A Conversation with Our Leadership Thomas J. Stipanowich William H. Webster Chair in Dispute Resolution, Professor of Law, and Associate Dean, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
Sukhsimranjit Singh Managing Director, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and Assistant Professor of Law and Practice
What role has the Straus Institute played in the field of dispute resolution? Stipanowich: The institute’s vast curriculum and exceptional scholars make it unique in the dispute resolution arena. Our classrooms feature a diverse mix of students, including LLM candidates from many different countries; non-lawyers pursuing a master’s in dispute resolution; and MBA, public policy, and religion students. Moreover, roughly half the students in every law school class at Pepperdine obtain a certificate of specialization or a master’s in dispute resolution; they have the opportunity to embrace a more all-encompassing, holistic concept of the roles lawyers may play in serving clients.
Singh: The Straus Institute is a leader in the field of dispute resolution because of our focus on both theory and practice. We equip our students with key, foundational concepts in the field and supplement that understanding with innovative techniques that demonstrate how to exercise these concepts in the real world. We are privileged to have expert practitioners teaching our students, the landscape of an exciting legal culture in Southern California, a dedicated faculty at Pepperdine Law, and a visionary dean who enables Straus to continually grow and advance as a program.
What do you find most special about the Straus community? Stipanowich: Our students have wonderful models in our institute’s colleagues, who treat them with consideration and respect, regularly going the extra mile to help students work out schedules and even tackle personal issues. They get what it means when we refer to ourselves—and to them—as members of the Straus Institute’s family. I love that we cultivate this community together, and it grows bigger and bigger with each year.
Singh: I love that our program exemplifies, and indeed advances, Pepperdine University’s mission of purpose, service, and leadership. Our students come to the institute with the goal of resolving conflicts globally; we invite them to serve others through their courses, clinics, and externships, and we feel confident that we build leaders for the next generation. Our country and the world has some big challenges ahead, and we feel blessed to be creating a global cadre of conflict resolution leaders.
What are you most proud of from this past year with the Straus Institute? Stipanowich: This year we spearheaded a collaborative effort of nearly all the major dispute resolution programs in the US to host a landmark conference that brought together more than 150 teachers, scholars, and leaders in the dispute resolution field. It will long be remembered as the moment we examined our enduring legacy and engaged in meaningful discussions about the future of conflict resolution. 3
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Singh: I am proud of our global reach and local impact. We have hosted people from around the world; we as Straus faculty and staff have been to a dozen countries and counting in the past year. At home, we continue to teach the best of dispute resolution programs, and we offered services in our local communities— including the Los Angeles Police Department. We are stronger than ever, and we continue to grow.