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"The Sustained Dialogue Campus Network's mission is to help university and high school students create a healthy and open climate on their campuses. SDCN trains, mentors, and connects student leaders who work through dialogue to design cohesive, engaged, and diverse communities nationwide."
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The Sustained Dialogue Campus Network (SDCN) is a project of
The International Institute for Sustained Dialogue (IISD). In 1999, students began using a unique process called
Sustained Dialogue (SD) to proactively improve race relations on college campuses. A network of Sustained Dialogue practitioners has since formed, connecting students at over a dozen colleges, universities, and high schools across the country. This network, called the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network, represents a budding social movement of passionate students deeply engaged in changing the dynamics of their campus climate.
SDCN supports groups of students interested in initiating, moderating, and institutionalizing Sustained Dialogue, an organic five- stage process that addresses strained relationships to improve communities.
Our branches include Princeton University, University of Virginia, Dickinson College, University of Notre Dame, Colorado College, Denison University, Stevenson High School, University of Alabama, Vanderbilt University, Northwestern University, University of Hawaii, Saint John Fisher College, Cornell College, and the University of Richmond Law School.
Our Logo Explained
The SDCN logo depicts the very being of our organization. It exemplifies the philosophy and the mission statement that makes Sustained Dialogue effective and unique.
Currently the world’s largest organism is a grove of aspen trees in Colorado. Though the trees appear to be separate, they are actually connected below the ground through their common roots.
Similarly, as each different Sustained Dialogue university and high school branch is unique and takes on its own characteristics, they are all connected to one another through the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network. Belonging to the same “organism” gives each SD campus both the strength and support to become an even greater vehicle for change in their own spheres.
In our logo, the trunk of the tree represents the lifeline of the network– the students. Upon closer inspection, the trunk creates the profile of two individuals engaging in dialogue. This symbol emphasizes the power of dialogue and its ability to unite conflicted communities. As the roots strengthen, the potential for new trees to develop expands, thus producing a living, breathing, and self-perpetuating network.
Meet the Program Directors!
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 Chris Wagner recently graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Psychology. He became involved in SD as a freshman when it first started at Notre Dame, and moderated groups his junior and senior years. Chris grew up in West Springfield, MA and now lives in Alexandria, VA. Following his position at SDCN, he hopes to spend some time abroad prior to applying to graduate programs.
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 Rhonda Fitzgerald became involved with SD during her freshman year at Princeton University. She credits SD with helping her to see fellow students in more than black and white and to interact more fully in a vibrantly complex campus culture. Rhonda is excited to use her experience as Princeton "Head Moderator in her role as an SDCN Program Director, to help other students and schools use SD to their communities' benefit. She considers using the SD process to tackle the tense racial environments in America's prison and judicial systems after her time with SDCN. |
Our Services
- SD literature
- available upon request, introduces our unique,
community-building process
- Initiator Training
- for students interested in starting SD in their
campus communities
- Moderator Training
- upon committing to initiating a program,
experienced SDCN moderators conduct 2-day
Moderators Trainings
- Leadership Development
- SDCN provides continual guidance and support,
as students work to build and maintain their SD
program
- Speaker at Kick Off Dinner
- Schedules permitting, SDCN will do our best to
help find an SD alum, co-founder, or other
speaker to provide inspiration at your Kick-Off
Dinner
- Annual Conference
- SDCN’s National Intercollegiate Conference
assembles SD student practitioners and
alumni together annually for a weekend of
workshops, dialogue sessions, and activities
that build and strengthen our network and
each individual campus program.
Work Opportunities with SDCN - Contact Us if you're interested in helping sustain the network in any of the following ways:
Kick-Off Travel Team
Speaker
Summer Internship Program
Program Director
