NSU Home to Conflict Resolution Expert Who Can Provide Insight on How Such Situations Can/Should be Addressed

FORT LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – No matter what people may believe about the events that occurred – and continue to occur – in Ferguson, Missouri, one thing everyone agrees on is that there has been a great deal of conflict. To that end, Nova Southeastern University is home to an expert in the area of conflict resolution – and she can help media who are working stories that involve the ongoing conflict in Ferguson. Judith McKay, J.D., Ph.D., is associate professor of conflict resolution and community studies, the chair of NSU's Department of Multidisciplinary Studies (DMS) and the director of community resolution services (CRS) at NSU's School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS). McKay has been professionally involved in conflict resolution for more than 30 years as a mediator, arbitrator, negotiator, facilitator, trainer, executive and conflict coach, dispute systems designer, researcher and professor. She has consulted for private, civic, religious and community organizations. She has extensive experience working with the media on various stories, having been interviewed for radio and television regarding conflicts in neighborhoods, families and organizations. McKay is a trainer and presenter, with frequently requested topics including: Conflict and Change in Organizations, Conflict and Crisis Communication; Conflict and Conflict Resolution in Health Care; Leadership Challenges; Strategic Community Planning, Chaos Theory in Organizations; Workplace Conflict; What Health Care Providers Need to Know about Domestic and Family Violence; Workplace Communication and Conflict Resolution; and Conflict and Conflict Resolution in Religious Organizations. She has been involved in training a variety of professionals, including therapists, attorneys, teachers, mediators, conflict resolution specialists, community leaders, organizational leaders, health care professionals, clergy, and law enforcement officers.

The current focus of her research is in the areas of Conflict Coaching, Organizational Conflict and Change, Family Violence Prevention and Intervention; Lessons from Our Seniors; and Community Development. Her chapter entitled, "The Scholarship of Engagement: Transforming Communities and Organizations through Practicum and other Collaborative Projects" was published in the book, "Conflict Resolution and the Scholarship of Engagement: Partnerships Transforming Conflict." (2012 Edited by C.L. Duckworth and C.D. Kelley).

McKay has a bachelor's degree in history from The American University, a master's degree in education with a specialty in student personnel services from Kean University; a Juris Doctorate from the School of Law at Emory University, where she received the ATLA Outstanding Student Litigator Award; and a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from NSU.