Imagine sitting in class when a conversation suddenly shifts into uncomfortable territory. The air thickens, eyes dart around the table and someone hesitates before speaking. What happens next depends on how ready a community is to listen and engage with differing perspectives.

These are the kinds of moments a cohort of Blair Academy students, faculty and Trustees explored this fall at Vanderbilt University’s inaugural Open Dialogue Summit for Secondary School Leaders. In Nashville, the group engaged with fellow educators and students on fostering open dialogue and intellectual curiosity on independent high school campuses. The event offered an opportunity to bring back new insights and continue cultivating a culture of curiosity and connection across the hilltop.

“My biggest takeaway from the conference is remembering that, while people have differing opinions, it should not be a reason not to talk to someone,” Lil Hyder ’27 shares. “It is important to have conversations with people who have different views than you because it is a great way to learn.”

Much like Blair, Vanderbilt believes in the power of a transformative education. By inviting thought leaders from select independent schools nationwide, the university worked to help educators strengthen students’ dialogue skills before college. The summit is part of Dialogue Vanderbilt, an initiative to provide resources to re-establish constructive and civil discourse in society.

In attendance was Dean of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Evan Thomas, who explains, “This conference is the most recent event in a string of dialogue-focused learning events in the education realm over the past year or so.”

Last spring, Blair faculty engaged in professional development focused on how best to facilitate challenging conversations followed by an open discourse conference this summer at the Hotchkiss School. Those experiences, paired with ongoing opportunities like Society of Skeptics lectures, current events forums and Alumni Roundtable discussions during the academic year, support Blair’s longstanding dedication to dialogue across campus. More often than not, these conversations continue into dorm discussions and the next morning in classrooms, where students continue sharing ideas.

“One of the things we learned at this summit is there is an interest and a hunger for more of these conversations,” Mr. Thomas says. “Our students and faculty who attended loved practicing and engaging in dialogue. They’re now brainstorming new ways to bring this to Blair— whether it’s supporting groups already having conversations or forming a new student group focused on discourse.”

“In many ways, Blair is already implementing these practices by having discussion-based classes and allowing our community to have conversations about things we may disagree on,” Lil adds. “But there is room for a new club where we teach people about open dialogue and civil discourse, and then engage in conversations on more challenging topics.”

A key takeaway from the summit was the importance of making space for different perspectives throughout campus. Vanderbilt’s approach to free expression rests on three pillars: open forums, institutional neutrality and civil discourse. As the university states, “From our beginning, we’ve believed in the power of bringing together people of differing viewpoints for a common purpose.”

At Blair, open communication and inclusion are a few of the principles that guide our community, encouraging students to think critically, listen respectfully and lead lives of purpose.