldmann, Third Year Undergraduate, Mathematics
Jonathan (he/him/his) is a Junior undergraduate majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Japanese. In addition to this, Jonathan is a second year RA in Peabody hall and a student ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences. He hopes to study abroad in the future and eventually become a professor in mathematics. In his free time, he likes to read, play video games, and spend time with his friends.
Madeline Whistler, Fourth Year Undergraduate, International Studies and East Asian Languages and Cultures
Madeline (she/her/hers) is an undergraduate senior double majoring in International Studies and East Asian Languages and Cultures, and minoring in Economics and Geography. Besides working as a Peer Dialogue Facilitator, she also works in the International Student Center. Madeline wants to continue her study of Chinese and attend graduate school to study political economy. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, watching movies, and spending time with family.
For Faculty:
How to Embed Intergroup Dialogue into Your Course (for Faculty)
Faculty may be eligible to embed intergroup dialogue into an existing course as an alternative to an exam, in lieu of a paper, or a substitute for some other substantial component (not for extra credit). Faculty may also embed intergroup dialogue by adding an additional credit (+1) to a course. To find out more, please contact Tarah Trueblood at ttrueblood@miamioh.edu.
Learn about the ChangeMakers Program for faculty and staff
Center for American and World Cultures
