I am the co-chair of the faculty panel for the Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies Bridging Disciplines Certificate Program and the Ethics in Leadership Certificate Program. The Conflict Resolution & Peace Studies BDP offers students the opportunity to both study and promote conflict resolution in interpersonal, institutional, societal, and global contexts. Students in this program will explore the causes and consequences of various forms of violence, as well as the conditions of peace. In exploring peaceful alternatives to violence, they will learn to understand peace as a multifaceted vision for transformed human relations.The Ethics & Leadership in Law, Politics & Government BDP brings together resources from across campus to allow students to explore law, politics, and government through the lens of leadership ethics. Topics may include leadership, civic participation, public policy, and social change.

The Annette Strauss Institute envisions a democracy where all citizens are informed, vote, and are actively involved in improving their communities. Through nonpartisan research, education, and outreach, the Institute seeks to understand and overcome obstacles to civic engagement. Based in the nation's second most populous state at a premier public research university, the Annette Strauss Institute is aligned with the University's public role of designing and testing new ways of increasing civic involvement. It benefits from the collective expertise of scholars who are nationally renowned for their contributions to the study and development of civic participation and the conditions that give rise to or suppress engagement. Dedicated to applied research, the institute focuses on how new technologies of communication and innovative outreach can be used to increase political understanding and participation. My role is to complement and enhance the work of the Institute through the convening of public dialogue; training courses designed to strengthen civic engagement; and research that examines the effects of public engagement.

I am designing and teaching a "Facilitative Leadership" course for the Communication and Leadership Bachelor of Science degree program in the School of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin. I also am teaching Conflict Resolution to undergraduates and designing and teaching a new course that explores the history of conflict and the many ways it has been resolved. I also serve as an advisor, reader, and mentor to students writing a thesis in the Plan II honors program and earning a certificate in Conflict Resolution. Finally, I am serving on the faculty panel that oversees the Bridging Disciplines Programs (BDP) certificates in Conflict Resolution & Peace Studies and Ethics & Leadership.

Proud parent of Sammy and Robby

I assist government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and religious groups, among others, with public engagement, strategic planning, facilitation, and conflict resolution/conflict management projects. I have worked with city governments across the country, as well as state agencies, social service organizations, and houses of worship.

The National Civic League is introducing a new resource for communities, Senior Fellows, with the announcement of the first three individuals to serve in this role. “Our goal is to have approximately a dozen individuals available to us as their expertise and experience is needed by communities around the country,” said League president Doug Linkhart. “These first three senior fellows reflect the character and quality of the individuals we are seeking, with each having particular knowledge and skills that will help us advance civic engagement to create inclusive, thriving communities.”Founded by Theodore Roosevelt, Frederick Law Olmsted, Louis Brandeis and other leading municipal reformers in the late nineteenth century, the league has been instrumental in efforts to make local governments more open, accountable and effective.Today, more than ever, the National Civic League is critical to vibrant communities and a strong democracy. NCL provides unique opportunities for people to transform themselves and their communities through the All-America City Awards, the Model City Charter, the Civic Index, National Civic Review, and research into leadership and community engagement in leading local government fiscal sustainability. NCL depends on groups and individuals across the country that believe in promoting community engagement and problem solving approaches to support this important work.A 120-year old nonpartisan, nonprofit organization based in Denver, Colorado, NCL’s mission is accomplished by fostering and sharing promising practices of local government and public engagement and celebrating the progress that can be achieved when people work together. Our core values are:Public participation and civic actionDiversity and inclusivenessGreater democracy and higher performing governmentsHope and the nurturing of successful communities

I am a co-host for the "Resolutions" podcast produced by the American Bar Association's Dispute Resolution section. We are highlighting cases resolved outside of court and the parties and practitioners who make that happen.

I am developing a civics education curriculum and television program aimed at elementary school students across the United States. It is based on the concept that citizens who speak out, act, and give of themselves are heroes.

I am writing a book on truth and reconciliation commissions in the U.S. and elsewhere for Lexington, an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield.

The Divided Community Project’s vision is strong communities that transform division into action. The Project's initiatives include establishing pilot programs which plan in advance of civil unrest, offering suggestions for improving practice, developing conflict assessment tools, and advocating for the use of collaborative methods for turning community division into positive action. The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Program on Dispute Resolution serves as the host institution. The JAMS Foundation provided significant funding for the creation of the Project and the Kettering Foundation partnered in its early work.

The goal of the Fellows program is to assemble and develop a group of professionals trained and experienced in the resolution of public policy disputes, who can serve as a resource for Texas government entities. Fellows assist state and local government agencies and courts by designing and implementing processes for the ongoing use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) tailored to individual public policy settings. Fellows are knowledgeable professionals, respected in their fields, with extensive experience in the areas of dispute resolution and/or public policy. The Dean of the Law School appoints each class of Fellows. The intended result of the Fellows program is to educate Fellows about ADR processes that can be used to resolve public policy disputes, resulting in public cost-savings, increased efficiency of public administration, and enhanced quality of public services.

I record voiceovers for various agencies and corporations.

Kearns & West is a collaboration and strategic communications firm founded in 1984. Our high stakes projects include work at the local, regional, and national levels, covering the essential sectors of energy, water, marine resources, land use and natural resources, community and regional planning, transportation, technology, and equity and inclusion. K&W offers a spectrum of services to help our clients identify and connect with the people that lead to project success. Whether it is facilitating complex processes for public involvement, providing neutral conflict resolution services to chart viable solutions, or increasing visibility by strategically putting messages in context before the right audiences, Kearns & West offers expertise and a diverse toolset to help our clients achieve their goals. Learn more about our services.

Engaged Public is a public policy strategy firm that provides innovative services to government, non-profits, foundations and the private sector. We bridge the gap between people and the policies that impact their lives by engaging citizens and elected officials in deeper conversations about challenging public issues. Our experienced team develops technology solutions that make complex public information educational and actionable, offers programs and services that foster collaboration, develops leaders, and analyzes issues.

We provide public outreach and engagement, events planning and facilitation, public relations, and graphic design services. We combine our expertise in these areas to provide clients with a robust and all-inclusive approach to communication needs for a variety of projects.

We help cities around the world become more resilient to the physical, social, and economic challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century.100 Resilient Cities has rolled out a new type of platform offering called the SMA Network. Using this service, member cities lacking sufficient technical knowledge in certain fields may request sector- or initiative-specific advice from subject matter advisors (SMAs). SMAs are technical experts with at least 7-10 years of in-depth experience in their field, and ideally have had experience working in an urban context. Cities can utilize the SMA service to learn more about a specific subject, gain a better understanding of their resilience challenges, or explore different options for resilience-building solutions.

I am developing a new course for the School of Professional Studies dealing with public policy dispute resolution.

I have overseen, constructed, and executed community engagement, public input, and stakeholder projects for the city of Austin, working in conjunction with the Mayor and City Council. I also have mediated disputes for the City between various constituency groups and individual constituents, and I have facilitated consensus among numerous task forces and other working groups.

I served as policy director for Austin City Council Member Lee Leffingwell. Duties include mediation/facilitation/conflict resolution, speechwriting, media relations, policy development, and constituent relations.

I teach a course on how to "raise the bar" in public policy dispute resolution as part of SMU's Center for Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management. Think mediating a two-party dispute is challenging and compelling? Try a conflict with dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of stakeholders whose relationship will almost certainly outlast the conflict. In this course, you will examine the distinctive art and science behind dispute resolution in the public sector, exploring a myriad of methods, techniques, and strategies to address conflicts that need more than a day to resolve. You will analyze contemporary public conflicts, try your hand at mediating them, and develop the skills needed to manage the plethora of moving pieces at play in a civic dispute. Completion of this class and implementation of its lessons will, in fact, revolutionize civic discourse and help produce more sustainable resolutions to public conflicts.

I served as board member and board president for IAP2USA.

We are a dynamic, non-partisan nonprofit working at the forefront of our nation’s civic life. We continuously explore what shapes today’s citizenry, define the evolving role of the individual in our democracy, and uncover ways to motivate greater participation. Through our events, research, and reports, NCoC expands our nation’s contemporary understanding of what it means to be a citizen. We seek new ideas and approaches for creating greater civic health and vitality throughout the United States.

I reported stories as a freelancer for the national and foreign desks at NPR.

I played piano in a jazz trio.

I reported stories as a freelancer.

Reported spot news and feature-length stories for Austin NPR station; also anchored news programs.

Reported spot news and long-form feature stories for Winston-Salem/Greensboro based NPR affiliate; also anchored local news.

Helped manage a city council campaign in New Haven, CT.