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Democracy Scholars: A New Living Learning Community for the 21st Century
Building on a successful tradition of immersive living-learning communities and aligned with W&M’s Democracy Initiative, the Democracy Scholars Program brings together a diverse cohort of 24 first-year students with faculty and fellows from across multiple disciplines. By bridging academic study with active citizenship, the program strengthens students’ sense of belonging, academic motivation and civic and community engagement, preparing them to build meaningful, lifelong careers grounded in democratic ideals. The Democracy Scholars Program is a recruiting opportunity for engaged, motivated students who want to meet others with shared interests and explore ways to shape and lead their national, regional and local communities.
Managed by the Charles Center for Undergraduate Research and its director Elizabeth Harbron, Floyd D. Gottwald, Sr. Professor of Chemistry, the initial cohorts of Democracy Scholars are led by the faculty director, Professor Rebekah Sterling in the Government Department. Professor Sterling is an expert on democratic theory and the history of political thought. The inaugural theme for the program is “Democracy in the Public Sphere,” examining what it means to engage in democratic values within communities and in public settings and forums. Students will live together in Cedar Hall, one of the new residence halls on Barksdale Field. They all take a specially designed seminar with Professor Sterling, which focuses on the values, philosophy and practice of democratic life and fulfills one of their first-year general education (COLL) requirements. In addition, Democracy Scholars participate in a one-credit course with faculty fellow Terrell Taylor, connecting students with guest speakers and supporting collaborative student projects. Throughout the year, Democracy Scholars will also have dedicated programming and mentorship, including social activities, workshops on career development and community engagement, and opportunities to engage with alumni.