Jackie Font-Guzmán

Pronouns: She/Her/Ella

Dr. Jacqueline N. Font-Guzmán (Jackie) serves as the inaugural vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). She is also a tenured professor of conflict and peacebuilding in EMU's Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. She strives to be a change agent and sees her role as co-creating spaces for relationships to flourish while constructively disrupting systems to advance equity and justice for everyone. Her professional work and activism have been centered around advocating for those easily forgotten: the poor, the marginalized, and the stigmatized. 

Jackie has actively participated in the fields of conflict, peacebuilding studies, and DEI through national and international conferences/workshops. As part of her international practice and experience, she has provided mediation, facilitation, and consulting services to organizations including the World Health Organization, U.S. Postal Service, Judicial Academy of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, Spain Supreme Court Judicial Council for Continuous Education for Judges, Venezuela Supreme Court, Johnson & Johnson, Raytheon Company, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Nebraska Bar Association.

Jackie is a Fulbright scholar and her research interests include the following:

• Qualitative research with a focus on the fields of healthcare disparities, interprofessional collaborations, law, citizenship, and conflict engagement. Specifically, how people construct meaning at critical points in their lives to explore the manners in which meaning-making leads them to productively engage with conflict
• How marginalized individuals create alternate stories and counter-narratives to transform (or dismantle) institutional/structural injustices
• Caribbean Studies, Colonialism, Healthcare Disparities, and Identity

Her scholarship has been recognized at the national and international level. Her book, Experiencing Puerto Rican Citizenship and Cultural Nationalism, was selected as the Puerto Rico Bar Association 2015 Juridical Book of the Year in the category of ‘Essay Promoting Critical Thinking and Analysis of Juridical and Social Issues.’ She was also corecipient of the 2012 Madrid Mediators Association Award for Best Publication in Mediation for Mediación y Resolución de Conflictos: Técnicas y Ámbitos.  Jackie’s newest book (with Bernard Mayer), The Neutrality Trap: Disrupting and Connecting for Social Change was published in January 2022.

Jackie received her BA from Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, her Masters in Health Care Administration from Saint Louis University, Missouri, her Law degree summa cum laude from the Interamericana University of Puerto Rico School of Law, and her PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University, Florida.

Jackie is from Puerto Rico. She is passionate about music and sharing with friends her life, passions, vulnerabilities, strengths, and challenges.  She loves the beach and the mountains. She also enjoys traveling, reading, and good food.

2015 to Present:

• DePauw University, Compton Center for Peace and Justice (March 9, 2023 – Greencastle, Indiana). Compton Lecturer. Disrupting and Connecting for Social Change. Invited.
• Creighton University, HUMAN/E Health and Healthcare (HHH) Symposium (October 22, 2020 – Omaha, Nebraska, Virtual Conference). Integrating Public Health, Law, and Conflict Engagement to Address Systemic Health Inequities (Roundtable Co-discussants: P.J. Strand & A. Wessel).
• Association for Conflict Resolution (October 22, 2020 - Virtual Conference). Systemic Racism in Conflict and Practice Lets Really Talk (Co-panelist: B. Mayer, S. Terry & C. Jamison). Invited.
• Nebraska Nursing Association (October 10, 2020 - Omaha, Nebraska, Virtual Conference). Experiencing and Dismantling Racism through Compassionate Conflict Engagement (Speaker). Invited.
• XII International Congress of the Bioethics Federation of Latin America and the Caribbean (FELAIBE) (April 2019 - San Juan, Puerto Rico). Desastres Naturales desde la Perspectiva de la Conflictología, y Aspectos Político-Socio-Legales: La construcción de ciudadanos “desechables” en Puerto Rico y el huracán María (Natural Disasters at the Intersection of Conflict, Politics, and Socio-Legal Issues: The construction of “disposable” citizens and hurricane María in Puerto Rico) (Plenary). Invited and funded.
• XII International Congress of the Bioethics Federation of Latin America and the Caribbean (FELAIBE) (April 2019 - San Juan, Puerto Rico). La Comunicación y el Manejo Efectivo del Conflicto en la Mediación Bioética (Communication and Effective Conflict Management in Bioethics Mediation (Panelist & Panel Organizer). Invited and funded.
• Creighton School of Law Annual Law Review Symposium and TePoel Lecture: Inequities and Injustices in Health Care (March 2019 - Omaha, Nebraska). Imperial Law and the Construction of “Disposable” Citizens: What Hurricane María Revealed about Health Inequities and Injustices in Puerto Rico (Panelist). Invited.
  Nexus Summit 2018 (July 2018 - Minneapolis, Minnesota) Strategies for Embracing Conflict: A Necessary Skill for Teamwork (Co-presenters: J. Doll, M. L. Brock, & G. Jensen).
• Nebraska Victim Assistance Academy (July 2018 - Omaha, Nebraska) Cultural Competency: Nebraska Underserved and Under-Represented Population in Nebraska (Chair and co-panelist).
• Law and Society Association Annual Meeting (June 2018 - Toronto, Canada). Angry White Men and the Alpha Male Blues: Shootings and Sexual Harassment (Co-panelists: P. J. Strand & P. E. McGreal).
• University of Denver, Josef Korbel School of International Studies, and Latino Leadership Institute, Symposium on “Puerto Rico: Forging a Forward” (April 2018 - Denver, Colorado). How did we Get Here? US Citizenship and its Impact on the National Psyche of Puerto Ricans. Invited and funded.
• Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools Annual Meeting (April 2018 - Grand Rapids, Michigan). Effective Interdisciplinary Leadership: Stories of Academic Curiosity at the Intersection of Difference (Co-presenter: J.A. Moss Breen).
• Creighton University, You are Here: Interdisciplinary Conference on Space, Place, and Embodiment (March 2018 – Omaha, Nebraska). “Here Be Dragons” – Maps and the Spatial Allocation of Power (Co-panelists: P.J. Strand, A. Sundberg, & G. McHendry).
• University of Missouri School of Law, One Read Program (September 25, 2017 - Columbia, Missouri). Historical and Cultural Dimensions of Citizenship: What does US Citizenship Mean Today? Invited and funded.
• American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution Annual Meeting (April 2017 - San Francisco, California). Teaching Mediation to Law Students, Part 2: Assessment - How to Measure Learning Outcomes in a Mediation Course? (Co-panelists: J. Lande, D. Berman, & J. Alfini).
• American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution Annual Meeting (April 2017 - San Francisco, California). Helping Mediators Learn to Have Difficult Conversations: Training Techniques (Co-panelists: E. Archerd & Z. Zumeta).
• American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution Annual Meeting (April 2016 - New York, New York). The New Normal: Fast-forwarding Dispute System Design in a ‘Majority-Minority’ World (Co-panelists: M.H.C. Gonstead & R. Gely).
• University of St. Thomas School of Law (November 12-13, 2015 - Minneapolis) Fall 2015 Symposium - Dispute System Design: Justice, Accountability, and Impact. A Dispute System Design Approach to Integrating Advance Care Planning within a Community Network. Invited and funded.
• Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y el Caribe (October 24, 2015 - San Juan, Puerto Rico). Citizenship Puerto Rico, and Samoa in Light of the Insular Cases: Narratives of Resistances and Differences. Invited.
• Oral History Association Annual Meeting (October 2015 - Tampa, Florida). Puerto Rican Citizenship: The Power of History and Collective Memory in Creating an Alternate Story.
• Caribbean Studies Association (May 25-29, 2015 - New Orleans, Louisiana). Experiencing a Non-Sovereign Nation and the Power of not Wanting by Legally Renouncing US Citizenship.
• Health and Sciences Continuing Education, Creighton University (April 25, 2015 - Omaha, Nebraska). Academic-Community Collaboration. Invited.
• Bioethics Federation of Latin American and Caribbean Institutions (March 25-27, 2015 - San José, Costa Rica). Developing Bioethical Competence among Healthcare Professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean: Accomplishments and Limitations.

FACILITATIONS & WORKSHOPS LED (selected, 2015 to present)

• ADR Section, State Bar of Michigan (March 28, 2023 – Michigan) [Zoom] "Good Trouble" and Mediation: Where the search for justice meets the neutrality trap (Facilitator).
• Conflict Resolution Saskatchewan Inc. (January 25, 2023 – Saskatchewan, Canada) [Zoom] Connecting and Disrupting for Social Change (Trainer)
• United Way of Lower Eastern Shore (January 31, 2023 – Baltimore, MD) Equitable Evaluation Framework: How to Apply it to their Ongoing Community Impact DEI Process (Facilitatator).
• Lancaster Mennonite Schools (August 16-17, 2022 – Lancaster, PA) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Effective Conflict Engagement in the Workplace (Facilitator) (120 participants).
• Eastern Mennonite University (May 13, 2022 - Harrisonburg, VA) Committee on Diversity Equity and Inclusion Retreat (Facilitator) (13 participants).
• Saint Louis University School of Law (January 20, 27, 2022 – Zoom) How to further embed DEI in the SLU School of Law curriculum (Facilitator).
• Chamber of Commerce Leadership Harrisonburg-Rockingham Program (November 18, 2021 - Harrisonburg, VA). Implicit Bias in Hiring Decisions (Facilitator) (30 participants).
• Eastern Mennonite University (September 17, 2021 - Harrisonburg, Virginia). Faculty Recruitment Training for Diversity and Excellence: Implicit Bias in Decision Making
• VII Collaborating Across Borders (Indianapolis, Indiana - October 20, 2019 - Indianapolis, Indiana). Conflict Engagement = Interprofessional Collaboration: Practical Strategies for Healthcare Professionals (Co-trainers: M.L. Brock & C. Costanzo).
• Association of Interdisciplinary Studies Annual Conference (Amsterdam, Netherlands - October 24-26, 2019). Overcoming Interdisciplinary Challenges by Embracing Conflict: Practical Strategies for Interdisciplinary Collaborations (Co-facilitator: M.L. Brock).
• Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (March 20-22, 2019 - St. Louis, MO). Leading Change Through Effective Conflict Engagement (Co-facilitator: M.L. Brock).
• Creighton University, Student Leaders Retreat (January 26, 2019 - Omaha, Nebraska) Experiencing Cross-Cultural Patterns (Co-trainer with A. Guidero) (40 participants).
• Arizona State Bar Association (June 28, 2018 - Phoenix, Arizona). Negotiation on the Front Lines: Tools, Tips & Tricks (Co-trainer with K. Gonzales) (60 participants) Invited and funded.
• Creighton University (April 18, 2018- Omaha, Nebraska). Difficult Conversations and Dealing with High Conflict Personalities and Disruptive Behavior (Co-trainer: M. L. Brock) (70 participants).
• Creighton University (September 29, 2017 - Omaha, Nebraska). Building Skills for Successful Teaming and Collaboration (Co-trainer: M.L. Brock) (40 participants).
• Creighton University (May 10, 2017 - Omaha, Nebraska). Laying the Foundation: Conflict Dynamics (Co-trainer) (35 participants).
• Creighton University (March 23-24, 2017 - Omaha, Nebraska). 50 Years of Loving: Seeking Justice Through Love and Relationships Symposium, Looking Ahead: Where do we go From Here? (Co-facilitator: P.J. Strand).
• Creighton University (March 23-24, 2017 - Omaha, Nebraska). 50 Years of Loving: Seeking Justice Through Love and Relationships Symposium, What’s Your Story of Difference? Building a Better Future Together (Co-facilitator: P.J. Strand).
• Creighton University, Heartland-Delta Faculty Conversations (February 3-4, 2017 - Omaha, Nebraska). Engaging Difficult Conversations on Campus through Ignatian Dialogue (65 participants) (Facilitator).
• Creighton University, Heider College of Business (December 1, 2016 - Omaha, Nebraska). Women in Medicine Symposium, Lean Out: Negotiation for Women in Healthcare Leadership (45 participants) (Co-facilitators: M.L. Brock & K. Gonzales).
• Creighton University, Health and Sciences, Multicultural and Community Affairs Department (September 8, 2016 - Omaha, Nebraska). Open Forum Discussion on Race Diversity Dialogue (33 participants) (Facilitator).
• Intercultural Senior Center (June 25, 2015 - South Omaha, Nebraska). Three-hour World Café Dialogue in Spanish: Conversando Sobre Cómo Cuidar a Nuestros Seres Queridos (Conversations on How to Take Care of Our Loved Ones) (35 participants) (Facilitator).
• Creighton University (March 1, 2015 - Omaha, Nebraska). Unpacking Race (200 participants) (Lead Facilitator, with students co-facilitating).

COMMUNITY & PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS (2015 to present)

• Valley Village (April 6, 2023 – Harrisonburg, Virginia) How to Grow and Diversify your Social Network (Facilitator) Invited.
• Conspire (March 8, 2023 – Greencastle, Indiana) Conflict Resolution and Nonviolent Communication for Activists (Co-facilitator with Dr. Bernard Mayer) Invited.
• Center for Mediation Dialogue (July 29, 2022 – Beaverton, Oregon [Via Zoom]. The Neutrality Trap: Disrupting and Connecting for Social Change (Co-Presenter with Dr. Bernard Mayer) Invited.
• School of Peace and Conflict Studies, Kent State University, USA & National Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago, New Zealand (May 12, 2022 – Zoom]. Confronting and Enduring State of Conflict Non-resolution: International Webinars on Functional Co-existence (Co-presenter with Dr. Bernard Mayer and Dr. Tatsuchi Arai). Invited
• Mediators Beyond Borders International (May 11, 2022 – Washington DC [via Zoom]. The Neutrality Trap: Dialogue and White Supremacy (Co-Presenter with Dr. Bernard Mayer) Invited.

• New York City-Dispute Resolution and CUNY Dispute Resolution Breakfast Roundtable (May 5, 2022 – New York, New York [via Zoom]). The Neutrality Trap: Disrupting and Connecting for Social Change (Co-presenter with Dr. Bernard Mayer) Invited.

• Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) (April 7, 2022 – Madison, WI) [via Zoom]). DE&I Clients and “-Isms”: Recognizing and Addressing Discriminatory Behavior. (Co-panelist with Dr. Chioma Ajoku, Kelly Browe Olson, JD, and Hon. Linda Fidnick. Invited.

• Ontario Association Family Mediators, Speakers Corner (February 23, 2022 - Ontario, Canada [via Zoom]. The Neutrality Trap: Disrupting and Connecting for Social Change (Co-Presenter with Dr. Bernard Mayer) Invited.

• Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, Beyond the Dialogue Straus Speaker Series (February 22, 2022 - Malibu, California [via Zoom]). The Neutrality Trap: Disrupting and Connecting for Social Change (Presenter) Invited.

• Uniminuto (April 27, 2021 - Colombia [via Zoom]. Procesos de Diálogo en el Ámbito Financiero y Gerencial (Presenter) Invited.
• Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law (April 23, 2021 - Malibu, California [via Zoom]). ADR at the Roots: Exploring Diversity and Equity in the Field (Panelist) Invited.
• Common Ground at Creighton University, School of Medicine (January 29, 2021 - Omaha, Nebraska). End-of-life Disparities and COVID-19: What would it take to dismantle racism in health care and rebuild a just system? Common Ground is a forum that is part of the Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) supported by endowment funds from the National Institute of Health (Presenter) Invited.
• Creighton University (January 18, 2021 - Omaha, Nebraska). MLK Commemoration Day Panel: Letter from the Birmingham Jail and Antiracism (Co-panelist).
• Fundación Juan Mari Brás (December 2, 2020 - San Juan, Puerto Rico, Virtual Round Table). Boricuas Hasta en la Luna: Ciudadanía Puertorriqueña, Nacionalidad, y Derechos Humanos (Co-discussant: F. Arraiza).
• Community partnership with the Durham Museum (September 1, 2020 - Omaha, Nebraska, Virtual Panel) NCR/2040 Speaking Truths Panels Series: Images of Justice and Injustice (Co-panelists: P. Strand, C. Whitt, B. Thomas, Y. Sosa & S. Ilahi) (60 participants).
• Southern Methodist University, Center for Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management (April 16, 2020 - Dallas, Texas, via Zoom) Strategies for effective teaching engagement and learning in an online environment (Facilitator).
• Puerto Rico Bar Association (January 28, 2020 - San Juan, Puerto Rico, via Skype) Community Collaboration in Managing End-of-Life Conflict (Co-panelists: Dr. S. Fábregas, Dr. E. Lugo, & Dr. F. León) (50 participants).
• Creighton University (November 8, 2018 - Omaha, Nebraska) Citizens from Nowhere, post-film discussion panelist (Panelist) (150 participants).
• CHI Creighton University Medical Center Bergan Mercy (April 27, 2018 - Omaha, Nebraska) Ignatian Pedagogy Seminar (Facilitator/Presenter) (10 participants).
• Creighton University, The Learning Center (March 28, 2018 - Omaha, Nebraska) Tune Up Your Syllabus (Co-presenter) (20 participants).
• Creighton University (March 26, 2018 - Omaha, Nebraska) Ignatian Pedagogy Seminar (Presenter) (12 participants).
• Creighton University 28th Health Disparities Journal Club, Center for Promoting Health and Health Equality (February 5, 2018 - Omaha, Nebraska) Hurricane María and Public Health (Presenter) (13 participants). Invited.
• Nova Southeastern University (November 10, 2017 - Fort Lauderdale, Florida) Round Table Discussion on Dr. Font-Guzmán’s Current Research Projects (12 participants).
• Creighton University (November 2, 2017 - Omaha, Nebraska) NCR/2040 Speaking Truths Panels Series, Angry White Men and the Alpha Male Blues: Shootings and Sexual Harassment (Co-panelist) (65 participants).
• Creighton University (October 4, 2017 - Omaha, Nebraska) NCR/2040 Speaking Truths Panels Series, Does “We the People” include Puerto Rican and NFL Players? (Co-panelist) (95 participants).
• Metro Omaha Medical Society (May 17, 2017) - Omaha, Nebraska). Negotiation for Women in Healthcare: What have we learned? (Presenter) Invited.
• Creighton University (March 16, 2017 - Omaha, Nebraska). Cultural Sensitivity, Competency and Proficiency: What, why, and who at Creighton? (Co-panelist with Creighton Faculty).
• 2016 Opus Prize (November 16, 2016 - Omaha, Nebraska). Restoring Hope: Livestream Panel Discussion with Opus Prize Finalist Representatives. (Co-panelist with Opus Prize finalists, Creighton faculty, and Creighton students).
• Nebraska Bar Association (August 29, 2016 - Omaha, Nebraska). Race, Law, and Practice in the 21st Century (two CLE credit hours) (Co-presenter). Invited.
• Common Ground at Creighton University (March 18, 2016 - Omaha, Nebraska). Closing the Gap: End of Life Care Inequalities. Common Ground is a forum that is part of the Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) supported by endowment funds from the National Institute of Health (Presenter). Invited.
• Film Streams Ruth Sokolof Theater (November 3, 2015 - Omaha, Nebraska). Post-film Discussion of the Documentary ‘Who is Dayani Cristal?’  Co-panelist with Emiliano Lerda, Executive Director of Justice for Our Neighbors. This event was part of a month-long, Spanish Film Club series about current Latin America issues that was made possible with the support of Pragda, Spain Arts and Culture and the Secretary of State for Culture of Spain (100 participants).
• Health and Sciences Continuing Education, Creighton University (April 25, 2015 - Omaha, Nebraska). 8th Annual Addressing Health Disparities Seminar. Academic-Community Collaboration (Co-panelist). Invited.
• Center for Promoting Health and Health Equality, Creighton University (April 23, 2015 - Omaha, Nebraska). End of Life Care and the use of World Café Dialogue (Presenter). Invited.

PODCAST, INTERVIEWS & WEBINARS

• Julián Ginzo, Interview with Bernard Mayer and Jacqueline N. Font-Guzmán in UNtoday, Neutrality – George Floyd’s legacy, November 1, 2022.
• Chrissy Stoop, Interview with Bernard Mayer and Jacqueline N. Font-Guzmán about “Sometimes Dialogue is not the Answer and Neutrality is a Trap: An Interview with the Authors of ‘The Neutrality Trap” in the Religion Dispatches, August 15, 2022.
• Baleria, Gina (Host) “Making DEI Work Transformative & Relational” This is Civity, Podcast, July 11, 2022.
• Ferguson, Jackie (Host) “The Neutrality Trap: Disrupting and Connecting for Social Change” Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox, Podcast, April 28, 2022.
• Livestream interview by Colin Rule and Michelle Lebaron. Great Read Book Club Series, The Neutrality Trap, April 24, 2022.
  Radio interview by Tom Sumner, The Tom Summer Radio Show: The Neutrality Trap, March 31, 2022.
• Mcfarlane, Julie (Host). “The Neutrality Trap: Disrupting and Connecting for Social Change”. Jumping Off the Ivory Tower, Podcast, March 28, 2022
• Radio interview by Barry Moltz, The Small Business Show: The Neutrality Trap, March 11, 2022.
• Livestream interview by Rule, Colin. Evolution of the Mediation Field, Monthly Conversations with Leaders Series: A Conflict Counter-Story: How a Puerto Rican Woman Ended Up in a Field Dominated by Anglo Men (August 26, 2021). 
• Conley, Alia. One year after James Scurlock was killed, Omaha still coming to grips with aftermath, Interview in the Omaha World Herald, May 23, 2021, Updated June 3, 2021.
• Ursch, B. Doing Nothing is not Enough: Creighton community works to fight systemic racism, Interview in Creighton University Magazine, Fall 2020.
• Videotaped interview for a Creighton University School of Medicine Multidisciplinary Seminar Series (February 20, 2018 - Omaha, Nebraska).
• Videotaped interview (in English and Spanish) with Greg Carlson, S.J. on Unity of Mind and Heart to be used for a university wide orientation program for faculty and staff on Creighton’s mission (Fall 2016 - Omaha, Nebraska).
• Live interview, NPR Omaha Public Radio KIOS 91.5FM with Michael Lyon. Invitation to Collaborative Screening with Film Streams: Who is Dayani Cristal? This event is part of a month-long, Spanish Film Club series of films coupled with discussions about current issues from the Latin American Studies Initiative at Creighton University (November 2, 2015 - Omaha, Nebraska).
• Livestream interview by Dr. Jaime Rodríguez Cancel and Dr. Jaime Parch. Conversation with the Author of Experiencing Puerto Rican Citizenship and Cultural Nationalism. Ana G. Méndez University (October 23, 2015 - San Juan, Puerto Rico).
• Television Interview by Dr. Jaime Rodríguez Cancel, Dean, on Channel 40. Discussing Puerto Rican Citizenship and Cultural Nationalism from a Historical Perspective. Ana G. Méndez University (October 21, 2015 - San Juan, Puerto Rico).
• Television Interview by Silverio Pérez on “¿Qué es lo que hay?” WIPR Channel 6. Book presentation: Experiencing Puerto Rican Citizenship and Cultural Nationalism (October 20, 2015 - San Juan, Puerto Rico).
• Talk Radio Program in The Texas Conflict Coach. Dying with Dignity: Starting the Conversation to Close the Healthcare Gap (June 30, 2015).

EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS & COMMITTEES (Selected, 2015 - to present)

• Member, Community Committee, Omaha Community Council for Racial Justice and Reconciliation (OCCRJR), Omaha, Nebraska, Spring 2018 to Spring 2021.
• Appointed by the Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court to serve as a Member of the Nebraska Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Advisory Council, Omaha, Nebraska, Spring 2017 to Spring 2021.
• Faculty Member of the Center for Promoting Health Equality Board, Creighton University/Community Collaboration, Omaha, Nebraska, Summer 2010 to Spring 2020.
• Member of the Academic Commission Planning Committee of the XII International Congress of FELAIBE (Bioethics Federation of Latin America and the Caribbean) in San Juan, Puerto Rico in April 11-13, 2019, Spring 2018 to Spring 2019.
• External member of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Committee of the College of Saint Mary, Omaha, Nebraska, Fall 2013 to Fall 2014.
• Member of the Steering Committee of ‘It’s All About the Conversation, Omaha, Nebraska; The mission of this group is to educate, advocate for, and empower Nebraskans to engage in conversation regarding advance care planning that includes goals of care and end of life care options across the life span, Fall 2012 to Fall 2015.

INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES / CONSULTING (Selected, 2015 - to present)

• Centro Latino de Bioética y Humanidades (CELABIH), San Juan, Puerto Rico. Consultant on the interdisciplinary promotion of education, training, and investigation in bioethics (Fall 2015 to present).
• World Bank Group, Washington D.C. Consultant on Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Dominican Republic (Fall 2018 to Spring 2019).
• Latin American and Caribbean Federation of Bioethics Institutions 2019 Annual International Conference, member of the Academic Commission (Summer 2018 - Summer 2019).
• Advisory Committee to the Carlos III Law School Court-annexed Mediation Program Financed by the European Commission—a branch of the European Union government, Leganés, Spain. Member (Summer 2010 to Spring 2015).

REVIEWER & REFEREE

• Editorial Board Member: Joint Venture: ACR and Rowman & Littlefield (Fall 2021 to present).
• External Reviewer: Palgrave Macmillan, USA. Book proposal on national identity and nationalism (June 2019).
• External Reviewer: The John Hopkins University Press. Book proposal on a guide to conflict engagement for healthcare practitioners (Summer 2018).
• External Reviewer: Citizenship Studies, peer reviewed academic journal (Spring 2018).
• Feedback to presenters: 10th Annual AALS Alternative Dispute Resolution Section’s Works in Progress Conference, Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, WI (2016).
• External reviewer: Centro Journal, Journal for the Center of Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College, City University of New York (2014 & 2021).
• Referee: Routledge Books, Abingdon, OX (2010).
• External Reviewer: Conflict Engagement Training for Health Professionals: Recommendations for Creating Conflict Competent Organizations – A White Paper for Healthcare and Dispute Resolution Professionals (2010) by D. Gerardi, USA.

Honors and Awards (selected)

• 2023 Eastern Mennonite University Senior Class Faculty Advisor, selected by senior class.
• Inaugural Fellow in Beyond the Dialogue (BTD) Fellows Program, Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University, Summer 2021 to present.
• Fellow in the Puerto Rico Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation—affiliated with the Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation in Spain—Fall 2019 to present.
• Featured in Revista Juris Doctor (2018), Interamericana University School of Law as a distinguished alumna for work advancing Alternative Dispute Resolution.
• Corecipient of the 2018 Arizona State Bar Presidential Award for developing the workshop: Negotiation on the Front Lines: Tools, Tips & Tricks.
• Recipient of the 2017 Nova Southeastern University Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award–highest and most prestigious honor that the University bestows upon its graduates.
• Recipient of the Puerto Rico Bar Association 2015 Juridical Book of the Year Award in the category of ‘Essay Promoting Critical Thinking and Analysis of Juridical and Social Issues’ for Experiencing Puerto Rican Citizenship and Cultural Nationalism, sole author.
• 2015 Scholar in the Health Disparity Research Training Program, Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center at the University of Alabama, Birmingham (2015-2017).
• Nominee for the 2013 Nova Southeastern University Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences Alumni of the Year Achievement Award.
• J. William Fulbright Scholar at Carlos III University Law School, Madrid, Spain (Spring 2012).
• Corecipient of the 2012 Madrid Mediators Association Award for Best Publication in Mediation for Mediación y Resolución de Conflictos: Técnicas y Ámbitos.  

Awarded Grants (selected)

• Distinguished Curriculum Innovation and Pedagogical Research Grant, Creighton University. Design and teach an experiential online course that will allow students to engage with the community and address exigent issues of global concern including racism, colonialism, imperialism, and misogyny: Organizing for Justice and Solidarity in the 21st Century. Role: Co-PI, $10,000.00, November 2019. Grant Period: Summer 2020. 
• Creighton University School of Law Summer Research Stipend. Book chapter, 100th year of the imposition of US citizenship upon Puerto Ricans through the Jones Act of 1917. Role: Sole Author, $10,000. Grant Period: Summer 2017.
• National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the John A. Hartford Foundation, the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation & the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Development of Creative, Robust and Sustainable Interprofessional Initiatives Among Health Sciences Institutions, Allowing Students in Health Sciences Pursuits to Learn and Work Together with Individuals and their Families in Community-Based Clinical Settings. Role: Consultant & Trainer, $100,000. Grant Period: October 1, 2016 to October 31, 2018.
• National Institute of Health (NIH) and University of Alabama in Birmingham. Health Disparities Research Education Program Scholar Grantee. Grant Period: 2015-2017.
• Creighton University School of Law Summer Research Stipend. Finalize book, Experiencing Puerto Rican Citizenship and Cultural Nationalism. Role: Sole Author, $10,000. Grant Period: Summer 2014. 
• Creighton University’s Haddix President’s Faculty Research Fund. Explore What Constitutes a Good Death in Nebraska, Medically, Legally, and Interpersonally. Role: Co-PI, $5,512. Grant Period: February 2013-February 2014. 
• J. William Fulbright. Grantee in Alternative Dispute Resolution at Carlos III University School of Law, Madrid, Spain. Role: Senior Lecturer; accommodation, travel, living expenses, and stipend. Grant Period: February - May 2012.
• U.S. Speaker and Specialist Grant by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Programs. Offered Judges and Magistrates in the Republic of Venezuela a Series of Two-Day Workshops on the Theory and Practice of Alternative Dispute Resolution on Domestic Violence and Misdemeanors. Role: Trainer & Training Designer; hotel accommodation, travel, and speaker fee. Grant Period: February 2-11, 2004. 

• Admitted to practice law before the Courts of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Admitted to practice law before the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
• Admitted to practice law before the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
• Public Notary in Puerto Rico.
• Health Care Administrator, License San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• Certified as Mediator by the U.S. Postal Service: REDRESS I and REDRESS II.
• Certified and Licensed Mediator by the Puerto Rico Supreme Court
• Certified as a Primary Trainer in Alternative Dispute Resolution by the Puerto Rico Supreme Court.
• Certified and Licensed Arbitrator by the Puerto Rico Supreme Court.

• Themes on Public Law: Mediation (Law School) 
• Negotiation, Mediation, and Dialogue (Law School) 
• Bioethics and the Law (Law School)
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Conflict Resolution (Graduate School) 
• Culture, Race, Gender, and Power Differences in Conflict (Graduate School) 
• Engaging in Bioethical Conflict (Graduate School) 
• Healthcare Collaboration and Conflict Engagement (Graduate School)  
• Human Rights, Poverty, Medicine, and Health (Graduate School) 
• Applied Interdisciplinary Research: A Narrative Approach (Graduate School) 
• Conflict Engagement and Leadership (Graduate School) 
• Collective Memory, History, and Conflict (Graduate School, Study Abroad in Spain)
• Cross-Cultural and Gender Negotiation (Graduate School)
• Healthcare Disparities and Social Justice (Dental School)
• Organizing for Justice and Solidarity in the 21st Century (Graduate)
• Puerto Rico & the U.S.: Citizenship, Colonialism & Cultural Nationalism (Undergraduate)
• Disrupting and Connecting for Social Change (Graduate)
• Intercultural Program: Puerto Rico Summer 2023 (Undergraduate)

• Provost Council, Member, Spring 2021 to present.
• Executive Leadership Team, Member, Spring 2021 to present.
• Academic Success Center, Advisor, Summer 2021 to present.
• Student Success & Campus Vitality, Eastern Mennonite University Board of Trustees. Primary Advisor, Summer 2021 to present.
• President’s Cabinet, Member, Spring 2021 to present.
• Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Chair, Summer 2021 to present
• Cohort Faculty Mentorship Program, Chair, Spring 2022 to present.
• Core Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, Member, Summer 2021 to present.
• Creation Care Council, Member, Fall 2022 to present.
• Provost Search Committee, Member, Fall 2022.
• Seminary Grant Program Director Search Committee, Member, Fall 2022
• Dean for the School of Theology, Humanities and Performing Arts Search Committee, Member, Fall 2021
• Planning Committee for Inaugural Lavender Ceremony Graduation, Chair, Spring 2022.
• Planning Committee for Inaugural LGBTQ+ History Month, Chair, Fall 2021.
• Group of Campus Climate assessment Co-chair, Fall 2021 to Spring 2022.
• Professional Development Implementation Task Force, Co-Chair, Fall 2021 to Spring 2022.
• Cohort Hire Coordination Committee, Member, Fall 2021 to Spring 2022.