Abigail (Gail) Chaim-Weismann’s academic journey at CSU is a story of self-discovery, intellectual exploration, and practical engagement. Originally uncertain about whether she would attend college due to financial constraints, Gail was awarded a scholarship that allowed her to pursue higher education. When faced with choosing a major, Chaim-Weismann was strategic. “I wanted to choose something that would impact every aspect of my life, not just my career,” she explains. That “something” turned out to be a fusion of philosophy and communication. This decision not only shaped her academic path but also significantly impacted her personal growth and community involvement.

Chaim-Weismann’s attraction to philosophy began early, nurtured in part by her experiences growing up both neurodivergent and gifted and attending a retreat for twice-exceptional children. These early environments fostered deep introspection and discussions about identity and ethics. “Philosophy was always sort of a part of my life and my friendships,” she noted. When she arrived at CSU, a course in moral and social problems taught by Shawn Brady ignited her academic passion. “Philosophy became a structured way to sort through a lot of things and to figure out what character traits about myself are appropriate and which ones are not.”

Chaim-Weismann is quick to challenge the stereotype that philosophy is a purely argumentative field. “People think philosophy is about debating others. But the most important part is using it to reflect upon and examine your own beliefs, especially in light of one’s upbringing. You either change your mind, or you find better reasons to believe what you already did. Either way, it’s growth.” Communication studies offered the perfect counterpart. “Communication is how people connect. It’s one of the most important things we can do. I want to be thoughtful about why and how I engage with others” she says.

 

Helping people feel heard

Chaim-Weismann’s academic passions found real-world application at CSU’s Center for Public Deliberation (CPD), where she was trained to foster public dialogue and civic engagement in the local Fort Collins community. For Chaim-Weismann, this was a perfect fusion of her academic interests—applying ethics and communication theory in real-world settings. “We’re taught to lead productive conversations around polarizing issues in the community. The goal is better decision-making and collaborative problem-solving,” she explains.

Over the past year, Chaim-Weismann facilitated eight to ten small-group discussions on topics like housing and elections. “It’s about helping people feel heard,” she says. “You can’t resolve issues unless you understand the values behind them.”

Though the CPD typically draws from communication and political science students, Chaim-Weismann believes more philosophy majors should join. “There’s so much value in applying philosophy outside of essays and debates. This is where it gets real.”

 

Recognizing others’ humanity

This spring, Chaim-Weismann and three other CSU students and Communication Studies faculty Elizabeth Sink attended the 2025 Student Conference on Religion in the Public Sphere at Brigham Young University. The theme, exploring the role of religious pluralism in re-establishing and maintaining our fading trust in democratic institutions, aligned with her academic and personal interests. Coming from a Jewish background in what she describes as “tumultuous times,” Chaim-Weismann found the conference especially meaningful. It challenged her assumptions, encouraged collaboration with peers from diverse religious and philosophical traditions, and reaffirmed her belief in the power of civil discourse.

The conference was very hands-on with groups of students assigned with researching, developing, and presenting actionable proposals on how to build trust in democratic institutions. Working with fellow students from across the country, Chaim-Weismann’s group focused on the disconnect and lack of efficacy that many community members feel in relation to local school boards. “It was intense—14-hour workdays for three days straight, team research, and proposals,” she recalls. For her, the biggest takeaway was the reminder that every belief system, no matter how different or challenging it might appear, “is rooted in something deeply valid. If we forget that, we lose our ability to connect.”

Chaim-Weismann’s commitment to humanization, empathy, and community responsibility is central to her academic and extracurricular pursuits. “The most important tool we have in coming together is humanization. Right now, there’s so much polarization. But if you don’t see someone with opposing viewpoints as human, you can’t engage in meaningful discussion.”

 

Ongoing growth and challenges

Following graduation this May, Chaim-Weismann headed to the YMCA of the Rockies in Granby for a summer internship in philanthropy and donor relations. The role, housed in a small, religiously affiliated community, is intentionally outside her comfort zone. “I didn’t want to just rest on my laurels after college. I wanted to do something scary—and this is scary,” she laughs. “I want to keep growing, and that means challenging myself in new environments.”

After the internship, Chaim-Weismann plans to return to Fort Collins, explore career options, and possibly pursue paralegal certification—another area where ethical reasoning and communication skills are in high demand.

Chaim-Weismann’s time at CSU is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary learning and the importance of applying academic knowledge in the real world. Through her philosophical grounding and communication expertise, she not only found her voice but used it to amplify others’. Her story is a compelling reminder that education, when approached with curiosity and intention, can be both transformative and deeply practical.