Summer Camps and Programs Welcomes New Director, Andrew Pierce

Pierce to lead the Dialogue and Democracy Institute

Saint Mary’s Summer Camps and Programs has announced that Andrew Pierce will lead the Dialogue and Democracy Institute, a pre-college program running July 12 – 17. 

Pierce, an associate professor of Philosophy, has been at Saint Mary’s for nine years. Pierce is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of Justice Studies. He earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Loyola University Chicago, with a specialization in social and political philosophy. He has authored a number of scholarly books and articles in this area and sees community engagement as a critical aspect of scholarly practice. He works closely with a number of local community partners to bring abstract reflections on justice into concrete forms that make our community a better place to live.

Last offered in 2023, the Dialogue and Democracy Institute is a week-long overnight camp where high school students learn to listen to others and speak up about what matters to them. The program helps girls think critically and interact productively with people of different views. 

Saint Mary’s College Provost Megan Haldeman Zwart co-founded the program with Pierce in 2022 and ran the summer program for its first year. Together, they envisioned Dialogue and Democracy as having two foundational elements. First, students would be introduced to the principles of dialogue and given opportunities to strengthen their skills through practice. Second, the program would emphasize community engagement, helping girls learn how to speak up about issues that matter to them.

As part of the program, students visit community nonprofits and businesses run by women as a way to develop confidence and positivity. They learn about restorative justice and see how restorative ideas are put into practice in the local community. They learn about sustainability and experience working alternatives to unsustainable food and farming systems. They learn from local women advocating for women’s voices and voting power across the political spectrum. Pierce hopes the lessons learned during the week support students in knowing how to engage diverse viewpoints and how to participate in democracy. Every student 

could have a different takeaway from the program, but his goal is for them to develop the ability to listen and the confidence to speak up. 

Pierce explains that this Institute is important for young women as they are “the drivers of change.” He said: “They will leave with the skills and confidence to be able to speak to people with different experiences and opinions, have an open mind, and be curious about people’s experiences that differ from their own.”

This institute isn’t just for those interested in politics or democracy. Pierce said young women can find their voices and pursue change in the world, whether through politics, sustainability practices, advocacy for the needs of their community, or any other passions they hold. 

Click here to learn more and register for the Dialogue and Democracy Institute. 

 

 

March 3, 2026