Aliyah & Teaching Beyond the Comfort Zone

As a sociologist and C&S Mellon Fellow, Aliyah Turner is no stranger to tough conversations.

She’s seen how those moments shape her students. That they don’t just build understanding, they improve the work itself. Better questions, stronger thinking, and more inclusive research.

She’s felt the weight of that role, too, and what it means to help shape the next generation of people who will go on to tackle real-world issues.

The College Presidents for Civic Preparedness Faculty Institute gave her tools to go deeper and challenge her students more intentionally.

Now, she’s sharing strategies with colleagues at DePauw University for how to “rip off the Band-Aid from day one” and move past the fear of always getting it right.

“I have a social contract in my class that says: allow yourself to learn, but also encourage the person leading the class to be teachable. With that, it’s mutual.”

By 2029, C&S will bring together 20 million young people to step up as civic problem-solvers. Faculty members like Aliyah are key to making that possible.

Join us!

Watch Aliyah’s interview here.