Amid a devastating pandemic and increasing polarization, how can US colleges and universities help students bridge divides, make their voices heard, and understand their responsibilities to others in a democratic society? This article is an interview of Nancy Thomas, director of the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education (IDHE) at Tufts University's Tisch College of Civic Life. She speaks about educating for democracy in this current moment. At IDHE, Thomas studies college students' political learning and participation, overseeing the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, as well as qualitative studies of campus climates for political learning and engagement in democracy.