Welcome to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Ithaca Initiative
About the SNF Ithaca Initiative
In the fall of 2021, the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration launched a new civil discourse pilot program supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The SNF Ithaca Initiative was named after the home of Odysseus—one of Greek mythology's greatest heroes and whose talent for persuasive discourse was revered in ancient Greece. Ithaca represents not only the beginning of a journey but the ultimate destination. Likewise, the SNF Ithaca Initiative serves as both the beginning of the Biden School students' journey toward becoming engaged and effective citizens and as the ultimate destination for students across the country to come together and work in partnership to develop policy solutions.
Every student at the University of Delaware can now enroll in the Citizenship and Democracy Certificate, a program grounded in the Citizens, Civility, and Change course as well as initiative focus areas including governance, media, and leadership.
For example, SNF Ithaca Student Leaders presented at the international conference “A Matter of Trust” hosted by iMEdD (incubator for Media Education and Development) in Athens and authored their own response to the field of journalism in the report “The Door Opens Both Ways: Building Trust Between News Media and Generation Z.”
Education resources have also been developed from the collaborative SNF Ithaca x iMEdD Media & Democracy Summit.
In addition to the student experience, SNF Ithaca is a national hub for scholars through convenings like the SNF Ithaca Leadership Summit, research and publications by Biden School faculty such as “Answering the call: Offering and analyzing civil discourse opportunities in undergraduate public affairs education,” white papers from SNF Ithaca Research Scholars and opportunities like the SNF Ithaca Fellows program that brings in scholars and practitioners to broaden how we understand and study democratic citizenship.
featured news stories
stay updated with the latest snf ithaca news & happenings
UPCOMING EVENTS
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Biden School at the 2024 APPAM Annual Reseach Conference
November 10, 2024 | Written by Biden School StaffBiden School faculty and students will present their work at National Harbor, MD, at the 2024 APPAM Annual Research Conference November 21 and 22. -
Civil discourse during an election year
November 06, 2024 | Written by Meghan KeatingThe SNF Ithaca Initiative welcomed more than 120 students, faculty and staff from across the U.S. to the University of Delaware in mid-October to kick off the fourth annual SNF Ithaca National Student Dialogue, a two-day event -
Students from across the US gather to discuss civil discourse
October 31, 2024 | Written by SNF StaffCollege students from 34 institutions around the United States come together for a dialogue on civil discourse -
Civic engagement: not just a buzzword
October 30, 2024 | Written by UDaily StaffUD promotes civic engagement ahead of election and beyond -
Jack Schlossberg: What getting involved looks like (and mayonnaise)
October 30, 2024 | Written by Ethan Grandin/THE REVIEWSchlossberg joined the Biden Institute and the SNF Ithaca Initiative for their Gen Z Impact: Your Vote Matters event on October 18