Institutional neutrality serves as a guiding framework for Dartmouth College President Sian Beilock, a cognitive scientist who applies her research on performance under pressure to university leadership. By prioritizing a clear mission centered on education and knowledge production, Beilock aims to restore public trust in higher education amidst a climate of intense polarization. Key strategies include fostering "brave spaces" for civil dialogue, such as the Dartmouth Dialogues initiative, and utilizing empirical data to inform policy, exemplified by the decision to reinstate standardized testing as a predictor of student success. Rather than acting as a political organization, the university functions as a hub for heterodox viewpoints, training students to navigate complex, uncomfortable conversations. This approach emphasizes the necessity of equipping students with foundational tools for resilience and critical thinking to prepare them for leadership in a democratic society.
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