Congratulations to the newest cohort of Certified Collaborative Discussion Coaches, who completed the Interactivity Foundation’s virtual Collaborative Discussion Coach Training held June 1–5, 2026!
Over the course of five days, this group of educators, civic practitioners, facilitators, and nonprofit leaders explored how collaborative discussion can strengthen classrooms, communities, and workplaces. We are proud to welcome them to our growing network of Certified Collaborative Discussion Coaches.
Meet Our Newest Coaches
Jen Domagal-Goldman (Washington, DC) – A national leader in civic engagement, Jen serves as Executive Director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, helping to shape the future of democratic participation across higher education.
Stephanie King (Boston, MA) – Based at Civic Nation’s ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Stephanie has spent more than 15 years advancing student leadership, civic learning, and democratic engagement nationwide.
Carolyn Mark (Providence, Rhode Island) – A professional mediator and former school board chair, Carolyn brings more than three decades of nonprofit leadership and a passion for empowering communities through meaningful participation.
Kristina Nano (Harrisonburg, Virginia) – Originally from Albania, Kristina is a Senior Democracy Fellow at James Madison University and a doctoral researcher whose work focuses on transformational leadership and democratic practice across divides.
Eric Pories (Hico, West Virginia) – A veteran facilitator and community coach, Eric helped pioneer community development initiatives through the West Virginia Community Development Hub. He has spent years helping communities unlock the power of dialogue, citizen engagement, and collaborative problem-solving.
Kristy Smith (Mahwah, New Jersey) – A nonprofit operations leader with nearly 14 years of experience, Kristy serves as the Interactivity Foundation’s Senior Operations Manager, specializing in building the systems, policies, and infrastructure that help mission-driven organizations thrive.
Amy Przytula Vynalek (Phoenix, Arizona) – An instructor at Arizona State University, Emmy Award winner, and doctoral student in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Amy is dedicated to helping young people develop the communication skills they need for lifelong success.
Scott Vogel (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) – As Director of Communications for the Interactivity Foundation, Scott is a strategist and storyteller committed to advancing big ideas, civic engagement, and collaborative solutions to public challenges.
Phillip Wagner (Williamsburg, Virginia) – A Clinical Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at William & Mary, Phillip received the university’s highest teaching honor in 2025. Outside the classroom, he also teaches group fitness classes.
Monda Williams (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) – A doctoral student at Duquesne University and learning and development professional with Allegheny County DHS, Monda is a former Peace Corps volunteer and the first Black woman elected to Washington City Council. She has dedicated her career to advancing equity, leadership, and community impact.
Learning by Doing
Throughout the week, participants immersed themselves in the Interactivity Foundation’s Collaborative Discussion Toolkit—a free collection of more than 50 ready-to-use discussion activities and lesson plans designed to strengthen collaborative discussion skills and mindsets.
The toolkit is organized into five modules: Introduction, Creative, Critical, Culturally Responsive, and Civic Collaborative Discussion. Each day focused on one module, giving participants the opportunity to experience the activities firsthand before reflecting on how to facilitate them in their own settings.
The Interactivity Foundation’s Director of Education, Jessica Friedrichs, led this experience with a team of guest trainers:
- Tim Shaffer (University of Delaware and the SNF Ithaca Initiative),
- Rhonda Fitzgerald (Sustained Dialogue Institute),
- Shannon Wheatley Hartman (Interactivity Foundation),
- Jane Case (University of Delaware), and
- Lelia Brammer (University of Chicago’s Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression).
Together, they brought expertise in civic engagement, deliberative democracy, higher education, public policy, and collaborative learning.
Rather than simply talking about discussion, participants practiced it. Each activity began “on the dance floor,” where Coaches experienced the discussion as participants, and concluded “from the balcony,” where they reflected on facilitation strategies, group dynamics, and ways to adapt the activities for their own classrooms, communities, and workplaces.
Reflections From the Cohort
The impact of the week is best captured in the participants’ own words:
“I learned so much by participating in the activities and reflecting with a cohort of amazing people. It was a valuable experience that I would highly recommend.”
Another participant described the training as:
“A highly interactive and enjoyable experience that provided tangible benefits to me both professionally and personally.”
The sense of community was equally meaningful:
“I loved the community we were able to foster. We really got to know each other well and developed such a strong rapport over the days.”
And perhaps the most inspiring reflection came from a participant who shared:
“I’m leaving with a bag of tricks to make my classroom, the community, and ultimately the world a better place.”
We are grateful for the energy, curiosity, and generosity this cohort brought to the week. We look forward to seeing how these new Certified Collaborative Discussion Coaches continue building stronger discussions—and stronger communities—wherever they serve.
Interested in becoming a Certified Collaborative Discussion Coach? Visit www.interactivityfoundation.org to explore our free Collaborative Discussion Toolkit and learn about future Coach Training opportunities.
