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Assistant Professor Paula McAvoy on Facilitating Classroom Discussions

dining with democracy

A group of people work together around a table at the Dining with Democracy event in Cary, North Carolina.

Feb 12, 2026

Connections Built Through NC-ACE Interdisciplinary Research Hub Expands Reach of Dining with Democracy Event

When Kim Roberts, cultural program leader for the Town of Cary, attended “A Day of Civic Learning”, hosted by the NC State College of Education's North Carolina Advancing Civic Engagement (NC-ACE) Interdisciplinary Research Hub last April, she was excited to engage in intellectual conversations and network with people from other sectors in the state and beyond. The event, however, also turned into a partnership that was able to bring a civic engagement program to her community.

students and staff at table during Dining with Democracy

Jul 30, 2024

Spectrum News: Dining with Democracy: N.C. State professors’ recipe for bridging political divides over dinner

Dining with Democracy is an initiative created by education professors Christy Byrd and Paula McAvoy. McAvoy says a master's student inspired the idea, after she and a colleague created a similar event with middle schoolers and parents to talk about political issues.

Hands typing on a laptop covered in stickers related to voting

Oct 5, 2022

Colleges Competing in Pack the Polls’ Civic Education Challenge

Colleges across NC State University will compete to see who can gain the most students to pledge to vote in the 2022 U.S. midterm elections.

Oct 5, 2021

Dining with Democracy

Join us for an evening of discussion about contemporary issues facing the American public. Participants will be guided through facilitated, roundtable activities that will allow them to do something fairly…
Hot dogs with American flag decorations.

Oct 22, 2020

Strategies Can Help Teach Students to Discuss Politics

NC State Assistant Professors Paula McAvoy, Ph.D., and Christy Byrd, Ph.D., hold “Dinner with Democracy” to help students productively discuss political differences.

Oct 8, 2020

Dinner with Democracy Event to Engage Community in Discussion Across Differences, Provide Professional Development for Educators

With the 2020 presidential election rapidly approaching and COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit the ways people can interact face-to-face, opportunities to engage in meaningful and productive discussions about political issues have become more scarce. Assistant Professors Paula McAvoy, Ph.D., and Christy Byrd, Ph.D., are hoping to address this through the virtual Dinner with Democracy event on Oct. 21, 2020.

Jan 27, 2020

Grant-funded Project Will Allow Assistant Professor Paula McAvoy To Help Teachers Engage Students in Productive Classroom Discussions

Assistant Professor Paula McAvoy, Ph.D., is helping teachers bring discussion into their classrooms and measuring the impact the use of discussion strategies has on students’ views and understanding through a new grant-funded project.

Cupcakes served at the Dessert with Democracy event at the NC State College of Education

Nov 19, 2019

‘Dessert with Democracy’ Helps Educators See the Value of Classroom Discussion Through Open Forum for Community

Assistant Professor Paula McAvoy, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor Christy Byrd, Ph.D., provided a forum for discussion and helped College of Education students see the benefits of classroom discussion during the “Dessert with Democracy” event.

Court of North Carolina

Feb 7, 2019

Assistant Professor Paula McAvoy on Facilitating Classroom Discussions

In this Q&A, Assistant Professor Paula McAvoy discusses some of the ethical dilemmas teachers face when they introduce controversial issues into the classroom. She will present her talk “The Ethics of Steering Classroom Discussions” as part of the Ethics Across the Disciplines Lecture Series hosted by the Parr Center for Ethics on Feb. 25.