SNF Paideia Program

"Penn’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Paideia Program aims to foster dialogue, civic engagement, community service, and wellness—and both students and faculty are enthusiastically signing on. But the program’s contours can be murky, and its role in bridging campus divisions remains a work in progress." -The Pennsylvania Gazette | May/June 2024 By Julia M. Klein | Illustration by Martin Leon Barreto https://https://lnkd.in/eqDjyxG4

“The question is, ‘Can you be inclusive and avoid harmful, bigoted, or similar, perspectives while still having an atmosphere of open inquiry?’” said Dr. Sigal Ben-Porath, SNF Paideia Faculty Director, in a recent article for The Chronicle of Higher Education on new speech policies on college campuses. “Can you be welcoming to all people, including those that hold perspectives that would exclude some other people?”

In the recent issue of Nature, the International Journal of Science, Sigal Ben-Porath, Faculty Director of the SNF Paideia Program writes about how universities can work to depolarize students. Political polarization leads to distrust, she says, and in universities this can lead to conflict or silence in classes and hinder learning and engagement. She says universities “should cultivate common ground through a shared search for knowledge rooted in evidence.” https://lnkd.in/esqKc4RX

Meet the 2026 SNF Paideia Fellows! Sydney is deeply committed to community involvement and service. The SNF Paideia Program will enable her to explore different political views and her interests in public opinion. She hopes to broaden her perspective in order to be a better representative for her constituents in the future. Sydney studies Political Science with minors in Survey Research/Data Analytics and ASL/Deaf Studies. As she studies at Penn, she also participates in musical extracurricular activities. These environments have helped her to feel intellectually and artistically fulfilled. Over the next three years, throughout this program, she seeks to explore different areas of study and gain a plethora of new experiences. After completing the fellowship, she aspires to help her community by creating inclusive dialogue and analyzing data empathetically to create effective, meaningful legislation. "I hope for a career in public service. I think that to be involved in politics you must have an empathetic view of society. The SNF Paideia Fellows Program will help me to become aware of point of views that I never knew existed and to make more informed decisions in elected office." -Sydney Wiggins

Meet the 2026 SNF Paideia Fellows! Sarah is a pursuing a major in economics with a concentration in Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors in Business in the Wharton School. Sarah is interested in building bridges through dialogue by finding common ground. She plans to utilize her academic knowledge and skills developed as an SNF Paideia Fellow to advocate for better climate practices within industry. "In the SNF Paideia Program, I wish to gain the soft skills of effective communication. These skills make one a better leader, a more empathetic listener, and a collaborative team player. These are traits that I would love to embody and translate into my personal and professional life." -Sarah Ming

Meet the 2026 SNF Paideia Fellows! Natalie is an aspiring political science and urban studies double-major in the College of Arts and Sciences. Originally from the sunny and quaint city of La Quinta, CA, she enjoys the view of the mountains and palm trees. Although she misses the view, she is looking forward to spending the next few years looking over the Philadelphia skyline. At Penn, Natalie is involved in the First-Gen, Low-Income Dean’s Advisory Board, the Ben Franklin Scholars Program, Mujeres Empoderadas, Penn Democrats, Penn Mock Trial, Kite and Key, La Vida Magazine, Marina Orth Tutoring Program, Penn for Immigrant Rights, and M.E.Ch.A. As a result, she is busy attending events and spending time with friends. "I am eager to enhance my dialogue abilities, as they are valuable in any setting, whether it's a family dinner or a major conference. If I can effectively articulate others' interests, I can increase their chances of being heard and involved in the discourse. " -Natalie Vasquez

Looking for innovative classes for spring semester? In Art as Intercultural Dialogue, taught by Fanchon Jean Silberstein and Claudia Tordini, you can engage in interpersonal encounters with art including field trips to area museums. Ethnographic and Anthropological Approaches, taught by Carol Muller, focuses on the ethics, politics, and practice of ethnography with an emphasis on music. Learn more and register for these courses by following the link provided: https://lnkd.in/e2PfNXZw

Meet the 2026 SNF Paideia Fellows! Ruth Oyerokun is a prospective political science major and hispanic studies minor, who is considering a career in law and public service. She has a keen interest in researching corruption and organized crime in developing countries, which has been fostered by her criminology coursework and upbringing as a daughter of Nigerian immigrants. As an SNF Paideia Fellow, she’s excited to explore the connections between wellness, service, dialogue, and citizenship, and her academic interests. Outside of the classroom, Ruth is an active member of Campus Curlz, a natural hair positivity and community service organization that promotes wellness through informative self-care workshops. In addition, she serves as an Associate Consultant of Penn Policy Consulting’s local branch. There, her research is currently focused on addressing pressing issues in the Philadelphia education system. In her free time, she enjoys reading opinion pieces, listening to podcasts, going on walks, and getting boba tea. "I value the fact that the SNF Paideia Fellows program promotes diversity of thought by fostering an intimate community among students from wide-ranging backgrounds and interests from all four schools. The cohort proseminars are especially exciting because I work closely with my peers who are equally interested in building a more open-minded community." -Ruth Oyerokun

Meet the 2026 SNF Paideia Fellows! Sam is a student in the College with an interest in the intersection between technology and public policy. He is fascinated by cooperative governance mechanisms in sociotechnical systems, specifically in the field of algorithmic curation. As a computer science and sociology (Law and Society) double-major, he’s interested in exploring both the hard, technical questions within the field, while addressing the social impacts of mass-media algorithms. Sam hopes to contribute fundamental scholarship towards technology policy, in the subfields of algorithmic bias, data acquisition/privacy, and digital-market regulation. As a technologist, he believes in the potential, non-financial applications of distributed ledger technology (DLTs) as a means to support government accountability and protect democratic values. Sam plans to use the SNF Paideia fellowship to further his knowledge of citizenship and learn how scientists and policymakers can work together to deploy new technologies that serve the public good. "As a SNF Paideia Fellow, I hope to broaden the breadth of my perspective and refine my personal beliefs by engaging in courses not included in a traditional course of study. I'd also like to integrate what I learn to further my knowledge of democratic citizenship and learn how scientists and policymakers work together to create mass-media algorithms that serve the public good." -Sam Jung

Check out these new SNF Paideia designated courses focused on justice. Criminal Justice Reform: A Systems Approach, taught by John Hollway, will review the various components of the criminal justice system and opportunities for implementing reform. Health and Social Justice, taught by Jennifer Prah, considers various theoretical approaches to the ethical challenges health posed by health inequalities. Learn more and register for these courses by following the link in our bio. Learn more and register for these courses by following the link provided: https://lnkd.in/e2PfNXZw