Rainie has been named a to help shape and publish research findings from those surveys and other encounters with civil servants. The goal is to learn more about the ways government workers use AI and the impact on the workings of democracy.

Rainie was a main writer for Northeastern’s Observatory of Public Sector AI new report:

Some of the key findings:

• Many public professionals are just getting started with understanding and using GenAI.
• The biggest barriers to using GenAI in government are not tied to resistance.
• Leadership knowledge gaps about GenAI are a primary bottleneck to its adoption and effective use.
• Public professionals primarily use AI for information and communication tasks, such as research, drafting, editing, and summarizing.

The report was covered in the Boston Globe and other New England media and will become the anchor of several dozen presentations the group gives to government leaders, public professionals and civil society groups.

Rainie’s affiliation with the Burnes Center will bring benefits to the ITDF Center. ITDF and the Burnes Center will co-publish the reports he helps create and promote them to the media and other audiences as joint efforts. He will become one of the Burnes Center’s spokespeople at conferences, in the media and in web events like podcasts and YouTube webinars.

“This is an exciting chance for me to be present at the creation of something that we hope will become an important reference for those who work in the public sector and those who care about government performance,” Rainie said. “This kind of research fits perfectly with the ongoing studies of the Imagining the Digital Future Center, such as our recent reports ,“ “ and “.“ Ultimately, the great hope at the Burnes Center is that researchers here at �鶹��Ƶ and around the country will use these findings from our Observatory in their own scholarship and will want to work with our datasets themselves. I hope to hear from students or faculty members who would like to become involved in the next round of research the Observatory undertakes.”

Rainie says the next wave of research could involve such things as truly longitudinal studies in which specific public servants are tracked as they think about using AI in their jobs; studies that combine these survey findings with administrative records collected by state and local government; and studies that explore the impact of AI use by government employees on such critically important public purposes such as government performance and citizen engagement on policy issues.

�鶹��Ƶ is deeply committed to civic and political engagement. The university’s Commitment to the Values of Freedom of Expression and Inclusivity is available on the Council on Civic Engagement website and included in student, staff and faculty handbooks. �鶹��Ƶ also provides guidelines for political activities and demonstrations.

Throughout election season, �鶹��Ƶ will offer a range of resources, programs and events designed to support informed participation and constructive dialogue.

Pre-Election Day Events and Resources

Several events and voter registration drives are planned leading into Election Day, including:

�鶹��Ƶ Votes! Student Voter Registration Drives

�鶹��Ƶ Votes! will host several voter registration drives to help students register to vote and prepare to cast their ballots in the upcoming election. Drive dates include:

• Monday, Sept. 21, 3-5 p.m., Moseley Center First Floor
• Wednesday, Sept. 30, 3-5 p.m., Moseley Center First Floor
• Monday, Oct. 5, Noon-3 p.m., Moseley Center First Floor

Students are invited to attend a voter registration drive, stop by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life (Moseley 232), or visit the for additional information.

Fall Convocation with David Brooks

Friday, Sept. 25, 3:30 p.m., Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center

As part of the 2026-27 �鶹��Ƶ Speaker Series: Exploring Bold Leadership, David Brooks will deliver the keynote address during Fall Convocation. A best-selling author and longtime New York Times columnist, Brooks is a leading observer of American culture, politics and civic life. He serves as a staff writer at The Atlantic, a commentator on PBS NewsHour and a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson School of Global Affairs. Over decades in journalism, his columns have become some of the most widely read in the nation, offering insight into political dynamics, social trends and the challenges facing modern democracy. Admission is $15 or free with a valid �鶹��Ƶ ID. Tickets can be purchased on the .

Active Citizen Series: Deliberative Dialogue – Selecting Candidates on Your Election Ballot

Monday, Sept. 28, 4:30 p.m., Lakeside 212

When you cast your ballot during the midterm elections, how will you decide whom to vote for? How will you decide what makes an effective elected official? Elections provide an opportunity for voters to select the leaders who will shape how our municipalities, counties, states and nations are governed. Making informed decisions about who we vote for directly affects our daily lives and the lives of our fellow citizens. This dialogue will provide an opportunity to explore the issues that matter most to you and to consider how you might select candidates who best represent your values and your needs. Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, Political Engagement Work Group, and �鶹��Ƶ Votes!

Alamance-Burlington School System Board of Education Candidate Forum

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m., Hugh M. Cummings High School Auditorium, 2200 N. Mebane Street, Burlington, NC

This forum will offer local voters the opportunity to hear from candidates for the Alamance-Burlington School System Board of Education. Sponsored by Alamance Chamber, �鶹��Ƶ and Impact Alamance with support from �鶹��Ƶ News Network

Alamance County Board of Commissioners Candidate Forum

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Hugh M. Cummings High School Auditorium, 2200 N. Mebane Street, Burlington, NC

This forum will offer local voters the opportunity to hear from candidates for the Alamance County Commissioners. Sponsored by Alamance Chamber, �鶹��Ƶ, and Impact Alamance with support from �鶹��Ƶ News Network.

Facilitating Meaningful Discussion in the Classroom

Monday, Oct. 5, 4-5:30 p.m., Belk 208

Why are so many of us hesitant to bring difficult or timely conversations into the classroom, and what might we be missing when we avoid them? Using the Chronicle of Higher Education article “Why Higher Ed Won’t Look Itself in the Mirror” as a starting point, this session explores the value of facilitating dialogue around challenging, unexpected or unplanned topics. Participants will learn practical strategies to recognize opportunities for deeper engagement and bring dialogue more intentionally into their teaching. . Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning.

North Carolina House and Senate Candidate Forum

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 6 p.m., Lakeside 212 and 213

This forum will offer local voters the opportunity to hear from candidates for North Carolina House of Representatives District 63 (Ian Baltutis and Ryan Moffitt), North Carolina House of Representatives District 64 (Levon Barnes and Dennis Riddell), and North Carolina Senate District 25 (John Blanton and Amy Galey).

A Stronger, Safer, More Resilient North Carolina with Kathie Dello

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m., McKinnon Hall

As part of Campus Sustainability Week, Kathie Dello will deliver the keynote address. Drawing on her experience as both North Carolina’s former State Climatologist and her current role as the Assistant Secretary for Resilience at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Dello will explain how resilience moves beyond disaster response to reduce risk before disasters occur, especially in the wake of the three damaging hurricanes that hit North Carolina in less than a decade. She will highlight the state’s resilience work through the Flood Resiliency Blueprint and community-based programs that help local governments identify vulnerabilities and invest in long-term solutions. She will also discuss how partnerships with universities and local leaders contribute to stronger, safer communities across North Carolina. Sponsored by the Office of Sustainability.

Election Day

Information about voting and Election Day resources is available on the �鶹��Ƶ Votes! website.

Election Day Shuttle

Students already registered to vote in Alamance County are invited to use the Election Day shuttle throughout the day. A shuttle will run from the Center for the Arts to two local polling places from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To find your polling place in Alamance County on Election Day, visit the and confirm your polling place before you leave to vote.

Note: The �鶹��Ƶ campus is divided into two precincts.

Active Citizen Series: Election Night Watch Event

The �鶹��Ƶ community is invited to watch history unfold as election results come in from across the nation from 8 to 11 p.m. on the first floor of the Moseley Center. Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, �鶹��Ƶ Votes!, Council on Civic Engagement, and �鶹��Ƶ Political Engagement Work Group.

Post-election Events

Several events are planned for the days and weeks after the election, including:

After the Vote Panel

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 4:15 p.m., LaRose Student Commons

The Department of Political Science and Phoenix Policy Institute sponsor a faculty panel to unpack the 2026 midterm elections. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about what the local, state and national results mean for you, your friends and family, and our country. Sponsored by the Department of Political Science and Phoenix Policy Institute.

Carole Ann Walker International Lectureship with Kyle Carpenter

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m., McCrary Theatre, Center for the Arts

As part of the 2026–27 �鶹��Ƶ Speaker Series: Exploring Bold Leadership, the Carole Ann Walker International Lectureship will feature Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, a United States Marine and the youngest living recipient of the Medal of Honor. Carpenter is recognized for extraordinary heroism during his service in Afghanistan. In 2010, he sustained life-threatening injuries after throwing himself on a grenade to protect a fellow Marine, an act of valor that led to years of recovery and more than 40 surgeries. Following his recovery, Carpenter set and achieved ambitious personal goals, including completing a college degree, running a marathon and traveling internationally. He is the author of the memoir “You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For,” which chronicles his journey of resilience and purpose. Today, he speaks widely about leadership, perseverance and finding meaning in adversity, encouraging others to overcome challenges and pursue lives of impact. Admission is $15 or free with a valid �鶹��Ƶ ID. Tickets can be purchased on the .

The 2026 North Carolina Political Landscape Report finds that the identities most widely embraced across the state are rooted in work, community, place and shared civic values—not political movements or ideological labels. By examining how North Carolinians identify themselves across 30 political, economic, cultural and lifestyle identities, the report paints a more nuanced portrait of the state’s electorate than traditional measures of party affiliation alone.

“Winning coalitions of voters are often built by group attachments beyond party labels alone,” said Jason Husser, director of the �鶹��Ƶ Poll and professor of political science and public policy. “Outcomes in North Carolina elections are driven not only by whether the state has more Democrats or more Republicans, but also whether politicians can move those who identify with groups like working class, progressives or Second Amendment advocates. We measured the scope of some of the largest politically relevant group identities in North Carolina to offer insight into why some ideas stick in the state and others struggle.”

The broad middle is larger than the ideological edges.

Across the state, the identities most commonly selected are remarkably broad. More than three-quarters of respondents identify as working class (77%), while nearly as many identify as anti-racist (74%) and proud North Carolinian (74%). Majorities also identify as middle class (68%), religious (58%), Second Amendment advocates (58%), country people (56%), Constitutionalists (52%), environmentalists (51%) and beach people (51%).

By comparison, identities associated with ideological movements or political brands are embraced by substantially fewer North Carolinians. Only about one-third identify with MAGA (34%) or democratic socialism (29%), while even fewer identify as libertarian (20%), politically homeless (26%), anti-establishment (32%) or prepper (19%).

Taken together, the findings suggest that the political identities receiving the greatest public attention represent a smaller share of the electorate than the broader identities that unite many North Carolinians.

Republicans, Democrats and Independents have much in common

The report identifies substantial overlap among the state’s partisan groups.

Three of the top identities for Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike are working class, proud North Carolinian, and anti-racist. Middle-class identity also ranks among the most common across all three groups. These shared identities appear despite well-publicized partisan disagreements and suggest a broader common foundation than political discourse often reflects.

An anti-racist identity ranks among the ten most common choices for Republicans (66%), Independents (75%) and Democrats (80%). Likewise, large majorities across party lines identify as working class and as proud North Carolinians.

“It’s easy to fall into stereotypical thinking about Democrats and Republicans as monolithic and totally distinct from one another. However, we find enough overlap of group identities within North Carolina that suggest people with different political preferences often share many of the same ways of understanding themselves,” Husser said.

Similarly, the way voters in different parties describe themselves also offers potential for common ground. For example, while Democrats are much more likely to consider themselves “environmentalists” than Republicans (64% to 39%), the related label “conservationist” was chosen by 48% of Democrats and 54% of Republicans.

It’s easy to fall into stereotypical thinking about Democrats and Republicans as monolithic and totally distinct from one another.

– Professor Jason Husser, director of the �鶹��Ƶ Poll

The differences remain meaningful

Where Republicans and Democrats diverge is in the identities associated with organized political movements and cultural priorities.

Republicans are substantially more likely to identify as Second Amendment advocates, religious, MAGA, Constitutionalists, country people, and MAHA supporters. Democrats are more likely to identify as progressives, social justice advocates, feminists, environmentalists, LGBTQ rights advocates, and democratic socialists.

Independents present a different profile. Their most common identities emphasize community and lifestyle rather than partisan ideology, including working class, anti-racist, proud North Carolinian, middle class, Second Amendment advocate, religious, environmentalist and conservationist. Unlike Republicans and Democrats, no overt political movement appears among Independents’ ten most common identities.

Views of government are similarly nuanced

The report finds that North Carolinians resist simple ideological categorization. While six in ten favor a larger government providing more services and 57% support providing more assistance to people in need even if it means higher taxes, only 17% say they trust the federal government to do what is right most or all of the time. At the same time, two-thirds believe the American economic system favors a select few rather than being generally fair.

The report is based on an online survey of 800 North Carolina adults created by the �鶹��Ƶ Poll and fielded by YouGov between July 23 and July 31, 2026. The survey has a margin of error of ±4.24%. The full report, topline results and methodology are available at elon.edu/elonpoll.

Poll Methodology

Access the poll topline and methodology at: www.elon.edu/elonpoll. The survey was developed by the �鶹��Ƶ Poll and fielded by the international marketing and polling firm YouGov as an online, web-based survey, self-administered through online panels. Between July 23 and July 31, 2026, YouGov interviewed 861 North Carolina adults aged 18 and older. These respondents were then matched down to a sample of 800 to produce the final dataset.

The matched cases were weighted to the sampling frame using propensity scores based on age, gender, race/ethnicity, years of education, and home ownership. The margin of error for registered voters in this survey (adjusted for weights) is +/-4.42%.

�鶹��Ƶ the �鶹��Ƶ Poll

Established in 2000, the �鶹��Ƶ Poll conducts national and North Carolina surveys on issues of importance to voters and residents. Information from these polls is shared with media, citizens and public officials to facilitate informed public policymaking through the better understanding of citizens’ opinions and attitudes. The poll is fully funded by �鶹��Ƶ and operates as the neutral, non-biased information resource.

The �鶹��Ƶ Poll is a charter member of the , a program created by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) in 2014 to educate polling firms on ways to better share how they collect and interpret their information. The �鶹��Ƶ Poll’s voluntary participation in this initiative signifies a willingness to clearly state in its reports how questions were asked, in what order, who funded the poll and who conducted it, and a definition of the population under study, among other details.

As they helped parents prepare legal documents designed to ensure their children would continue receiving care and education if the unexpected happened, students found themselves doing something equally important: listening to families navigating uncertainty and providing greater peace of mind.

Organized by �鶹��Ƶ Law’s Pro Bono Board in partnership with — an agency that advocates for and serves immigrants in the Triad — the May 2025 clinic responded to concerns from families who wanted to prepare for the possibility of sudden family separation. Under the supervision of licensed attorneys — including an �鶹��Ƶ Law alumna and a faculty member — students assisted parents in completing powers of attorney that would allow trusted caregivers to make educational and medical decisions for their children if needed.

“It was something concrete we could actually do,” recalled Molly Hohler L’26, who helped organize the clinic through the Pro Bono Board.

Families spoke candidly about their fears as they contemplated possible detention or deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Working alongside fellow board leaders Frank Edwards L’25, Adnan Omer L’25, Saniya Pangare L’25 and Cameron Riordan L’25, Hohler organized the clinic with FaithAction International, Professor of Law Andy Haile and attorney Abigail Seymour L’17. Together, they identified a way to use their legal training to meet a community need and serve real clients.

More than a year later, that student-led effort earned statewide recognition. during the association’s Annual Meeting this summer, recognizing an “outstanding law student group whose pro bono project advanced access to justice in North Carolina.

“You have that script of what you want to say, and then all of that goes out the window because you recognize the emotions your client is experiencing. It taught us that you have to approach clients with empathy, not just legal answers.”
— Adnan Omer L’25

The idea grew from conversations with FaithAction International, which identified an urgent community need and contacted the Pro Bono Board. Immigration legal advice was beyond the scope of what students could provide, but powers of attorney offered a meaningful way to serve clients under attorney supervision.

For Adnan Omer L’25 and others, the clinic quickly became much more than a legal exercise.

“People come to you on one of the hardest days of their lives,” said Omer, now an associate attorney with Vrapi Weeks Immigration Attorneys in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “You have that script of what you want to say, and then all of that goes out the window because you recognize the emotions your client is experiencing. It taught us that you have to approach clients with empathy, not just legal answers.”

Seymour L’17, who founded Greensboro-based Camino Law in 2019, was the supervising attorney for the clinic. As a former Pro Bono Board member herself, she understood the value of the experience for students. Throughout the day, she observed, interpreted and worked alongside them during client meetings in the one-day clinic.

“The main purpose of this clinic was to give people a sense of control and preparation,” Seymour said. “Peace of mind to know that if the worst were to happen, they would have a plan.” �鶹��Ƶ Law students “were wonderful and jumped right in. They didn’t hang back.”

“The most important lesson is learning to work with clients who are facing significant challenges that we as lawyers may never experience ourselves. In class, we can debate and discuss these abstract issues of law and policy, but when you see how they affect real people, that makes it a different lesson.”
— Professor of Law Andy Haile

In recommending the clinic for the statewide award, Seymour praised the students’ “extraordinary professionalism, leadership and compassion,” writing to the NCBA that they approached the work “not as an academic exercise, but as a professional responsibility.” The project exemplified “the highest ideals of pro bono service in North Carolina,” she wrote.

Haile, who also supervised students during the clinic, said the experience demonstrated why experiential learning is critical for legal preparation. Some skills can’t be learned in a classroom.

“The most important lesson is learning to work with clients who are facing significant challenges that we as lawyers may never experience ourselves,” Haile said. “In class, we can debate and discuss these abstract issues of law and policy, but when you see how they affect real people, that makes it a different lesson.”

For Pangare, whose family immigrated to the United States, the project carried special meaning.

“It was an opportunity to help people feel more secure in their homes, their surroundings and their communities,” said Pangare — now an associate attorney at Hall Booth Smith P.C. in Asheville, North Carolina. “We wanted to help a community we knew felt vulnerable and let them know we were there to support them.”

“We have unique skills as soon-to-be lawyers. The more we can use those skills to help people, the better lawyers we become in the process.”
— Molly Hohler L’26

She joined Hohler and Shannon Ward L’26, current Pro Bono Board co-director, in accepting the award on behalf of �鶹��Ƶ Law during the NCBA Annual Meeting on June 26.

Hohler said that public service has been a throughline in both her personal and professional life. Serving on the Pro Bono Board gives her an opportunity to channel that instinct alongside classmates who share a commitment to service.

“I love working with clients. It gives me new energy,” Hohler said. “We have unique skills as soon-to-be lawyers. The more we can use those skills to help people, the better lawyers we become in the process.”

Sixty-eight percent of American adults say they are proud to be American, and 79% agree the United States plays a uniquely important role in world history. At the same time, 69% believe the signers of the Declaration of Independence would feel more disappointment than pride about modern American democracy.

The survey of 1,000 adults in the United States, conducted April 30-May 4, 2026, explores how Americans view the nation’s past, present and future as the country prepares to commemorate its semiquincentennial.

“As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans have complex and diverse feelings about America 250,” said Jason Husser, director of the �鶹��Ƶ Poll and a professor of political science and public policy. “We found several points of optimism among Americans, including pride in being American and belief that the United States has a uniquely important role to play in world history. At the same time, many Americans expressed significant concern about the health of American democracy today, and the country is split on its outlook over the next 50 years.”

More than half of Americans (52%) say the United States is unsuccessfully living up to its founding ideals, while only 30% say the nation is successfully living up to them. Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) rate the overall health of U.S. democracy as only “fair” or “poor.”

The survey also found widespread concern about political instability and civic division:

• 68% believe elected officials today are worse than leaders of the past
• 80% say they at least sometimes feel no political party or movement represents their views
• 70% say the country is more turbulent than average compared with other periods in U.S. history
• 64% say they have little or no confidence that U.S. political institutions will make mostly good decisions over the next 50 years
• 68% predict America will become more politically divided by 2076

Americans are also pessimistic about the country’s long-term future in several key areas. Majorities predict that by 2076 the nation will have less freedom, less economic equality, a lower standard of living, and more pollution. More Americans also believe technology will create more harm than benefit over the next 50 years.

Despite those concerns, the poll found Americans still hold strong connections to the nation’s democratic ideals and history.

When asked which event best represented American democracy at its highest ideals, respondents most frequently selected the Civil Rights Movement and World War II. Abraham Lincoln was named both the historical figure who best exemplified democratic ideals and the greatest president in U.S. history.

The survey also revealed broad bipartisan resonance for many historic presidential messages when respondents were not told who made the statements. More than three-quarters agreed with quotations from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, while large majorities also agreed with statements from John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Looking toward the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations, Americans expressed greater interest in reflection than pageantry. Nearly seven in 10 (68%) said America250 should focus more on reflecting on U.S. history and values than simply celebrating national achievements, and 71% said smaller local events would feel more authentic than large national celebrations.

The survey found Americans entering the anniversary with mixed emotions. The most common feeling was pride, cited by 38%, followed by gratitude at 17%. But 21% said they have no strong feelings, 12% described themselves as conflicted, while others reported disappointment or frustration.

The margin of error for the �鶹��Ƶ Poll survey is +/- 3.95%.

Poll Methodology

Access the poll topline and methodology at: www.elon.edu/elonpoll. The survey was developed by the �鶹��Ƶ Poll and fielded by the international marketing and polling firm YouGov as an online, web-based survey, self-administered with online panels. Between April 30 and March 4, 2026, YouGov interviewed 1,077 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. These respondents were then matched down to a sample of 1,000 to produce the final dataset.

The matched cases were weighted to the sampling frame using propensity scores based on age, gender, race/ethnicity, years of education, and home ownership. The margin of error for this poll (adjusted for weights) is +/-3.95%.

�鶹��Ƶ the �鶹��Ƶ Poll

Established in 2000, the �鶹��Ƶ Poll conducts national and North Carolina surveys on issues of importance to voters and residents. Information from these polls is shared with media, citizens and public officials to facilitate informed public policy making through the better understanding of citizens’ opinions and attitudes. The poll is fully funded by �鶹��Ƶ and operates as the neutral, non-biased information resource.

The �鶹��Ƶ Poll is a charter member of in 2014 to educate polling firms on ways to better share how they collect and interpret their information. The �鶹��Ƶ Poll’s voluntary participation in this initiative signifies a willingness to clearly state in its reports how questions were asked, in what order, who funded the poll and then conducted it, and a definition of the population under study, among other details.

Beginning this fall, Queens will align its undergraduate academic calendar with �鶹��Ƶ’s undergraduate calendar. The most notable change will be the reintroduction of Winter Term at Queens, a short, intensive session in January that allows students to focus on a single course or study abroad experience.

“J-Term gave Queens students something rare — three weeks each January alongside our closest friends to discover who we were through service, career exploration, and international travel,” said Queens alumna Staci McBride ’92. “We forged lifelong memories while living our motto, ‘Not to be served, but to serve.’ I am thrilled that this transformative tradition will now be part of the student experience again, and I can’t wait to see the lasting bonds and impact it will have on their lives.”

A highlight for many students is the intentional opportunity to study abroad in January. Both institutions have thriving study abroad programs, from �鶹��Ƶ’s nationally ranked participation rate to .

“J-Term gives students the opportunity to engage deeply in a single course, often in a global context, and to complement their learning in ways that are not possible during a traditional semester,” said Nick Gozik, dean of global education at �鶹��Ƶ. “Expanding this approach to Queens creates a meaningful opportunity as the two institutions come together.”

For LMA Alexander, executive director of the Pulliam Center for International Education at Queens, this new term brings fresh possibilities for JBIP. “The John Belk International Program is a cornerstone of the Queens undergraduate experience,” she said. “Queens has a long tradition of dynamic, multi-disciplinary faculty-led programs, and the addition of J-term will create new opportunities for innovative programming in collaboration with our �鶹��Ƶ colleagues.”

In another integration move designed to expand opportunity for students, the two institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize a priority-admission pathway for Queens undergraduates to �鶹��Ƶ’s School of Law. Both teams are actively working to share more details with students in the coming weeks.

J-Term gives students the opportunity to engage deeply in a single course, often in a global context, and to complement their learning in ways that are not possible during a traditional semester. Expanding this approach to Queens creates a meaningful opportunity as the two institutions come together.

– Nick Gozik, dean of global education at �鶹��Ƶ

Evidenced through the service and experiential learning emphasized on both campuses, Queens and �鶹��Ƶ share a commitment to civic engagement. This core belief will come to life through the Deliberative Citizenship Network (DCN), which recently invited both schools to join its inaugural cohort.

“The DCN highlights some norms or expectations that surround effective dialogues,” said Naeemah Clark, associate provost for academic inclusive excellence at �鶹��Ƶ. “Active listening, empathic and ethical discourse, and evidence-based argumentation are essential elements that are at the heart of a liberal arts education.”

Margaret Commins, chair of the political science, international studies and sociology department, shared, “We’re excited about the opportunity to work with a national cohort to learn best practices for integrating deliberation into the curriculum and co-curriculum, and for working with our �鶹��Ƶ colleagues to develop creative campus and cross-campus programming in this area.”

The DCN program will bring together two faculty members, one staff member, and 10 students from each participating school. The program will teach best practices and innovative ideas that can be woven into and beyond the classroom. “Students who can demonstrate these skills will be better learners and leaders in their post-graduation lives,” Clark added.

The �鶹��Ƶ team will be led by Dillan Bono-Lunn, assistant professor of political science and public policy and faculty fellow for civic engagement; Bob Frigo, assistant dean of campus life and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life; and Andrew Moffa, assistant director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life.

The DCN participants won’t be the only ones working together this summer. With an expected June vote on the merger by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, many administrative departments at Queens are preparing to integrate effective July 1, 2026, officially becoming employees of �鶹��Ƶ.

The first phase of integration brings new employee benefits — along with understandable questions from staff. To help ease the transition, Jeff Stein and Pamela Davies, co-chairs of the integration team, are holding coffee chats — open hours where any Queens employee can sign up to learn more about the process and ask their questions. The plan is to extend these coffee chats to �鶹��Ƶ employees as well.

“Mergers are hard work,” Stein said. “Yet it’s been exciting to see how collaborations across Queens and �鶹��Ƶ have already produced new opportunities and pathways for students — an early signal of what becomes possible when we work together to build what students need next.”

The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, awarded to a select group of U.S. colleges and universities, affirms �鶹��Ƶ’s integration of community-based experiences into teaching, research and campus life.

The classification recognizes the university’s deep commitment to community and civic engagement, and it follows a recent U.S. News & World Report ranking naming �鶹��Ƶ second in the nation for service-learning.

In her remarks at an afternoon reception in the Koury Athletic Center, �鶹��Ƶ President Connie Book said the Carnegie designation reflects extensive and coordinated effort across disciplines and divisions. She noted that �鶹��Ƶ has expanded community-engaged courses by more than 30% in the past decade, with faculty participation rising nearly 50%, and she highlighted partnerships ranging from local schools and health clinics to nonprofit and civic organizations.

Book described community engagement as “a brave space,” where outcomes are not always predictable, but where collaboration creates meaningful opportunities for students and partners alike.

As the university looks ahead, Book said, the designation sets a new benchmark for impact. “We want to improve the quality of life for all people in our community,” she added.

In welcoming remarks, Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley labeled the recognition “a reflection of our strong collaboration between Student Life, Academic Affairs and community partners,” and Associate Provost Jen Platania said the honor was one that acknowledges the intentional integration of community engagement into teaching and campus life.

“It reflects the work of faculty who designed meaningful community-based learning experiences,
the staff who support sustaining those efforts, and community partners who collaborate with us in ways that enrich our students and strengthen our shared work,” Platania said. “This recognition belongs to all of you. It affirms the culture of engagement that defines �鶹��Ƶ, where our students connect knowledge and purpose, and develop as thoughtful and engaged citizens.”

During the panel, moderated by Jason Kirk, professor of political science and policy studies, each professor used their academic research to explain the “hows, whys and whats” of the war.

“We are in a very different media and political economy compared to a generation ago,” said Kirk, “and that will be the deciding factor of how we view and remember this conflict.”

Baris Kesgin, associate professor of political science and public policy, explained the Iranian political system in which religious authority and democratic practices play a part in governing society. Using graphs that outlined the political hierarchy, Kesgin emphasized the seriousness of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and how Iran selected their new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

“Iran is not completely a theocracy and not essentially a democracy,” Kesgin said.

Thomas Kerr, assistant teaching professor of political science and public policy, discussed the U.S. military, noting that, although the United States has the largest military in the world, it does not have unlimited resources. Regardless, Kerr explained, even with fewer available resources to defend other bases, the United States has proven in previous conflicts to beat Chinese war technology that is being used by Iran currently.

“The more we [the United States] dedicate our resources in Iran, means that less resources that we can guarantee towards our other bases in, for example, Ukraine and Taiwan,” Kerr said.

Chelsea Bediako, a political science & international and global studies major,  attended the panel to learn more about the conflict outside of what she was seeing in the news media.

“I am the type of person who information comforts me, for example, having a grasp on what’s going on and having less uncertainty makes me more comfortable, so I wanted to separate fact from speculation,” Bediako said.

Geoffrey Claussen, professor of religious studies and the Lori and Eric Sklut professor in Jewish studies, spoke to the religious context of the war. He explained that although it is difficult to justify any war due to the human consequences, some ethicists use the criteria of the Just War Theory. This theory argues that for a war to be considered “just,” it must be a last resort (following unsuccessful non-violent solutions), have a “just” cause, must be produced from a valid authority, have a probable success, use only necessary force and must be fought fairly with minimal harm to non-combatants.

Claussen explained that the vast majority of the Israeli community supports this war, as they see Iran as an existential threat. In the U.S., Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Jason Husser noted that the American people are opposed, with recent polling showing 56% being against the war. Husser explained that these numbers can and will fluctuate as the conflict progresses, with the majority of Americans in the polls being against boots on the ground.

Ariela Marcus-Sells, associate professor of religious studies, covered the political and religious motives behind this conflict, including the unique societal view that Islam and, therefore, Iran is a threat to Western society. Marcus-Sells argued this is not a new concept, describing how in the 18th century, the idea of orientalism came from Western leaders of Europe seeing themselves as descendants of “greater society,” in comparison to the East, including people who followed Islam. This belief only grew over the years with the creation of America, the misconception of terrorists being associated with Muslims and media coverage of Islamic religious conservatism as “something strange and oppressive.”

Students were also able to ask questions of the panel. Mariama Jalloh, a public health major, came to the panel to listen to �鶹��Ƶ’s faculty members’ opinions about the conflict and hear an academic perspective that was new to her

“I really appreciated Dr. Marcus-Sells and Dr. Kesgin explaining the landscape of the situation, both religiously and politically,” Jalloh said. “This panel gave students a platform to ask deeper questions that you wouldn’t hear on social media or the internet.”

The classification recognizes the university’s deep commitment to community and civic engagement, and it follows a recent U.S. News & World Report ranking naming �鶹��Ƶ second in the nation for service-learning.

“While we are honored by the national recognition for excellence for service-learning, what matters most is the lasting impact that our students and faculty create through engagement in their communities,” said Jon Dooley, vice president for Student Life and associate professor of education. “The work prepares graduates who become thoughtful leaders, making meaningful contributions throughout their lives.”

In announcing the recognition, leaders at the Carnegie Foundation emphasized the national importance of higher education’s role in community engagement.

“Higher education is a vital economic engine for us all. Our colleges and universities not only fuel science and innovation, they build prosperity in rural, urban and suburban communities nationwide,” said Carnegie Foundation President Timothy F.C. Knowles. “We celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors – fostering civic engagement, building usable knowledge, and catalyzing real-world learning experiences for students.”

Bob Frigo, assistant dean of campus life and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, said the significance of the recognition for �鶹��Ƶ cannot be overstated.

“At a moment when the purpose and value of higher education are being debated across the nation, �鶹��Ƶ is recognized as a powerful example of what is possible when education is grounded in service to the public good,” Frigo said. “This recognition affirms what we see every day – when students, faculty, staff and community partners come together through community-based experiential learning opportunities, the results are transformative.”

The as the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global). Collaboration is for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to:

• Enrich scholarship, research and creative activity
• Enhance curriculum, teaching and learning
• Prepare educated, engaged citizens
• Strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility
• Address critical societal issues
• Contribute to the public good

The Carnegie Foundation’s description guided the development of the university’s application, which highlighted how these principles are implemented across �鶹��Ƶ’s campus.

Professor Phillip Motley, director of graduate programs for the School of Communications and former faculty fellow for community-based learning, partnered with Frigo to write the application, which illuminated the work of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, Center for Access and Success, Department of Human Service Studies, Poverty and Social Justice Minor, and Council on Civic Engagement.

The application also featured examples of campus-community partnerships, including:

• School of Health Sciences and Alamance Dream Center
• School of Law’s Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic and North Carolina
• Department of Health and Human Services State Refugee Office
• Department of Physical Therapy Education and HOPE Clinic
• Student Professional Development Center and Alamance County Chamber of Commerce
• Department of Engineering and City of Graham Recreation and Parks Department
• Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Alamance County Board of Elections
• Center for Access and Success and Alamance-Burlington School System
• Athletics and Allied Churches of Alamance County
• Project Pericles and the Sri Lankan non-governmental organization Sarvodaya
• Fraternities and Sororities and Habitat for Humanity
• Human Service Studies and Red Shield Youth Club
• Departments of Biology, Environmental Studies, Education and Wellness, �鶹��Ƶ Academy, and Clean Haw River
• Poverty and Social Justice Minor and Mayco Bigelow Community Center
• Power and Place Collaborative and African-American Cultural Arts and History Center

�鶹��Ƶ’s classification was awarded after an intensive self-study process and external validation by a range of community partners. The university was one of the first institutions in the nation to receive the initial community engagement designation in 2006 and was re-classified in 2015.

“The institutions receiving the 2026 Community Engagement Classification exemplify American higher education’s commitment to the greater good,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “The beneficiaries of this unflagging dedication to public purpose missions are their students, their teaching and research enterprises, and their wider communities.”

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is the nation’s leading framework for categorizing colleges and universities. The community engagement classification has been the leading mark of national recognition for over two decades. A complete listing of the 277 institutions that currently hold the classification endorsement is .

The university plans to celebrate this recognition at a campus-wide reception on Friday, March 6, at 5 p.m. in the Koury Center Concourse after the March faculty meeting.

�鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ

�鶹��Ƶ is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture. At �鶹��Ƶ, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business administration, business analytics, accounting, education, higher education, physician assistant studies and physical therapy.

�鶹��Ƶ the Carnegie Classifications

The Carnegie Classifications are the nation’s leading framework for categorizing and describing colleges and universities in the United States. Utilized frequently by policymakers, funders, and researchers, the Classifications are a critical benchmarking tool for postsecondary institutions. ACE and the Carnegie Foundation announced a partnership in February 2022 to reimagine the Classifications to better reflect the diversity of postsecondary institutions and more completely characterize the impact that today’s institutions have in society.

�鶹��Ƶ ACE

ACE is a membership organization that leads higher education with a united vision for the future —  galvanizing its members to make change and collaborating across the sector to design solutions for today’s challenges, serving the needs of a diverse student population, and shaping effective public policy. As the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities, its strength lies in its diverse membership of nearly 1,600 colleges and universities, related associations, and other organizations in America and abroad. ACE is the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities.

�鶹��Ƶ the Carnegie Foundation

The mission of the Carnegie Foundation is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Enacted by an act of Congress in 1906, the Foundation has a rich history of driving transformational change in the education sector, including the establishment of TIAA-CREF and the creation of the Education Testing Service, the GRE, and the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education. The Foundation was also instrumental in the formation of the U.S. Department of Education and Pell Grants, and most recently in the use of networked improvement science to redress systemic inequities in educational opportunities and outcomes.

DeMarco, a human service studies major, started her engagement at �鶹��Ƶ as a member of the Service Living and Learning Community. She continued to deepen her involvement as a Service Living and Learning Community coordinator and a leader of an alternative break experience to Asheville.

She has been involved in the Campus Kitchen program for several years now, initially as a farm shift coordinator, and now serves as director. DeMarco has been able to strengthen volunteer retention, along with an increased capability of harvesting more produce Loy Farm to help serve those experiencing food insecurity in Alamance County. She is also an advocate for service as the service chair for �鶹��Ƶ’s chapter of Alpha Chi Omega.

“Megan has an unbridled passion for service that is infectious to all those who participate with her,” said Abby Wiatrek, associate director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. “Her leadership style has a natural way of showing the humanity and humility needed when participating in service that makes others feel comfortable to ask questions to learn more about why the service that we are doing is important to our community.”

North Carolina Campus Engagement is a collaborative network of colleges and universities committed to educating students for civic and social responsibility, partnering with communities for positive change, and strengthening democracy. The organization fosters connections between campuses, shares best practice information and resources, recognizes outstanding work, and champions civic and community engagement in higher education.