Navigating, Mediating, and Rising Above Conflict
Department Leaders Preconference
Preconferences provide an opportunity for disciplinary peers to gather for an extended period to discuss their work. All preconferences are scheduled for Friday, August 9. Registration is required.
Aug 9, 2024
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration Fee: $150 Department Affiliate/$180 Non-Affiliate, includes refreshments
Session Organizer: Aaryn L. Green, American Sociological Association
Are you a sociology department leader looking to cultivate a more harmonious academic environment? Are you currently looking for support as you deal with tensions regarding students, faculty, staff, alumni, administration, and/or state legislatures? As chair or director, your department looks to you to fix issues and mediate tensions. Without proper support and training, this can feel like a daunting and threatening task. This preconference will connect you with other department chairs and directors of graduate and undergraduate studies to share innovative strategies and practical tools for navigating, mediating, and resolving conflict. During the day’s interactive sessions, we will identify shared challenges and delve into topics related to proactive conflict prevention, effective communication strategies, and collaborative decision-making. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your leadership, share experiences, and gain insight on how to turn conflict into a catalyst for growth. Full agenda to follow.
| 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. | Check-in and Continental Breakfast
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| 9:00 – 9:15 a.m. | Welcome – Heather Washington, ASA Interim Executive Director; Aaryn L. Green, ASA Director of Research, Professional Development, and Academic Affairs
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| 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. | Keynote: Littisha Bates, University of Cincinnati Senior Associate Dean, College of Arts and Science and Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
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| 10:15 – 10:30 a.m. | Break
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| 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Panel: Meditating Interpersonal Conflicts with Colleagues and Students
Erynn Casanova, University of Cincinnati Carolette Norwood, Howard University Barbara Combs, Kennesaw State University
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| 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Discussion Table Session (various topics)
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| 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. | Box Lunch (included)
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| 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. | Panel: Leading through Conflicts with Administration and External Pressures
Mikalia Arthur, Rhode Island College Queen Zabriskie, Antioch College Earl Wright II, University of Memphis
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| 2:30 – 2:45 p.m. | Break
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| 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. | Panel: Framing Conflicts as Opportunities for Growth
Sarah Mayorga, Brandeis University Eric Wright, Georgia State University Selena Gallo-Cruz, Syracuse University
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| 3:45 – 4:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks – Joya Misra, ASA President; Carolyn Vasques Scalera, Program Officer ASA Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant Program |
