Student Ambassadors
Common Ground has a team of student ambassadors who work for the program. These students help promote the Common Ground mission on-campus and they are integral to the execution of Common Ground events. As our inaugural student team, these leaders will help us develop and envision the future of Common Ground and strategically connect with students.
“I believe Common Ground plays a vital role in fostering bipartisan conversations on campus, which are key to encouraging diverse perspectives and cultivating a culture of open, meaningful dialogue.’’
Lillyster de Vreeze ’27
Student Ambassador
Major: Public Policy
Luxembourg / Miami, Florida
“The dialogue and civic engagement offered by Common Ground combat the increasingly polarized global landscape as students, faculty, staff, and surrounding locals are exposed to the possibility of compromise and shared values despite differing political ideologies.’’
Andrew Hohmann ’26
Student Ambassador
Majors: Chemistry and History
Hometown: New York City
“I work with Common Ground to open my peers’ minds to different opinions and backgrounds, to ask them to understand the person in front of them, and to respect their opinions and beliefs. I would like to see more of this behavior in our world, in Hamilton and beyond, and am committed to working hard to make this a reality.’’
Mele Kaneali'i ’27
Student Ambassador
Major: Public Policy and Sociology (intended)
Hometown: Kaunakakai, Hawaii
“With increased political polarization, engaging in respectful dialogue about the nation’s 'hot topics’ is more important than ever and will not only hopefully result in a collective solution but also encourage empathy, understanding, and breaking free of the echo chamber.’’
“Common Ground serves as a forum where students can engage with disparate viewpoints and refine their judgments on complex and divisive political issues.’’
Robert Neithart ’26
Student Ambassador
Major: Philosophy
Hometown: Montecito, CA
“Common Ground provides an opportunity for students to engage in substantive, civil discourse on highly nuanced issues; by engaging in these discussions, Hamilton’s students are able to develop the perspective necessary to be critical thinkers and informed citizens in an increasingly complex and confusing world.’’
Arielle Schultz ’26
Student Ambassador
Major: World Politics
Hometown: Los Angeles/Orange County, CA
“We’re all at Hamilton College because we want to make a difference in the world and need to develop the skills necessary to do so. Common Ground shows Hamilton Students firsthand the importance of bipartisan cooperation and understanding in an increasingly hostile, polarized world.”
Student Perspectives
Finding Common Ground
Read about the key takeaways our student writers shared from previous events.
In Pursuit of the Greater Good Amidst Chaos
Val Demings and Roy Blunt, executive fellows from the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), visited Hamilton to analyze the nation’s polarized political climate in the semester’s final Common Ground event.
Maintaining Optimism in the Energy Transition
Two former EPA administrators visited College Hill to explore the everyday complexities and impacts of transitioning to renewable energy in this semester’s fourth Common Ground discussion on Nov. 6.
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