Judith McKay

Judith McKay, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution and Community Studies and the Director of Community Resolution Services (CRS) at NSU's Halmos College of Arts and Sciences (HCAS). CRS provides services to the NSU and local communities, including workshops and training; facilitation; VOICES family programs, conflict coaching and consulting for communities and organizations. CRS also coordinates Peace Place, a collaborative project with the Broward County Library system.

She has been professionally involved in conflict resolution for over 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 been interviewed on radio and television regarding conflicts in neighborhoods, families, and organizations.

Dr. McKay is a trainer and presenter. Frequently requested topics include: 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. In addition, she is a sought-after speaker for professional associations and other groups.

Since coming to NSU, Dr. McKay has been involved in three significant federal grants. Each grant was for a period of one to three years. Two of the grants were funded through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, US Department of Justice and one through the US Department of Health and Human Services. She has been trained by the Community Relations Service of the US Department of Justice and is one of their facilitators. She also provides training and interactive exercises for local law enforcement, including the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT).

Dr. McKay presents each year at various national and international conferences and seminars including: The Association for Conflict Resolution's Annual Conference, The Association for Graduate Liberal Studies Programs Annual Conference, Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association (PCA/ACA) Annual Conference, The Association for Interdisciplinary Studies' Annual Conference, The National Society for Experiential Education's Annual Conference, The Dispute Resolution Center's Annual Conference and others. At the request of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Judith has organized and moderated conference research panels and has been a regional evaluation committee chair for graduate student and young professional project proposals.

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). She is currently working on a book proposal as well as a book chapter on interpersonal conflict in the community. She is on the editorial board of several journals. Her current research interests include: organizational conflict family conflict, conflict coaching, family violence, crisis communication, public policy, law enforcement collaboration, and strategic planning.