We Want to Be Known: Inclusive Faith Leadership Through Perspective Giving and Getting

Bridging Differences in Higher Education: Research-Based Practices that Build Belonging


  • Venue: Online
  • Date: April 15, 2026
  • Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT / 4:00-5:00 PM ET
  • Price: Free

Rev. Dr. Amanda Henderson trains the next generation of inclusive faith leaders at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, CO. Her students come from different faith traditions, but as future leaders committed to fostering belonging, they all need the skills to collaborate with the people who serve in local public leadership. That’s where storytelling comes in.

In her immersive summer course, “Inclusive Leadership and Local Politics,” Rev. Dr. Henderson takes a group of graduate students to rural and suburban communities for two weeks, telling stories and listening. Anchored in loving curiosity, the group lives together, disagrees often, and facilitates deep conversations with local leaders about the needs of LGBTQ+ youth in their communities. 

In this interactive skill-sharing session, Rev. Dr. Henderson will share stories and insights from this special immersive course experience. Then Sarah Schnitker, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Baylor University, will explore how this particular kind of storytelling–perspective giving and getting–can be an act of character, helping us become the leaders we want to be. 

Join us as we:

  • Encounter the research-backed power of perspective giving and getting
  • Introduce specific ways to adapt this practice into your work
  • Reflect on how the practice shapes character, cultivating empathy and exercising our curiosity, patience, and courage.

Hosted by Juliana Tafur, GGSC’s Bridging Differences Program Director.

Free! Designed for higher education, open to all. 

Register here to reserve your spot.

Can’t make it live? No problem–register anyway and we’ll send you the recording and the playbook, plus other resources to help you foster stronger connections and build belonging on your campus.

To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact: bridgingcourse@berkeley.edu.

  • Juliana Tafur

    Juliana Tafur directs the Bridging Differences program at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, advancing skills and strategies to connect across geography, race, religion, politics, and more. She’s spent more than a decade designing experiences that foster understanding and belonging, both as a social entrepreneur/workshop creator, and as an Emmy-nominated storyteller. A TEDx speaker, she leads science-based trainings for campuses, organizations, and communities, and makes bridge-building practical and accessible through partnerships, multimedia content, speaking engagements, and workshops. Juliana is an honors graduate of Northwestern University and a 2021–22 Obama Foundation Scholar at Columbia University.

  • Rev. Dr. Amanda Henderson is the Director of the Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture at the Iliff School of Theology, where she leads research exploring the relationship between religion and politics. With a focus on informing public leaders, the Institute works for transformative action rooted in deep understanding. Amanda has a Ph.D. in religion, politics, and rhetoric from the University of Denver, served for seven years as the Executive Director of The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, and is ordained clergy in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She is the author of “Holy Chaos, Creating Connections in Divisive Times” and hosts the Complexified podcast. Amanda lives in Littleton, Colorado, is a parent to three young adults, enjoys adventures with her husband, and finds joy running trails and growing things: dogs, chickens, gardens, and creative projects of all kinds.

  • Dr. Sarah Schnitker is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Baylor University. She holds a Ph.D. and an MA in Personality and Social Psychology from the University of California, Davis, and a BA in Psychology from Grove City College. Schnitker studies virtue and character development in adolescents and emerging adults, with a focus on the role of spirituality and religion in virtue formation. She specializes in the study of patience, self-control, gratitude, generosity, and thrift. Schnitker has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and edited chapters, and she has procured more than $16 million in funding as a principal investigator on multiple research grants.