International conflict resolution expert Donna Hicks champions dignity in talk at Corson Auditorium
At an Arts Academy Community Meeting, Hicks shared insights from her diplomacy work and expressed hope for the next generation of compassionate leaders.
On October 2, 2025, Interlochen’s students, faculty, and staff gathered to hear from author and conflict resolution expert Dr. Donna Hicks, who has devoted her career to restoring dignity to human dialogue. She is an Associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University and has facilitated dialogues in numerous unofficial diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Colombia, Cuba, Libya, and Syria. She conducts seminars in the US and abroad on dignity leadership training and on the role dignity plays in resolving conflict. She is also the author of Dignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflict and Leading with Dignity: How to Create a Culture That Brings Out the Best in People.
Before a receptive crowd in Corson Auditorium, Hicks proposed that dignity is an essential human need—an idea that was, until recently, largely missing from dialogue on the international stage.
“Every one of us wants the feeling that we're being seen and heard, that our identities are being honored—no matter where we're from and no matter our race, religion, or ethnicity,” she said. “We all want to be treated as if we're something of value and worth.”
Hicks asserted that dignity is not something earned, but inherent, and key to human flourishing. After sharing ten pillars of dignity, drawn from her conversations with individuals from all over the world, she expressed deep optimism for the future.
“I am especially hopeful when I see all of you,” she told students. “You are the future, and if we can advance dignity consciousness in the way we treat each other, then I think there's definitely reason for hope.”
Hicks’s message echoed Interlochen’s emphasis on both artistry and empathy. At Interlochen Arts Academy, students learn not only to refine their craft but also to understand and honor the perspectives of others—principles reflected in the Interlochen 5, the school’s signature social-emotional learning curriculum. By nurturing both creative excellence and human dignity, the Academy prepares young artists to shape a more compassionate and connected world.
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