Misericordia University Professor Selected for UC Berkeley Bridging Differences Fellowship

Nordstrom Selected for UC Berkeley Fellowship on Bridging Differences in Higher Education

DALLAS, Pa. — Alicia Nordstrom, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Misericordia University, has been selected to participate in the Bridging Differences in Higher Education Learning Fellowship, an eight-month program hosted by the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley.

Nordstrom was selected for the fellowship’s Project-Based Cohort, a group of 25 higher education faculty, administrators and staff committed to developing initiatives that foster constructive dialogue and deeper understanding across differences on college campuses. Fellows receive professional development, skills-building opportunities and ongoing support as they develop or strengthen projects at their institutions.

Nordstrom has participated in the Bridging Differences in Higher Education program for the past three years. Her work focuses on helping students develop skills for respectful dialogue, perspective-taking and engagement with challenging topics.

“I have participated in the Bridging Differences in Higher Education program for the past three years and am so honored to be selected for this fellowship program,” Nordstrom said. “This program brings together educators who share the goal of helping students develop the skills needed for respectful and engaging dialogue about difficult topics and a meaningful exchange of ideas.”

Nordstrom said one of the most valuable lessons of the program is learning to approach disagreement with curiosity rather than persuasion.

“One of the most important skills is to focus on listening and understanding, not persuading,” she said. “Once you let go of trying to convince someone else that you are ‘right,’ you are better able to see another person as someone who has beliefs and wants to be heard and understood.”

Through the fellowship, Nordstrom will collaborate with educators from other institutions while developing a project designed to strengthen Misericordia University’s efforts to encourage constructive dialogue and bridge differences across perspectives.