When Miranda Garcia-Dove attended a protest with a classmate during her freshman year, she decided to listen instead of picking a fight. Unlike many other spectators, she wasn’t interested in debating the picketers. She genuinely wanted to understand a perspective different from her own. And as it turned out, approaching the opposing side with curiosity rather than confrontation led her to have more civil conversations than she expected. This commitment to embracing viewpoint diversity has guided much of Garcia-Dove’s involvement on campus.
Garcia-Dove is a senior majoring in political science and information science with a certificate in public policy. This past spring, she was named a Truman Scholar, earning the highly prestigious scholarship awarded to undergraduate students pursuing careers in public service.
“I’ve always been interested in political science and what’s happening in the world, especially internationally,” Garcia-Dove says.
Her zeal for bringing people together led to one of her most significant accomplishments at UW–Madison: co-founding the Madison chapter of BridgeUSA, a student-led organization promoting constructive political discourse across college campuses. She and co-founder Abby Grabowski, a sociology major pursuing certificates in global health and health policy, recognized a growing need for a space where students could engage in meaningful dialogue. The two first connected through the Psychology of Political Polarization First-Year Interest Group during their freshman year. Their inspiration for launching BridgeMadison arose after attending the protest together and taking Public Policy in a Divided America, taught by Amber Wichowsky, a professor in the La Follette School of Public Affairs.
“It opened my eyes to the fact that I was not doing a very good job of listening to people who I didn’t agree with,” Garcia-Dove says when reflecting on the class. “It kind of forced me to start taking steps to listen to people.”
In the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, BridgeMadison arrived at a moment when constructive discourse across political divides was rare. Through discussion of hot-button issues at campus events and conversations with legislators on both sides of the aisle, the goal was to urge fellow students to find common ground, even if they didn’t fully agree.
“We were really excited to see how many students were interested and just willing to try to speak to people or to have open minds and challenge their own assumptions,” says Garcia-Dove.
She brought her mindset from BridgeMadison to her work as a Dean’s Ambassador for the College of Letters & Science. In this role, she serves as a student representative helping L&S build a stronger sense of community, connect with alumni and highlight the College’s achievements. Alongside fellow ambassadors, she brings her unique perspective to monthly meetings with Interim Dean Kristin R. Eschenfelder, offering a direct line of student feedback.
She was drawn to the program because of its emphasis on elevating student voices.
“Student input in these types of things is really important,” says Garcia-Dove. “Sometimes students feel like they might not have a voice or they might not have power.”
Garcia-Dove appreciates how the program includes students in vital conversations about the future of the College. She has become an advocate for students who traditionally feel left out of political discussions or isolated in the classroom. Ultimately, her goal is to ensure that all students feel empowered to speak up and that the administration receives their input. Beyond providing the College with student insight, she values the chance to collaborate with students from a range of academic disciplines within the program. She has found herself working with STEM majors and liberal arts students alike, a mix that ensures a diversity of thought.
Having spent the spring semester in Washington, D.C., she hasn’t yet met Interim Dean Eschenfelder, but she is looking forward to working with her this fall. Sharing a background in information science, Garcia-Dove is interested to see what perspective she brings, especially with conversations about AI.
Garcia-Dove is particularly passionate about the Wisconsin Exchange, a campus-wide effort to promote civil dialogue and respect for diverse perspectives among students. After being invited to give feedback on the program to university leaders, she is eager to see the initiative expand to classrooms directly. That way, even if a student isn’t interested in attending a separate event, they still practice those communication skills in their daily coursework.
“The classroom is the best way that you can reach everybody, because everyone goes to class,” states Garcia-Dove.
Reflecting on her time so far at UW–Madison, Garcia-Dove credits L&S with transforming her into a well-rounded thinker. The flexibility of a liberal arts and sciences degree has allowed her to explore subjects ranging from atmospheric and oceanic sciences to Spanish literature. Additionally, Garcia-Dove encourages fellow students to take advantage of the opportunities to get involved on campus.
“There are a lot of ways to make an impact,” Garcia-Dove says. “Both in your smaller community, but also the wider campus.”
With graduation on the horizon, this Truman Scholar is beginning to map out a career in public service with a global focus. Her immediate post-grad plans center on gaining meaningful field experience before returning to the classroom to attend graduate school. She may not know exactly where she’ll land yet, but she’s sure to bring her passion for bridge-building into whatever her future has in store.