Major
Biology with a specialization in Ecology and Evolution
Year
Class of 2027
Where are you from?
Pickerington, Ohio
Explain your involvement with Dialogue Across Difference.
I’ve been involved with DxD since my first semester at WashU. I initially enrolled in my first DxD course on a whim, but I quickly became invested in the program. Since then, I’ve completed all four of the original DxD courses (now expanded to five). During my junior year, I became a Student Ambassador for the program, a role I’ve now continued into my senior year.
This year, I’m also serving as a First-Year Fellows (FYF) mentor, supporting five first-year students as they navigate their transition to WashU.
Can you tell me about a moment in DxD when you heard a perspective that challenged your own assumptions? What happened, and what did you take away from it?
During my first DxD course, we discussed race relations on campus, particularly in the context of Greek Life, a topic I had never seriously considered before. Throughout the dialogue, I encountered several perspectives that fundamentally challenged my assumptions about who feels welcome in certain spaces and how comfortable individuals feel participating. As we discussed the exclusivity of certain campus organizations, I realized that I had failed to recognize these barriers because, as a white male, I fit the demographic that many of these organizations cater to. Hearing perspectives so different from my own opened my eyes to how social identities shape people’s experiences. My greatest takeaway from that conversation was an increased appreciation for the significance of social identity and how it influences our everyday lives, even in seemingly insignificant ways.
How do you think your WashU experience would have been different if you had never participated in DxD?
For starters, if I had never participated in DxD, I might never have met one of my closest friends. We enrolled in the same DxD course during the fall semester of our first year, and we’ve been practically inseparable ever since. I also believe DxD has played a significant role in developing my confidence as a campus leader. Without the skills and experiences I’ve gained through the program, I doubt I would’ve felt nearly as comfortable pursuing leadership opportunities across campus. DxD has taught me how to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and engage more meaningfully with the world around me. These experiences have given me the confidence to embrace new opportunities and participate more fully in my campus community. I don’t think I would’ve been nearly as inspired to get as involved on campus as I am now without DxD.