The University of Lynchburg will host its inaugural Pluralism Summit, “Pluralism in Practice: A Summit on Dialogue, Leadership, and Civic Engagement,” on Saturday, Oct. 3. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Drysdale Student Center’s West Room.
The Pluralism Summit is sponsored by the University, the Junior League of Lynchburg, Interfaith America, and the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia. It’s free and open to the public, but attendees must preregister here. Lunch will be provided.
Speakers will include the Rev. Dr. Nathan Albert, Dr. Ghislaine Lewis, and Dr. Muriel Brown Mickles ’87, ’96 MEd.
Albert, Lynchburg’s assistant vice president of belonging and University chaplain, will present “Bridging the Divide: Pluralistic Leadership Across Difference.” The workshop will “give participants an introductory understanding of pluralism, leadership, identity, and the ways individuals can move past tolerance to build genuine relationships across differences.”
Albert has a bachelor’s degree in musical theatre-performance, a Master of Divinity, and a doctorate in interreligious chaplaincy.
During Lewis’s workshop, “The Cooperative Citizen: Leading Across Differences,” participants will “examine what it actually takes to build trust and cooperation across differences.”
The session will include “guided discussion and real-world case studies” during which “participants will explore practical strategies for navigating disagreement, reframing conflict, and engaging more thoughtfully with their communities.”
Lewis is a journalism professor at Elon University. She has a PhD in media and communication from the University of Canterbury, a master’s degree in journalism from Florida A&M, and bachelor’s degrees in communications and religion from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College.
She was the first executive director of Pierce Street Gateway, a founding member of Pierce Street Community Garden, and former president of the Central Virginia Academy for Nonprofit Excellence.
Lewis has served on the boards of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and the Link Project and on the exhibition committee for the Legacy Museum of African American History. She currently serves on the board of trustees at Randolph College.
She was the recipient of the 2026 Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities Humanitarian Award and the 2026 YWCA of Central Virginia Woman of Distinction Award.
Mickles will present “Speak, Listen and Respect,” a workshop that will help participants “strengthen communication skills by practicing respectful dialogue, active listening, emotional awareness, and thoughtful responses during conversations.”
Mickles retired in 2023 from Central Virginia Community College, where she was vice president of academics, students, and workforce development. She was employed at CVCC for 52 years and also served as interim president of Danville Community College.
She earned an associate degree from CVCC, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Lynchburg College, and a Doctor of Education in Administration and Supervision from the University of Virginia.
In addition to her work in academia, she has held leadership positions on numerous boards and within professional organizations.
For more information about the inaugural Pluralism Summit, contact Dr. Robert Canida II, Lynchburg’s chief inclusive excellence officer, at [email protected] or 434.544.8540.
