Earn 1 credit in 1 weekend and explore big questions about leadership, democracy, and impact, while connecting with peers, employers, faculty experts, and alumni who turn their values into action. With flexible online prep and an in-person day-and-a-half summit (Feb. 7-8), you will develop skills to lead with purpose and impact.
Open to: sophomores, juniors, & seniors
Adi Grabiner-Keinan, Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Director & Senior Lecturer of Center for Dialogue & Pluralism
Colleen Barry, Dean of the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, co-Director of the Cornell Health Policy Center
Rachel Dunifon, Dean of the College of Human Ecology, Professor in the Department of Psychology & the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy
How can your Cornell education help you lead a life of purpose and impact while on campus and in your future career? How can we engage with complex social, political, and scientific challenges in a way that supports resilient democracies? What knowledge and competencies are essential for future leaders, and how can we communicate effectively across differences to foster collaboration and progress?
This one-credit course – held in person over a day and a half with asynchronous preparation beforehand – invites students to reflect on these questions while exploring how their academic journey can serve as a foundation for civic leadership and professional purpose. You will learn alongside students from across Cornell’s colleges and connect with faculty, alumni, and leaders who not only bring a range of professional expertise, but also actively practice civic engagement in their fields. In addition to broad exposure, you’ll choose a focus area – law, health, technology, or business – and examine its role in advancing democratic principles and practices. Through this lens, you’ll engage with varied perspectives, challenges, and solutions, while practicing communication skills and participating in small group dialogues with peers.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
This course runs from January 20 to February 13, 2026, combining independent learning with an immersive in-person experience.
January 20 – February 5: Asynchronous Pre-Summit Preparation
Build a foundation through short videos, lectures, and readings, and engage with peers through an online discussion board and annotation assignment.
February 7–8: In-Person Weekend Summit
Join classmates for an immersive weekend of interactive sessions. During the Summit, you’ll participate in small-group dialogues, connect with alumni and professionals from fields like law, health, technology, and business, and explore how these areas can shape and strengthen democracy.
February 13: Final Reflection Assignment due
Synthesize your learning and articulate how you can apply course insights to your academic path, career goals, and civic engagement.
We’ll explore questions like:
We’ll explore questions like:
We’ll explore questions like:
We’ll explore questions like:
Please contact dialogue@cornell.edu with any questions.
