Education for personal, professional, and civic development.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Paideia Program creates and supports opportunities for the Penn community to learn about dialogue, from dialogue, and how to dialogue, towards a goal of individual and societal wellness. Through SNF Paideia-designated courses, a Fellows program, resources, events, and initiatives, the program contributes to the diverse dialogue landscape at Penn.
Encompassing a wide range of practices, SNF Paideia’s dialogue work emphasizes intentionality, curiosity, humility, and community as its core values. We encourage meaningful exchange across identities, ideologies, experiences, and histories, and collaborate with many partners across campus and beyond to promote opportunities for students to practice this exchange.
Learn more about the program and hear from fellows and faculty in this short video Meeting the Moment (2025, 4:40).
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Our People
Integrating academic study and democratic citizenship.
The SNF Paideia Program is a diverse community comprised of dedicated and talented students, faculty, staff, and administrators, working together to foster the exchange of ideas and to promote knowledge and action for the public good.
Our Partners
We love to collaborate.
The civic mission of higher education has been part of Penn’s DNA since its founding by Benjamin Franklin. Today there are numerous centers, programs, and organizations across the University dedicated to various aspects of this mission. The SNF Paideia Program builds on, collaborates with, networks, and leverages these existing entities to make the Penn undergraduate experience greater, and more meaningful, than the sum of its individual parts.
Our Funder
Grateful for the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is one of the world’s leading private, international philanthropic organizations, making grants to nonprofit organizations in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. SNF funds organizations and projects worldwide that aim to achieve a broad, lasting, and positive impact for the greater society, and exhibit strong leadership and sound management.
A Note From SNF
We’re very proud that the SNF has been able to offer its support to this amazing Penn Paideia Program.
Featured Story
Creating a Classroom Democracy
Through the SNF Paideia designated course Hamilton’s America: US History 1776-1804, Assistant Professor of History Sarah Gronningsater and her students resuscitate early American history.
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