Merle-Smith Campus Welcomes Globally Recognized Scholar Cynthia Miller-Idriss and Author Mark Greene

The Merle-Smith Campus recently welcomed two distinguished guest speakers, Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss and Mr. Mark Greene, who visited campus to engage Upper School students in thoughtful conversations about social media culture and the challenges young people face in today’s digital world.

During the assembly, students heard from both speakers about their work and research, with much of the conversation focusing on issues surrounding social media and the ways online spaces can influence culture, identity, and behavior. Throughout the discussion, students were invited to ask questions and share their thoughts, creating an open exchange of ideas. They had the opportunity to use their voices, discuss topics that matter to them, and receive thoughtful responses from two highly educated experts.

Students raised a wide range of topics, including social media algorithms and how to avoid negative content appearing on their feeds, as well as concerns about issues they encounter online, such as toxic masculinity, gender roles, body shaming, and how to determine whether sources on social media can be trusted. The speakers offered expert insight, acknowledging students’ experiences while sharing strategies for navigating these challenges.

Students were highly engaged throughout the assembly, with many eager to ask questions and contribute their perspectives. The conversation gave them a meaningful opportunity to connect with the speakers and openly share their experiences navigating social media and digital culture.

Following the program, Dr. Miller-Idriss and Mr. Greene met with the Student Council and Unity Leadership Board to continue the discussion. In this setting, students shared more about their perspectives and asked additional questions about the challenges they experience in online spaces.

Both speakers also stayed for lunch, giving all of our students another opportunity to approach them, ask questions, and share comments in a more informal setting.

Dr. Miller-Idriss is a sociologist, globally recognized scholar of extremism and radicalization, and an award-winning author. She is the founding director of the Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University in Washington, D.C., where she is also a professor in the School of Public Affairs and in the School of Education. Dr. Miller-Idriss regularly testifies before the U.S. Congress and briefs policy, security, education, and intelligence agencies in the United States, the United Nations, and other countries on trends in domestic violent extremism and strategies for prevention and disengagement.

Dr. Miller-Idriss is the author, co-author, or co-editor of seven books, including Man Up: The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism. In addition to her academic work, she writes frequently for mainstream audiences as an opinion columnist for MSNBC and through essays published in outlets including The New York Times, The Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, CNN, The Hill, and more. She appears regularly in national and international media as an expert source and political commentator. Dr. Miller-Idriss has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and German Area Studies from Cornell University, and a Master of Public Policy degree and a Doctorate in Sociology from the University of Michigan.

Mr. Mark Greene is the co-founder of WalkingTalkingMen.org, an organization focused on empowering men to create real, lasting, local friendships. He writes, speaks, and consults on dominance-based “Man Box” culture and relational practices. Mr. Greene is the author of The Little #MeToo Book for Men and Remaking Manhood, and he co-hosts the podcast Remaking Manhood. As a co-founder of ThinkPlay Partners and as a Senior Editor for the Good Men Project, he has spent over a decade deconstructing binary-riddled dialogues around manhood and masculinity and providing workshops to grow emotional literacy and create a healthy masculine culture of expression and connection. Mr. Greene has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Houston.

Thank you to Dr. Miller-Idriss and Mr. Greene for spending time with our students and engaging in these important conversations.