Bridging the Divide with Curiosity, Compassion, Civility Scheduled for April 17

Apr 9, 2024 8:00 AM

As part of Focus Frostburg 2024, the public is invited to attend the program Bridging the Divide with Curiosity, Compassion, and Civility, an evening of conversation, community, learning and fact-based dreaming on April 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lane University Center’s Manicur Hall at Frostburg State University.  

Hosted by the Beall Institute for Public Affairs, Focus Frostburg, and Transform Mid Atlantic, the program explores how our conversations can be more productive if approached with intellectual and cultural humility, and the understanding that science is real and facts matter. Presenters will also share valuable resources to enhance civic literacy and the capacity to replace judgment about differences with curiosity.

Tim Magrath, Executive Director of the Beall Institute for Public Affairs, commented, “We’re delighted to sponsor this event featuring two distinguished Frostburg alums.  It is a great opportunity for all of us to shift our public discourse away from reacting to strident soundbites to celebrating sustainable solutions.”

The featured speakers include Bill Sullivan and Ashley Wisner Vascik. Sullivan is the author of National Geographic books Pleased to Meet Me: Genes, Germs, and the Curious Forces That Make Us Who We Are and is an award-winning professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. He received his Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from the University of Pennsylvania and has published more than 100 papers in scientific journals. A contributor to National Geographic, Discover, Scientific American, Psychology Today and more, Sullivan has also appeared on CNN, Fox & Friends, CBS News, The Doctors, Science Fantastic with Dr. Michio Kaku, Doctor Radio, and many more.

Vascik has served as president of the FSU Alumni Association Board of Directors and has been an educator at Boonsboro High School for fifteen years.  She was selected as one of only three teachers nationally to receive the 2020 American Civic Teachers Award. A self-described "civic education warrior,” Vascik has coached her students to great success in national competitions focused on civics and the Constitution. Her “We the People” constitutional competition, which works to foster civil discourse and constitutional knowledge, teams have won nine consecutive Maryland state championships. Additionally, Vascik is the 2022 recipient of the James Madison Foundation Memorial Fellowship, awarded annually to one teacher in each state to fund their graduate degree in history and political science. 

The panel discussion will be moderated by Tom Bowling, member of the Board of Directors of the Beall Institute. After remarks from speakers and a Q&A session, attendees will adjourn to a reception where the focus will be on solutions and “fact-based dreaming” as they highlight some of the assets of this community and share some new initiatives. They will also discuss how to amplify the voices of today’s youth in our community to be sure that they feel heard.