Sponsored by the Office of the President, Duquesne University's series on civil discourse explores the importance of respectful dialogue even on challenging topics. This event is presented in partnership with the Division of Student Life and is open to all University students, faculty and staff.
President Ken Gormley, who began the Civil Discourse Series in 2017, has made this event a priority on campus. Learn about previous Civil Discourse events and read Duquesne student insights about the Civil Discourse Series.
“As a Spiritan Catholic University and a valued institution of higher education, we understand the importance of providing a forum in which our campus can respectfully engage in and discuss important and thought-provoking issues."
Previous Civil Discourse Events
Explore coverage of the previous Civil Discourse events hosted by Duquesne University.
With the dramatic increase in antisemitism across the United States, the 2024 civil discourse discussion focused on the timely topic of The Holocaust, Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting and Educating Future Generations.
The event was moderated by Dr. John Mitcham, associate professor and chair of history at Duquesne, and featured the following panelists:
- Dr. Michael Bernebaum, former project director, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; director,
Sigi Ziering Institute; and distinguished professor of Jewish Studies, American Jewish
University
- Dr. Maggie Feinstein, executive director, 10.27 Healing Partnership.
“This year’s civil discourse topic is particularly relevant to today’s students and our campus community. At Duquesne, our commitment to civil discourse and ethical engagement is core to our identity," said President Ken Gormley.
View the 2024 photo gallery
President Ken Gormley and nationally prominent political figures spoke on the importance
of respectable debate at Civil Discourse and Voting in Today’s America, Duquesne’s annual campus-wide event on civil discourse.
Moderated by Gormley, the forum featured former U.S. Representative Dick Gephardt, a longstanding Democratic member of Congress who served as House Majority Leader, and Elizabeth Preate Havey, a prominent Montgomery County attorney who serves as secretary of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. Aerion Abney, state representative for the 19th District of Pennsylvania, also delivered a pre-recorded message.
Learn more about the 2023 event.
View the 2023 photo galleryThe first panel, Race and Police: Building Trust in Communities, featured Coleman McDonough, superintendent of Allegheny County Police, and Tracey McCants-Lewis, assistant clinical professor in Duquesne’s School of Law.
The second panel, Muslims, Immigration and the American Dream, featured:
- Imam AbduSemi’h Tádése, director of religious affairs, Islamic University Center
- Lawrence M. Lebowitz, chair of immigration group, Cohen & Grigsby, P.C.
- Dr. Emad Mirmotahari, associate professor of English and African studies in the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts.
Civil Discourse 2024 event photos
The 2024 event on The Holocaust, Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting and Educating Future Generations was moderated by Dr. John Mitcham, associate professor and chair of history at Duquesne, and featured panelists Dr. Michael Bernebaum, former project director, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; director, Sigi Ziering Institute; and distinguished professor of Jewish Studies, American Jewish University and Dr. Maggie Feinstein, executive director, 10.27 Healing Partnership.
Student Insights on Previous Civil Discourse Events
Civil Discourse 2023 event photos
The 2023 event on Voting in Today's America featured panelists Hon. Richard A. Gephardt, former U.S. Congressman and House Majority Leader and President and CEO of Gephardt Government Affairs; Elizabeth Preate Havey, Esq., Secretary of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania and Partner at Dilworth Paxson, LLP; and Hon. Aerion Abney, State Representative of the 19th District of Pennsylvania and former Pennsylvania Director of Special Projects for All Voting is Local.
