The July Periclean (2025)

group shot in the mountains
The July 2025 Periclean reflects on Emerson’s call for moral courage in higher education, spotlights Sydney Tirschwell’s depolarization work at Carleton, and welcomes new staff and board members. Highlights also include Periclean engagement at global summer convenings from Prague to Aspen advancing democracy, pluralism, and civic leadership across higher education.
The July 2025 edition of Project Pericles’ monthly newsletter.

Highlights from this edition

  • July Reflections: Emerson and Engagement
    This month, amidst our strategic planning process, we reflect on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s call for an “intellectual Declaration of Independence,” and how higher education must cultivate autonomous thinkers and moral courage to sustain democracy.
  • Student Spotlight: Sydney Tirschwell of Carleton College
    Sydney organized a Depolarization Workshop with Braver Angels, helping students confront biases and tackle polarization within and across political parties.
  • Welcoming New Staff and Board Members
    We’re excited to welcome Harry Hou as our new Civic Impact and Communications Coordinator, along with Jessica Willett and Way-Ting Chen as new members of our Board of Directors.
  • Summer “Semester” of Learning
    From the Global Democracy Forum in Prague to Heterodox Academy in NYC, and the Bonner Summer Leadership Institute to Aspen Ideas Festival, our team engaged with global leaders on democracy, pluralism, and the future of higher education.

The Periclean: Sharing updates and stories from our network of civic champions, delivered on the first Friday of each month.

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