Dr. Kimberly Rosenfeld selected for inaugural national Civic Life fellowship
Speech Communication Professor Kimberly Rosenfeld has been selected as one of 12 inaugural national Faculty Fellows in James Madison University’s Centers for Civic Life program. One of only two community college faculty members chosen, she will spend the next year developing skills in deliberative dialogue, facilitation, and guiding students through difficult conversations.
The fellowship offers an opportunity to collaborate with faculty nationwide to strengthen civic engagement, civil discourse, and democratic participation. Kimberly underscores that community colleges contribute an important perspective to this work because our students come from diverse backgrounds and have varied experiences.
“My goal is to bring new approaches to Cerritos College that help students engage constructively with differing perspectives and participate meaningfully in civic life,” said Kimberly. Working with Sociology faculty partner Matthew Dunn, she will explore ways to strengthen civic learning across disciplines, including the intersection of artificial intelligence and democratic participation.
According to Kimberly, the fellowship is already creating opportunities for students. Two Cerritos College students have been accepted to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Ithaca National Student Dialogue event at the University of Delaware, October 29–31. Focusing on campus civility and artificial intelligence, they will join peers nationwide to discuss challenges and develop strategies to bring back to campus.
For Kimberly, the fellowship’s value extends beyond professional growth: it builds relationships, brings new ideas to campus, and creates meaningful student experiences beyond the classroom.