Conflict Transformation Institute - Faculty and Presenters
Dr.
Christina Bucher, chair of the Religious Studies Department
at Elizabethtown College, presents the theological foundation
for Conflict Transformation as rooted in the faith tradition.
Dr. Bucher received her doctorate from Claremont Graduate University
and has been teaching in the Religious Studies Department of
Elizabethtown College since 1985. She has presented "The
Theological Roots for Conflict Transformation within the Church
of the Brethren" at previous CTIs.
Bob Gross is co-executive director of On Earth Peace, the peace and reconciliation branch of the Church of the Brethren, and coordinator of its conflict transformation program, called the Ministry of Reconciliation. Gross is a mediator, consultant and trainer, and has led hundreds of workshops on conflict resolution, mediation, nonviolence and communication skills. He is a member of the Manchester Church of the Brethren and an active community member.
Dr.
Timothy A. McElwee, Plowshares Associate Professor
of Peace Studies at Manchester College, will bring the Plenary
Address at the opening of the Institute. McElwee, a 1978 graduate
of Manchester College, teaches courses on war and peace, religion
and war, and addresses issues of how we arrive at war. He also
has served as Manchester campus pastor and as director of the
Church of the Brethren office in Washington, D.C., representing
the denomination's peace interests to Congress, the United Nations
and government agencies. Dr. McElwee most recently was vice
president for advancement at Manchester College. He has a master's
of divinity from Bethany Theological Seminary and a master's
and Ph.D. from Purdue University.
Bob Mikus is director of residence life at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. He earned his master's degree in human services psychology from La Salle University while a graduate assistant in the Department of Residence Life. Mikus was instrumental in beginning the Community Accountability Conferencing Program at Elizabethtown College, which, integrated with the Community Standards Program, provides an avenue for students to identify issues, expectations and standards for community living in the residence halls. The integration of these two programs is a campus version of the RealJustice Program. The Residence Life staff at Elizabethtown is trained in restorative justice philosophy and practices.
Carolyn Olivett, a representative of RealJustice, is a consultant to school systems, colleges and other agencies to provide education and therapeutic support systems. Olivett has an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a master's degree in health education. Her specialty is conflict management using a restorative justice model. Olivett is certified as a RealJustice Trainer and is licensed to provide RealJustice training in conference facilitation. She teaches a class on restorative practices in educational settings for Eastern Mennonite University in Lancaster, Pa.
Dr. Gary Zimmerman is
chair of the Department of Psychology at Manchester College, where he teaches conflict resolution, mediation, counseling and cross-cultural psychology. For the past 10 years, Dr. Zimmerman has served as an adjunct faculty member, teaching conflict resolution and mediation courses for the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. He has started mediation services at the University of California at Santa Cruz, Ball State University, Butler University and Manchester College.
