Vice President for Student Affairs and chair of Daemen’s Emergency Response Team, Kerry Spicer, will help train Student Affairs professionals to manage contentious situations on campuses this September at the Active Dialogue Institute held at Rutgers University.
Spicer will be joined by seasoned professionals from such institutions as Northwestern, American, and Rutgers Universities to identify approaches and strategies for de-escalating heated situations, engaging students in productive dialogue, evaluating campus policies on demonstrations, and creating action plans. The goal is for participants to develop the critical skills needed to connect with students and to apply practical solutions on their campuses.
“We are delighted that Dr. Spicer is playing a leadership role in helping campuses deal with contentious issues,” said President Gary Olson. “These skills will become more and more important for helping our colleges remain open to dialogue but free of violence and unproductive conflict.”
The Active Dialogue Institute is sponsored by the Association of College Unions International, a professional organization of Student Affairs professionals.