Investing in Civil Discourse: Barnes Family Foundation’s Impact in North Carolina

A sustainable, statewide model for civil discourse is blossoming at public universities across North Carolina, thanks to a series of generous gifts from the Barnes Family Foundation. 

Sparked by an initial seed grant bestowed in 2023, the College Debates and Discourse (CD&D) Alliance has since expanded its programming with the foundation’s continuing support, engaging more than 7,000 students at 15 institutions in the University of North Carolina (UNC) System. This initiative is helping us cultivate a new generation of student leaders committed to free expression and civil discourse.

Central to the program’s success is the Lee Barnes Campus Debate Fellowship, a model that brings student and faculty fellows together with the CD&D Alliance team to launch CD&D debates and dialogues at their schools. Specially selected student and faculty fellows work together to organize debates and workshops on civil dialogue for the entire campus community. Students are mentored by CD&D staff and develop valuable skills in leadership, communication, event coordination, marketing, and public speaking.

At the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Maddison Saliba reflects on the personal growth she has experienced as a student fellow:

“This fellowship has allowed me to make connections, practice public speaking, broaden my horizons, and make a difference in my community. For all of these reasons, I am committed to continuing this work, as I think breaking through echo chambers and helping to bridge the political divide is incredibly influential at UNCG and beyond.”

Western Carolina University student fellow, Tryston Weiss, speaks to the professional development he has gained because of this unique opportunity:

“Professionally, the fellowship has strengthened my ability to facilitate dialogue, communicate across differences, and lead conversations. These skills are extremely valuable, especially as I plan to pursue a career in public policy. It has reinforced my commitment to fostering spaces where intellectual curiosity and mutual respect are prioritized.”

As they support student fellows in organizing campuswide debates, faculty fellows also bring debates and workshops to their own classrooms. Utilizing the CD&D Curricular Toolkit, they teach students across myriad disciplines the skills of thoughtful and respectful dialogue.

Some of our faculty fellows in North Carolina are also advancing the program through research and professional development efforts. At the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Dr. Ann Rotchford and Dr. Nadine Gibson are conducting research to examine how CD&D programming can affect students’ perceptions of political polarization and their willingness to engage with peers who hold differing viewpoints.

At the University of North Carolina atPembroke, faculty fellow Dr. Melanie Escue has hosted a faculty training workshop and has coordinated with five UNCP professors to bring 20 debates and dialogues into their classrooms to date, deepening the program’s reach across campus. In Spring 2026, Dr. Sandra Watts at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte also hosted a faculty workshop, highlighting how the curricular toolkit can be used in both asynchronous and in-person courses. Additional faculty workshops have been held in collaboration with The Center for Innovative and Transformative Instruction at Winston-Salem State University and the Center for Teaching at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Additionally, CD&D has held campus events in partnership with the University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s Thomas College of Business and Economics’ Passport to Professional Success program, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Program for Public Discourse within the School of Civic Life and Leadership, The Center for the Study of Free Enterprise at Western CArolina University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Graduate School. These efforts expand the community of educators, administrators, and students, committed to helping students develop the skills needed for meaningful participation in civic life.

Dr. Kevin Marinelli, faculty fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, reflects on the program’s impact on campus culture:

“CD&D debates and dialogues have helped contribute to the culture of conversation at UNC by offering a unique, innovative space for students, faculty, staff, and community members to deliberate challenging issues in a productive way. Their thoughtful construction of debate resolutions in particular helps breathe new life into perennial topics of debate as well as address new public challenges.”

Together, student and faculty fellows form the foundation of what we call a “Community of Practice”—a self-sustaining campus environment where students, faculty, and staff regularly engage in open, respectful dialogue and work collaboratively to address divisive social and political issues. To this end, both student and faculty fellows complete the Debate Chair and Dialogue Moderator Training Programs, equipping them to facilitate debates and dialogues independently and thus expand the program’s reach. To date, 35 student and faculty fellows in North Carolina have completed formal training, with more joining them every semester.

The Barnes Family Foundation has also enabled the CD&D Alliance to launch programming at several historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which represent a significant portion of the UNC System. The program has taken root at Winston-Salem State University, Elizabeth City State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and Fayetteville State University. North Carolina Central University will begin implementing programming in Fall 2026, marking the complete expansion across all 16 colleges and universities within the UNC System. 

As of Fall 2026, the Barnes Project has student and faculty fellow teams at:

With gratitude for the support of the Barnes Family Foundation, the CD&D Alliance is preparing the next generation of leaders to carry the values of free expression and civil discourse into every corner of society in North Carolina and beyond. Together, we are building stronger campus communities where civil discourse thrives, viewpoint diversity is valued, and students are inspired to listen openly, engage thoughtfully, and respect one another as people—despite their profound social and political differences.

Kayla Johnston is Program Manager for the College Debates and Discourse Alliance in North Carolina.