Just days before another contentious Election Day, author Mónica Guzmán urged Pacificans to be “fearlessly curious” as they engage with others and form opinions on the most divisive issues of our times.

The Seattle-based journalist visited University of the Pacific for two days of riveting, eye-opening discussions summed up by her challenge: “Surprise yourself … When you want to ask why someone believes something that confounds you, discover how they came to believe it.”

Guzmán served two roles at Pacific: inaugural keynote speaker for the Presidential Speaker Series at historic Faye Spanos Concert Hall Oct. 24 and author of Pacific’s first-ever common read.

Her book “I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times,” was purchased for all first-year undergraduate students to encourage them to share and debate the thought-provoking and challenging work.

Guzmán serves as senior fellow for public practice at Braver Angels, a nonprofit working to depolarize America. The liberal daughter of conservative Mexican immigrant parents, she writes about her experiences dealing with the familial political divide and how fearless curiosity can lead to caring and understanding.

“My parents have been so supportive, regardless of my political leanings,” Guzmán said. “Our family stories have helped others. They share their own stories and begin to take the stigma out of the pain and struggle that people feel when political division wears on relationships.”

Pacific President Christopher Callahan said it is vital to have such open dialogues and open minds.

“Great universities bring thought leaders to campus to expand the minds of students and our entire learning community,” he said. “We are launching this signature speaker series, which we hope will be a cornerstone of the Pacific experience for years to come.”

Added Maria Blandizzi, vice president for student life, who moderated the discussion with Guzmán: “It fills me with life and air and energy to be engaged in such honest and vulnerable conversation. To do that in front of everyone, it’s nerve-wracking. But it leaves us so energized.”

Day 2 of Guzmán’s visit transitioned to smaller, vibrant curiosity workshops for students and faculty/staff held at the Don and Karen DeRosa University Center.

Students started their quest for curiosity in the workshop by sharing meaningful personal memories with partners before eventually moving on to more serious issues.

“It was eye-opening for me. I tend to look at things from only one lens, so this interaction helped me look at things from a broader scope,” said Amna Blouch ’26, a third-year business student. “This helped me gain strategies for interaction that I 100% believe I will use in the future.”

“A university’s responsibility is to prepare the leaders of the future,” Callahan said. “At Pacific, we don’t teach students what to think, but how to think. Monica is a perfect speaker to help imbue that philosophy in our community.”

Presidential Speaker Series continues in January

Judy Woodruff

Woodruff is a senior correspondent for PBS NewsHour, after serving as anchor and managing editor for 11 years. She will visit the Stockton Campus to speak on January 30, 2025.

Woodruff’s career has spanned five decades, covering politics and 12 presidential elections at NBC, CNN and PBS. In 2022, Woodruff was honored with an Emmy for Lifetime Achievement in Television News.

Among her awards was the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, which Pacific’s president bestowed on her in 2017 when he was dean of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.