Fostering Dialogue Across Differences: Gonzaga Faculty Secure $10,000 Grant for First-Year Seminar

A commitment to fostering sustained, respectful and meaningful civic dialogue inspired three faculty members in the Department of Religious Studies to prepare a grant proposal to Interfaith America. Professors Daniel Pschaida, Emily Clark and Shannon Dunn proposed the development of a new First-Year Seminar that invites students to engage across religious, ethnic and political differences. Their proposal was recently awarded a $10,000 grant.

The new course, Difference and Dialogue, will introduce students to an interdisciplinary exploration of social conflict, division and cultural repair. With a focus on religious pluralism in the United States, the course examines three pivotal flashpoints in 20th-century American history to better understand diversity and envision how students can build cultural bridges using resources from Interfaith America. The course is expected to launch in 2026.

Using the lens of civic pluralism, students will explore how cultural perspectives shape social structures and how individuals can help generate more just and inclusive communities. In keeping with Gonzaga University’s mission to develop individuals committed to the common good, this course encourages students to be people for and with others.

Pictured below: Emily Clark, Shannon Dunn and Daniel Pschaida.