Training

The UCLA Dialogue across Difference Initiative Training arm aims to build the campus’s collective muscle for navigating differences by providing a series of workshops, advanced trainings, and train the trainer opportunities to all campus audiences.

There are three primary capacities the DaD initiative hopes to advance through its trainings:

Engaging Across Difference
DaD seeks to build the campus’s capacity to have constructive conversations across lines of difference
Facilitating Across Difference
DaD seeks to train campus leaders to effectively manage conversations in the classroom, workplace, and other spaces where difference is present
Convening Across Difference
DaD seeks to support campus conveners to develop programs, conversations, and events that advance the goals of dialogue across difference

DaD has partnered with the nationally acclaimed nonprofit Resetting the Table to bring its field-tested methodology for engaging across charged differences to campus. This includes training senior leaders, campus partners, DaD faculty fellows, and others in their approach. It also includes the following discrete activities:

Speaking Across Conflict Workshops

DaD offers quarterly Speaking Across Conflict workshops for staff and faculty and for students. This is interactive and signature workshop from Resetting the Table offers participants an opportunity to delve deeper into a core skill for having more constructive conversations across charged political difference and allows participants to practice speaking about divisive political topics using this skill.

RTT’s Train the Trainer for Higher Education Administrators

DaD has sent delegations of key UCLA staff and faculty to immerse themselves in Resetting the Table’s methodology for conflict transformation. Participants in this cohort in turn can lead the signature “Speaking Across Conflict” workshop for their own campus audiences. Click here to learn more about the program.

2025 Cohort Members

Adriana Galván, Dean of Undergraduate Education
Beth Goodhue, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Engagement, Teaching & Learning Center
Lola Ivy, Career & Professional Development Coordinator, Campus HR Learning & Organizational Development
Rachel Ketai, Faculty, Writing Programs
Joshua Mayfield, Interim RISE Program Director (student affairs)
Chett Miller, Manager of Risk and Compliance, Campus Life
Michele Moe Forsyte, Faculty, Writing Programs
Emily Rose, Assistant Provost and Chief of Staff, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
K. Supriya, Associate Director, Center for Education Innovation and Learning in the Sciences
Ariane White, Director of Organizational Development and Inclusive Excellence, UCLA Library

2024 - 2025 Cohort Members

Linda Clowers, Director, Research & Bruin Engagement Office, Office of Equity Diversity and Inclusion
Felicia Graham, Dialogue Across Difference Staff; Graduate Student in School of Education
Derisa Grant, Director for Educational Development Programs, Teaching and Learning Center
JC Jimenez, Special Assistant for Faculty JEDI, Clinical Professor of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine
Kris Kaupalolo, Associate Director, Student Organizations, Leadership & Engagement, Student Affairs (SOLE)
David Myers, Dialogue Across Difference Faculty Director; Distinguished Professor of History
Amrit Nagra, Director of Clinical Operations, Arthur Ashe Wellness Center
Cory Rosas, Director, Diversity Programs and Initiatives, UCLA Alumni

Customized Trainings & Support

The DaD Initiative also provides skill-building support and training to campus units interested in advancing skills for dialogue. Past workshops have included an advanced facilitation training for campus conveners, a skill-building session on conflict transformation for residential life staff, a communications discussion with campus counsel, and others.