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Mediation

Mediation, Conflict Resolution, and Restorative Practices (MCR) team members are available to provide mediation services to our campus community. All team members have received 40-hour mediation skills training through Northwestern's School of Professional Studies certificate program, and additional training and professional development related to mediation and conflict resolution skills and topics.

What is mediation and why would I seek it out?

Mediation is a method of dispute resolution in which two or more parties who are in conflict meet with a mediator (or team of mediators) to help them understand their issues, identify their needs, communicate effectively, and explore options for resolution. In the MCR Initiative, our mediators work in teams of two.

The practice of mediation is grounded in several principles:

  • Voluntary: Participation in mediation is always voluntary as is whether any resolution is reached. 
  • Privacy: Only those directly involved in the dispute are present at the mediation. If others are to join, all parties must agree in advance. 
  • Confidentiality: What happens in the mediation stays between those involved. The mediator will not share anything that is discussed outside of the mediation, with the exception of what is required by mediators as responsible employees (see FAQs for more information on this). 
  • Self-determination: Those involved in the mediation are responsible for their own solutions. The mediator’s role is to facilitate the process, not to impose a solution.  
  • Impartiality: The mediator does not favor either of the parties and does not have any interest in whether or what type of resolution might be reached.  
There are many reasons to seek out mediation. Mediation is an informal and flexible process in which the parties involved are in full control of the outcome. If you’re involved in a conflict with a colleague, supervisor, or supervisee, mediation can be a helpful process to (1) explore the root causes of the conflict, (2) communicate each person’s needs fully and effectively, (3) explore possible options for resolution. Mediation can be especially useful when your relationship with the person you’re having conflict with is important to maintain.  

How do I request mediation?

If you’d like to request mediation, please complete this intake form. A team member will respond to you within 48 hours. If your situation is appropriate for mediation, we will walk you though the next steps, including connecting you to your co-mediators. If your situation is not suited for mediation, we will suggest alternative resources.

Request Mediation

MCR Mediators

*This table contains a list of MCR Mediators
Name Unit
Elizabeth Addington Feinberg School of Medicine
Victoria Akinde University Library
Lindsay Beller Alumni Relations & Development
Kelly Bencola Campus Inclusion & Community
Erica Bova School of Professional Studies
Robert Brown Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications
Erika Carey Alumni Relations & Development
Connor Cerrito Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance
Heather Cohen Community Standards
Aaron Golding School of Education and Social Policy
Jasmine Gurneau OIDI/Native American and Indigenous Affairs
Megan Hang  Student Affairs Division Operations & Services
Amy J. Hauenstein Office of the Provost
Natalie Jakubczak Athletics and Recreation, Univ Athletics - Administration
Angela Jones Center for Civic Engagement
Maj Kargbo Office of Community Enrichment
Soo La Kim School of Professional Studies
Jess Klein Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance
Eleena Korban Alumni Relations & Development
Christine Kowalski  Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance
Ray Mattila Dean of Students

Lehua McAllister

 Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance 
Samantha Nissen Buffett Institute for Global Affairs
Kisha Nelson Feinberg School of Medicine
Janka Pieper  Vice President for International Relations
Leona Quist Office of Community Enrichment
Maria Sanchez University Athletics
Heather Saunders School of Law
Lindsay Wall Succari Center for Civic Engagement
Eileen Wafford Feinberg School of Medicine
Jackie Wickham School of Professional Studies
Tab Wiggins Campus Inclusion & Community
Lisa G. Williams Alumni Relations & Development
Jill Wilson McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Eva Winckler Feinberg School of Medicine
Rachel Velez University Athletics
The MCR Initiative benefits from the guidance and support of its Advisory Board, which includes members from Student Affairs, Human Resources, the Office of the General Council, the Provost’s Office, the Office of the Ombudsperson, the Center for Leadership, the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Pritzker School of Law, Kellogg School of Management as well as external experts in mediation and conflict resolution.  

References:
Gelfand, Michele J., Lisa M. Leslie, Kirsten Keller, and Carsten de Dreu. "Conflict cultures in organizations: How leaders shape conflict cultures and their organizational-level consequences." Journal of Applied Psychology 97, no. 6 (2012): 1131.  

Watson, Nancy T., Kenita S. Rogers, Karan L. Watson, and Carla Liau‐Hing Yep. "Integrating social justice‐based conflict resolution into higher education settings: Faculty, staff, and student professional development through mediation training." Conflict Resolution Quarterly 36, no. 3 (2019): 251-262.