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Davis Weinberg
Professor Adam Davis and President Adam Weinberg flank recent Denison University graduate Sadie Webb.

Higher Ed Now producer Doug Sprei interviews two academic leaders at Denison University: Adam Weinberg, the university’s President, and Adam Davis, Professor of History and Director of the Lisska Center for Intellectual Engagement. Together they conceived a groundbreaking freshman orientation initiative – “Minds Wide Open” – which gave 700 incoming Denison students an immersive experience of civil discourse through Braver Angels campus debates. President Weinberg and Professor Davis elaborate on their vision and thinking behind this innovative program, which holds promise as an inspiring model for freshman orientation efforts around the nation.

Download a transcript of the podcast HERE.

Braver Angels debate Chair Doug Sprei, center, flanked by Denison faculty and students at one of three debates that were held during the “Minds Wide Open” freshman orientation on August 28, 2022.
April Lawson-Kornfield, seated at left, chaired one of the three Braver Angels debates during Denison University’s freshman orientation session.
Freshman students packed Slayter Auditorium for one of three simultaneous Braver Angels debates at Denison University on August 28, 2022.

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