By Dr. Charlene Berquist, Director, and Heather Blades, Associate Director
Kensey is a student in the Master of Arts in Communication program and the Graduate Certificate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution.
Why did you decide to enroll in the Conflict Certificate program?
I decided to add the Certificate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution to my Masters in Communication program as a way to learn more about how dialogue can bring people together. Growing up in church, I saw many conflicts play out in a toxic way that led to families, groups, and even whole congregations splitting. This led to “in-group” and “out-group” talk, further ostracizing our community (and leading to 20 different Baptist churches who believe the exact same things). I saw this certificate as an opportunity to help me guide conflicts in a way that brings about justice and reconciliation.
How do you plan to use what you are learning in the certificate program in the future?
I’m not sure if I will pursue a job that requires training in conflict management, but I do know that the career I pursue will involve people. And people are different, which means there will be conflict. Applying what I learn from this program to bring about productive conflict can help my organization and coworkers be more innovative, more kind, and work together to bring about positive change.
What are your future educational/career goals or plans?
My educational and career goals are very intertwined, as I want to earn my PhD in Communication and become a tenure-track professor (if such positions still exist!). I love studying the intersections between the environment, feminism, and power dynamics. I’m not sure what type of institution I will end up working for, but hopefully it will be somewhere that encourages both fantastic teaching and scholarship where I can help students develop the same passion for Communication that I have.
This past summer you completed a short-term study abroad program looking at conflict, peace, and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. What were the most impactful lessons you took away from this program?
Our experience in Northern Ireland helped me understand the importance of micro, everyday actions in the peace process. One of our readings mentioned conflict being like a spider web, where the network of connections help to (re)build relationships among people who have been impacted by conflict. We saw this first hand with many of the people who have lived through the roughest parts of the Troubles. For instance, our cab driver in Belfast mentioned that even though he is Irish Catholic, he now has kids who are Protestant while still being Irish republicans. He described how the younger generations are getting married to people of different faiths and political affiliations, which not only helps families view “the other” as not quite so “other,” but also bridges some of those previously torn connections and creates more complex identities. Essentially, people are complicated, but when we realize that and try to find commonalities with people we consider “other,” then we can start the long process of peace and reconciliation.
What would you say to someone who is considering taking the Certificate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution?
I would ask them to reflect back on a recent conflict they have experienced. Maybe this was with a family member, a significant other, a boss, or even a political figure. What happened after the initial conflict? Did you resolve the conflict? Who were the winners and who were the losers? When you start to learn about conflict, you learn that there are tools that we can use to work towards more collaborative solutions to our conflicts—solutions where both parties can get what they want. If you can be the person who helps create those results, how advantageous would you be to a future employer? To your friends and family? If this type of conflict sounds valuable to you and better than the conflicts you have experienced before, then the Certificate is for you.
Learn More about the Conflict Certificate Programs
Both the Undergraduate and Graduate Certificates in Conflict and Dispute Resolution are transcripted degrees, and hours can double-count towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The Graduate Certificate can also be completed as a stand-alone degree. For more information on either program visit the CDR’s website.