Yale Students Learn Skills for Meaningful Conversations

Cultivating Conversation Fellowship teaches students to engage respectfully with differing views

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:40am

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A new leadership development program at Yale University is teaching students how to have meaningful, respectful conversations on challenging topics like politics, religion, and social issues. The Cultivating Conversation Student Fellowship has enrolled over 100 students from across the university, giving them tools to engage authentically with those who hold different opinions and perspectives.

Why it matters

In an era of increasing polarization, the ability to have thoughtful, nuanced dialogues is a critical skill. The Cultivating Conversation program aims to model a constructive approach to difficult conversations, which could have ripple effects beyond the Yale campus.

The details

The Cultivating Conversation Student Fellowship was piloted over the past academic year at Yale. Led by Master of Divinity candidate Lauren Maxwell, the program provided students from Yale College as well as every graduate and professional school with training on how to have meaningful dialogues, even on contentious topics. The goal was to teach students to honor the experiences of others and incorporate respectful exchanges into their daily lives.

  • The Cultivating Conversation Student Fellowship was piloted over the past academic year at Yale.
  • The program enrolled over 100 students during the pilot phase.

The players

Lauren Maxwell

A Master of Divinity candidate at Yale Divinity School who led the Cultivating Conversation Student Fellowship.

Yale University

The institution that hosted the Cultivating Conversation Student Fellowship program.

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What they’re saying

“Authentic conversation should be the rule rather than the exception.”

— Lauren Maxwell, Master of Divinity Candidate, Yale Divinity School

What’s next

The Cultivating Conversation Student Fellowship plans to expand the program to reach more students at Yale in the coming academic year.

The takeaway

The Cultivating Conversation program at Yale demonstrates the value of teaching students the skills to engage in thoughtful, respectful dialogue, even on contentious topics. This approach could serve as a model for other universities and communities looking to foster more nuanced and constructive conversations.