The purpose of Kenyon Conversations (previously Kenyon Listens) is to create opportunities for meaningful conversations that foster a connected community in which we treat each other with respect and understanding.
Starting fall 2026, Kenyon Conversations runs through Kenyon Conversations Cohorts: small, mixed groups of students, staff and faculty who meet over a shared meal, hosted by trained campus mediators.
Who participates?
Each cohort brings together 5 participants and 2-3 mediator hosts. No specialized knowledge or preparation is needed, just a willingness to share a meal and a conversation with people you might not otherwise interact with.
Cohorts are formed through personal invitation: mediators invite people they have a connection with, aiming for a mix of students, staff and faculty in each group. If you'd like to be part of a cohort and haven't been personally invited, reach out to the Ombuds Office directly.
What can I expect?
The same small group meets about once a month over a meal, three sessions across the semester. Each session centers on one conversation prompt, with a few backup prompts on hand if the conversation needs another direction. The goal is a relaxed, free-flowing conversation rather than a structured round of questions, participants leave having learned something real about people they may not have known well before.
When is it?
Each cohort's mediator hosts set the day, time and location for their group, so this varies cohort to cohort rather than following one fixed schedule. If you're part of a cohort, your hosts will be in touch with the details.
How do I get involved?
Most cohorts form through personal invitation from a mediator. But if you'd like to be part of one and haven't been invited yet, or you're a mediator interested in hosting a cohort, email the Ombuds Office directly.
Can I host my own conversation?
Yes. You can hold your own Kenyon Conversations–style conversation by emailing the Ombuds Office to arrange a session.