Faculty Mediation

What is faculty mediation and why do we need it?
Faculty and administrators rarely assume their positions knowing how to frame and manage conflict. Leaders spend over 40% of their workday managing and resolving conflict. Conflict exists in many institutions of higher education. Texas A&M University is no exception. Many individuals would be hard pressed to deny that they have encountered some level of conflict in their personal and/or professional lives. A commonly held assumption and image are that conflict is a negative force. In fact, many people work to ignore or avoid conflict. However, research has shown that conflict can lead to positive outcomes when it is assessed and managed well (Algert, 2002).

What is conflict?
Conflict is defined as “a struggle or contest between people with opposing ideas, needs, values, beliefs, or goals. Conflict arises when the needs or interests of one person are perceived by that person as being denied to them by another. Conflict exists even if only one person perceives it” (Center for Change and Conflict Resolution, 2002, p. 2). The nature and origin of conflicts can be based on relationships, data, interests, values, and the environment. Conflict, if framed and managed well, can enhance understanding, foster creativity, and improve working relationships.

What are some strategies for managing conflict?
Mediation is a strategy for resolving conflict. The Office of the Dean of Faculties and Associate Provost conducts on-going basic mediation training sessions for faculty and administrators as well provide services for individuals who are interested in resolving conflict through mediation.

Are there Mediators on campus?
The individuals represented on this list reflect the first group of volunteer faculty and administrators who were trained as of Fall Semester 2003 as “Mediators.” These individuals completed a minimum of 40 hours of basic training for mediators recommended by the State Bar of Texas. Upon completion of these sessions, participants received a 40-hour Basic Mediation Training certificate and are now able to serve (or are now serving) as mediators. Training sessions were designed for active participation through the use of intensive case study scenarios, conflict management models, and mini lectures.

	Mary Alfred Associate Dept Head, Assoc Professor EAHR (979) 862-7925 malfred@tamu.edu
	Andy Ambrus Associate Research Scientist Vet Pathobiology (979) 862-7925 ambrus1@tamu.edu
	Cindy Anderson Director, Faculty Administration Office of the Dean of Faculties (979) 458-3412 cy-anderson@tamu.edu
	Robin Autenrieth Professor Civil Engineering (979) 845-3593 r-autenrieth@tamu.edu
	Julie Barker Assistant VP for Research VP for Research (979) 845-8585 j-barker@tamu.edu
	Michael Benedik Professor Biology (979) 845-5776 benedik@tamu.edu
	Michael Benz Professor & Head Educational Psychology (979) 845-1831 mbenz@tamu.edu
	Fred Bonner Associate Professor EAHR (979) 845-7273 fbonner@tamu.edu
	Mary Broussard Director Associate Provost For Undergraduate (979) 845-3210 m-broussard@tamu.edu
	Karen Butler-Purry Professor Electrical Engineering (979) 847-9048 klbutler@tamu.edu
	Richard Carlson Professor Geology & Geophysics (979) 845-2400 r-carlson@tamu.edu
	Norvella Carter Professor Teaching, Learning & Culture (979) 862-3802 ncarter@tamu.edu
	Agustin Cepeda goosecepeda@hotmail.com
	Antonio Cepeda-Benito Professor Psychology (979) 845-4274 acb@tamu.edu
	Lisa Cepeda Graduate Student Counseling Psychology Program (979) XXX-XXX lcepeda@tamu.edu
	Carolyn Clark Associate Professor Educational Administration & Human Resource Development (979) 845-4086 cclark@tamu.edu
	Sumana Datta Associate Professor Biochemistry & Biophysics (979) 862-4641 sumad@tamu.edu
	Chanda Elbert Associate Professor Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications (979) 458-2699 celbert@tamu.edu
	Rich Feldman Professor Industrial Engineering (979) 845-5585 richf@tamu.edu
	John Fike Associate Professor ETID (979) 845-5169 j-fike@tamu.edu
	Debra Fowler Associate Director Center for Teaching Excellence (979) 845-8392 dfowler@tamu.edu
	Jeff Froyd Director of Academic Development Dean of Faculties (979) 845 7574 froyd@tamu.edu
	Cynthia Gay Director of External Relations Marketing & Communications (979) 845-6605 cyngay@tamu.edu
	Sue Geller Professor Mathematics (979) 845-7531 geller@math.tamu.edu
	Clare Gill Assistant Professor Animal Science (979) 845-2616 clare-gill@ansc.tamu.edu
	Michael Greenwald Professor Performance Studies (979) 845-0528 m-greenwald@tamu.edu
	Tito Guerrero VP & Associate Provost for Diversity Vice President for Diversity (979) 458-2905 tguerrero@tamu.edu
	Martyn Gunn Professor Biochemistry / Biophysics (979) 845-5541 jmgunn@tamu.edu
	Cheryl Hanks Assistant Dean Liberal Arts (979) 845-5141 chanks@tamu.edu
	Danielle Harris Program Coordinator III Ag Program (979) 845-9088 danielleh@tamu.edu
	Laurie Jaeger Associate Professor Veterinary Integrative Biosciences (979) 845-6869 ljaeger@cvm.tamu.edu
	Wendi Kaspar Associate Professor Library (979) 862-6310 warant@lib-gw.tamu.edu
	Ann Kenimer Professor Biological & Ag Engineering (979) 845 3677 a-kenimer@tamu.edu
	Jenna Kurten Program Coordinator Office of Graduate Studies (979) 847-9067 jsk@tamu.edu
	Curtis Lard Professor Agricultural Economics (979) 845-4746 c-lard@tamu.edu
	Jean Layne Program Coordinator Center for Teaching Excellence (979) 862-4269 j-layne@tamu.edu
	Yvonna Lincoln Distinguished Professor Educational Administration & Human Resource Development (979) 845-2701 ysl@tamu.edu
	Shaun Longstreet Assistant Professor Philosophy & Humanities (979) 845-2247 s-longstreet@philosophy.tamu.edu
	Susan Lynham Associate Professor Educational Administration and Human Resource Development (979) 458-0640 slynham@coe.tamu.edu
	Terry Spang Assistant Provost Exec VP and Provost (979) 845-4016 spang@tamu.edu
	Cesar Málavé Assistant Dean Dean of Engineering (979) 4582693 malave@tamu.edu
	Michael McBurney Professor Nutrition and Food Science (979) 845-3706 mimcburney@tamu.edu
	Prudence Merton Program Coordinator Center for Teaching Excellence (979) 458-0387 p-merton@tamu.edu
	Jim Morgan Associate Professor Civil Engineering (979) 845-4394 jim-morgan@tamu.edu
	Elizabeth Moss Business Coordinator II General Academic Programs (979) 845- e-moss@tamu.edu
	Doug Palmer Dean College of Education (979) 862-2554 dpalmer@tamu.edu
	Dawn Parker Teaching Learning & Culture Clinical Associate Professor dparker@tamu.edu
	Greg Paul Graduate Teaching Assistant gregdpaul@gmail.com
	Chandrika Rajagopal Program Coordinator Center for Teaching Excellence (979) 845 8392 crajagopal@tamu.edu
	Alice Reinarz Assistant Provost for Enrollment Associate Provost for Undergraduate (979) 845-1080 areinarz@tamu.edu
	Mary Jo Richardson Professor Oceanography (979) 845-7966 m-richardson@tamu.edu
	Kenita Rogers Professor & Associate Dean Small Animal Medicine and Surgery (979) 845-3878 krogers@cvm.tamu.edu
	Nancy Sawtelle Director of Communications Office of the Executive Vice President And Provost (979) 845-4016 n-sawtelle@tamu.edu
	John Scroggs Director & Chief of Staff Office of the Dean of Faculties & Associate Provost (979) 845-4274 scroggs@tamu.edu
	Wandalyn McLean Shanklin Program Coordinator Residence Life (979) 862-2350 wandalyn_shanklin@housing.tamu.edu
	Annette Shenkir Assistant VP for Research VP for Research (979) 458-2275 ashenkir@vprmail.tamu.edu
	Nancy Simpson Director Center for Teaching Excellence (979) 845-8384 n-simpson@tamu.edu
	Dennie Smith Professor & Head Dean of Education (979) 458-4172 denniesmith@tamu.edu
	Christine Stanley Executive Associate Dean College of Education (979) 845-2718 cstanley@coe.tamu.edu
	Phillip Tabb Professor Architecture (979) 845-7065 ptabb@tamu.edu
	Valerie Taylor Professor & Head Computer Science (979) 845-5820 vtaylor@tamu.edu
	Joyce Thornton Associate Professor Libraries (979) 862 4232 jkthorn@tamu.edu
	Ken Williamson Associate Professor Construction Science (979) 845-7052 kcwilli@tamu.edu
	Tom Woodfin Associate Professor Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning (979) 845-1079 woodfin@tamu.edu
	Sherry Yennello Professor & Associate Dean Cyclotron Institute (979) 845-1411 s-yennello@tamu.edu
	Kim Zemanek Program Coordinator Aggie Honor System Office (979) 845-8580 jkzemanek@tamu.edu

How can I be trained to be a Mediator?
If you are interested in learning more about mediation training please contact Dean of Faculties Office at 845-4274 or e-mail them at dof@tamu.edu.