Arshiya Husain ’26
Hi! My name is Arshi and I’m a sophomore from Islamabad, Pakistan. I’m an intended Philosophy and Economics double major interested in finance and consulting along with freelance writing. I’m an avid reader who also enjoys journaling, weightlifting, and meeting new people! On campus, some of my involvements include being the Features Editor for The Davidsonian and the current Co-President for the Pan-Asian Student Association. In my free time, you can find me going on walks around Davidson while listening to country music.
I was drawn to the DCI because of its emphasis on getting comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations. I’ve always been on the outside looking in at the sociopolitical climate of the US and am grateful to the DCI for letting me become a part of the conversation, rather than remaining an observer. As an extrovert, the DCI is an excellent platform for me to further immerse myself in the Davidson community. I trust that the conversations I’ll have with my peers will not only help develop an understanding between us, but also help help create new friendships that go beyond the surface level.
Atyantika (Mishti) Kothuri Mookherjee ’27
Hi! My name is Mishti Mookherjee and I’m a freshman from India at Davidson College who’s interested in international relations and development economics. My current hometown in India is Kerala, but I’ve had the opportunity to live in different states across the country as well as in Pakistan and Singapore before coming to Davidson. I’m a keen writer and an advocate for sustainability, and I also enjoy long walks with my dog.
I joined the DCI because I believe in its goal to facilitate discourse and have difficult conversations to address problems of the 21st century. I look forward to learning from diverse perspectives and applying them when approaching the world around me, taking away from the opinions and arguments of others to formulate nuanced resolutions to the issues plaguing us today. In an increasingly polarized world, I believe this tolerance to be a foundational skill that we must do our best to inculcate.
Auden White ’26
Hello! My name is Auden White, and I am a prospective Economics and Sociology double major from Raleigh, North Carolina. On campus, I’m involved with the Union Board, Freeword Poetry, and the Pre-Law Society. In my spare time, I enjoy live music, kayaking, and baking.
Growing up in North Carolina’s state capital, I’ve been exposed to conversations regarding politics, race, and structural inequality since middle school. In high school, I led a club focused on tackling issues including, but not limited to, the role of School Resource Officers, transgender participation in high school athletics, and food insecurity. These experiences galvanized my participation in the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative. By participating as a DCI Fellow, I hope to glean skills that can be utilized to bring people together and foster understanding around complex issues.
Charlotte Spears ’24
Hi, I am Charlotte Spears, a senior political science major and economics minor at Davidson. Outside of class, I have worked as an economics tutor where I was able to get a deeper understanding of macroeconomic issues and financial policy.
For the last two summers I have interned in the U.S. House of Representatives where I saw the federal political process firsthand. I was surprised by the number of young, passionate and intelligent people working in the Capitol on both sides of the aisle. So, I joined the DCI as a way to continue to surround myself with people who care deeply about finding solutions to this country’s toughest issues. The DCI gives me so much optimism about the fate of political discourse.
Declan O’Donoghue ’26
My name is Declan O’Donoghue. I am a sophomore intending to major in political science who is also interested in classics. I’m from Aspen, Colorado and I love to spend time with friends, especially skiing, hiking, or anything outdoors. I’m also an avid home cook and dream of writing my own cookbook one day.
I believe that DCI gives myself and our community an amazing opportunity to discuss topics that many people are passionate about but often lack the opportunity to have the necessary discourse. Improving our deliberation abilities can also cultivate better relationships with our friends, family, classmates, and coworkers.
Edouard Nadra ’25
Hey! I’m Edouard Nadra! I am a junior at Davidson College, studying Political Science with a Minor in Public Health. I live in Denver, NC, literally just across the pond. I love traveling, sports, spending time with family, and talking with friends. I am involved in the Middle East North African Student Association (MENASA), Student Government Association (SGA), and the Poetry Club on campus.
I joined the DCI because I am very civically active and I feel that we need to be able to have a community where politics is not some taboo subject. We can learn from each other by taking part in such discussions. As a result, we can spread new ideas, help people see the world in a new light, and foster a community of students who feel that they can be young professionals civically engaged in these pivotal times in our history.
Emre Guvenilir ’25
I am a junior transfer student from an engineering school named Missouri S&T. At my last school, I was part of an organization called ASUM, and became a student lobbyist in the Missouri State Legislature in the spring of my freshman year. I focused on a program that would provide additional grants to low-income students in STEM. In my free time I enjoy playing and watching soccer.
I joined DCI because I believe in collaboration to solve issues and contributing to a community that can openly challenge their own beliefs. I hope to involve some of the local North Carolina politicians in a DCI deliberation to expand DCI’s circle of involvement and allow local leaders to immerse themselves in what could be an unfamiliar process.
Florian Moser ’26
Hi! My name is Florian Moser, and I am an international student from near Munich, Germany. Since my main academic interest lies in international relations, I am majoring in political science and minoring in East Asian Studies. Besides the DCI, I am involved in the German department and the Chidsey Leadership Program. I love playing poker and chess with my friends in my free time.
The Deliberative Citizenship Initiative sparked my interest in the first week of my first year at Davidson when I attended the yearly kick-off party. In the group discussion, besides other topics, we argued about certain aspects of the War in Ukraine, which I felt well informed about. In the following talk, a DCI Fellow questioned my beliefs in a non-confrontive way, making me rethink some of my opinions. That perfectly illustrates what the DCI program contributes to our College’s community by giving a platform for discourse.
Grace Gallagher ’26
Hey! My name is Grace Gallagher and I’m a sophomore at Davidson. I’m an intended Political Science major with a minor in Art History, but I am also taking/studying Spanish. On campus, I teach Spanish at Davidson K-8 and I’m a member of Warner Hall Eating House.
I participated in a DCI D Team last year and really enjoyed my experience and having the opportunity to hear perspectives from students, faculty, alums, and community members throughout the discussions. I am excited to continue this experience from the perspective of a fellow/deliberation leader on campus. I have spent a lot of time involved in volunteering/working with political campaigns and watching the news, so I love to discuss current events and heated topics with others.
Logan Jain ’26
Hi! I’m a sophomore here at Davidson from San Francisco intending to major in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE). In addition to the DCI, my other campus involvements include Club Baseball, the Davidson Investment and Finance Association, and ‘Cats Stats. I love to travel and also consider myself an avid sports fan. In my free time, you can usually find me hanging out with friends, playing the guitar, or in the gym.
I joined the DCI to be part of a community that embraces dialogue around contentious political and moral issues. Our public discourse is increasingly polarized and fragmented, and I see the DCI as a rare opportunity to work against these trends. As a fellow, I look forward to immersing myself in the methods and practices of deliberation while deepening my capacity for empathy. I’m also excited to lead D Team discussions and learn from people with diverse sets of opinions and beliefs.
Monty Krakovitz ’25
I am a Political Science major and Economics minor from Utah. The DCI attracts me because in a self-governing nation such as ours, speech and politics are inseparable. The DCI provides a space to have these taboo but vital political and philosophical conversations in a manner that can unify instead of divide.
Outside of the DCI, I am a member of Catholic Campus Ministry at Davidson College, lift weights, ski, and play golf. I also tutor students in math and study Latin.
Shahin Ahmadi ’24
Hello! My name is Shahin (pronounced Sha-heen) Ahmadi. I’m a senior majoring in computer science with a minor in neuroscience on the premed track. Although I live in Knoxville, Tennessee, my hometown is the beautiful city of Shiraz in Iran. In my spare time, I enjoy reading books, watching movies and online lectures, exercising, and spending time with friends and family.
I joined the DCI because I believe it serves as an effective medium for individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life to come together with an open mind and the shared goal of exchanging ideas on issues of substance and relevance. As a DCI fellow, I aspire to become a better listener and communicator, cultivate an inclusive atmosphere where people feel encouraged to share their viewpoints, and facilitate thoughtful dialogues both within and beyond the DCI community.
Stephen Walker ’26
Hi! My name is Stephen Walker. I’m a sophomore from Haverford, Pennsylvania, where I enjoy spending time with my two younger brothers and dog. Because of my fascination with the world’s ever-changing political climates and the ways in which politicians and others use various styles of rhetoric to sway public opinion, I am an intended English and Political Science double major. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, reading novels, and banter with close friends.
The awesome potential of the conversation to bridge divides is what drew me to the DCI. The program’s deep roots in Davidson College and the Davidson community allow the DCI to bring people from all walks of life and political backgrounds together to discuss our most divisive issues in search of consensus and constructive solutions, instead of our current climate’s zero-sum game of simplified winners and losers. I hope to work together with those of opposing worldviews to deepen our understanding of the world around us and to practice seeing things from another’s perspective as we work together to achieve our common goals.
Valeriia Kruzhkova ’26
My name is Valeriia Kruzhkova, and I’m a second-year student at Davidson College, majoring in Political Science and Economics. On campus, I’m involved in the Chidsey Leadership Program, Davidson International Association, Union Board as a Special Programmer, Davidson4Ukraine, Deliberative Citizenship Initiative, and the Hurt Hub.
I joined the DCI because I believe in the power of fostering constructive discussions on contentious political topics. Coming from Ukraine, I acknowledge the importance of civic participation. Through the experience of facilitating deliberations with the Davidson students, alumni, and community members, I have broadened my perspectives on the issue of polarization in the U.S. At DCI, I strive to actively contribute to the mission of creating a safe space where individuals with different backgrounds work towards a more comprehensive understanding of complex political issues.
Zoe Moseley ’26
Hello, I am Zoe Moseley, a sophomore at Davidson from New Orleans, LA. I am an intended Political Science Major and Public Health Minor. I am interested in nonprofit organizations, reading books of all genres, literary access, public education, and live music. I plan to work in the nonprofit sector after graduating.
Being from “a blue dot in a red state,” I always felt I had very polarized political conversations. Joining the DCI is exciting to me because I will have the opportunity to discuss heavy subjects with an agreement of mutual respect, an event I think is rare and essential to community growth. I hope to get to know people with varying experiences that I may not encounter otherwise.
