Deeper Listening

Thanks to the Dr. Carrol O. Morong Fund for Ethics, Shani Peretz, Ph.D. spent a week at the Stanley King Retreat, organized by the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education. Reflecting on the experience, she shared:

“The focus on communication, community, asking good questions and deep listening reminded me that teaching and being a class dean is less about delivering content and more about creating conditions for meaningful connection. Through shared dialogue and reflection, I was challenged to slow down, listen without planning my response and become more intentional about asking questions that invite curiosity rather than compliance.

“The experience reinforced how strong communities are built on trust, empathy and a willingness to hear perspectives different from our own. I left with a renewed commitment to fostering classrooms where students feel seen and heard, where inquiry is valued over quick answers and where communication is a shared responsibility.”