A Message from Soliya's CEO: Leadership Transition

My one year as Soliya's interim CEO will end in mid-April. It has been an exceptional experience to lead this organization and to be a part of this global team of peacebuilders. More importantly, I’m thrilled to introduce my successor, Cameron M. Chisholm, who will take over for me as Soliya’s new CEO. 

Soliya’s mission has never felt more needed. The fracturing of global relationships and increased polarization are having vast effects on people worldwide. Students, professors, and university administrators have a critical role to play in building strong relationships across divides. During this year, I have had the opportunity to be in touch with so many of you in the Soliya community who are bravely doing this work, standing up for human dignity and engaging proudly across differences.

I have come to admire our committed team, which spans the world and delivers virtual exchange, dialogue and training experiences for thousands of students in over 60 countries. Our network of hundreds of facilitators fearlessly runs hard conversations on the most divisive issues facing humanity. 

Cameron is taking over at this very critical moment and brings over two decades of peacebuilding experience. Before joining Soliya, he was the founder and President of the International Peace and Security Institute, Vice President at Creative Learning, and Executive Vice President of DT Institute. He has worked in conflict contexts all over the world and brings with him boundless passion, a creative mindset and a values-oriented leadership style. 

In his own words: 

“I’m deeply grateful to Michael and the entire Soliya team, who have tirelessly built the world’s leading organization for virtual exchange and dialogue facilitation over two decades. Soliya didn’t just grow with the field—we founded it. It’s an incredible honor to be entrusted with carrying that mission forward at a time when global polarization and disconnection are on the rise. I couldn’t be prouder—or more humbled—to join Soliya as CEO and continue the work of bridging divides through empathy, dialogue, and shared understanding.”

As for me, I’m hugely grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this beautiful organization. I will always feel that I’m a Soliyan as so many of you do. I’m grateful to the staff, our board and this broad community of people who make up Soliya’s world.

This work is needed more than ever, so let’s keep at it!

With admiration,
Michael Shipler