“ My main goal is to build a strong and vibrant community of students , staff , faculty , alumni , lawyers , judges , and community members . I want us to develop a shared vision that can drive us forward and enable us to reach our full potential . I also want to help people find their passion and innovate to do more than they thought possible .”
member at Michigan State University ’ s College of Law . “ I directed the conflict resolution clinic and taught mediation , negotiation , and contract negotiation .”
He also worked at Boise State University as the head of an interdisciplinary conflict resolution program in its school of public service . He taught a variety of classes , including a Difficult Conversations class for freshman , designed to train students in conflict resolution skills . “ Most recently , I worked as associate provost for faculty affairs at Eastern Michigan University , where I oversaw academic hiring , promotion , tenure , conflict resolution , bargaining , and leadership development ,” says Pappas . “ I also taught courses in their political science department , including mediation , administrative law , and American government .”
Pappas specializes in organizational development , conflict management , interdisciplinary collaboration , and high-impact experiential learning . He has taught more than 80 alternative dispute resolution , law , and public administration courses , and has trained thousands of mediators in courts , community , business , and government . “ My research focuses on how formal and informal systems interact ,” notes Pappas . “ I look at mediation and how it interacts with our legal system , and Title IX and how organizational managers resolve conflict and comply with law and regulation .”
The recipient of a multi-country Fulbright Grant , he recently visited Denmark and is currently studying whether mediation training impacts how academic administrators handle conflict . “ I am also looking at cultural differences ,” Pappas notes . “ The other countries in the grant include Greece and Japan .” mediators before community members and judges . The goal was to reduce prison violence , provide meaningful life skills , and aid in the transition back to society . It was a fantastic experience and foundational for my students .”
Working with students is also an important component to Pappas ’ success . “ I have always loved working with students . I have a lunch with student organization leaders every month , and it is great to hear their ideas ,” he notes . “ I ’ ve always found that if I am willing to listen , people will talk and tell you ways you can improve .”
“ I care about student and lawyer wellness , and I am completing a two-year program training me to be a mindfulness instructor ,” Pappas continues , adding he has started weekly mindfulness sessions for students and will be offering an online mindfulness mini-class through SBAND .
Looking to the Future
Pappas says he is looking forward to what the future holds for the UND School of Law and the opportunities available for both students and faculty . “ We have amazing people at the law school , and incredible support from everyone in the state . We are here to serve and to be impactful , both on the lives of our students , but also on the communities and individuals for whom they will represent and serve ,” he says . “ We need everyone ’ s help to reach our full potential , and I am grateful for everyone ’ s support for our great law school .”
Pappas ’ works have been published 19 times and have appeared in the “ Journal of Legal Education ,” “ Harvard Negotiation Law Review ,” and “ Law & Society Review .”
Working with Others
“ One of the most fulfilling parts of my career has been my service to the community ,” says Pappas , noting service to the bar has been important in his career , serving as a council member for the State Bar of Michigan ’ s ADR section and currently serving as chair of the American Bar Association ’ s Section of Dispute Resolution .
In Michigan , Pappas trained mentors at the state ’ s network of community mediation centers , which were funded by the courts and provide training and opportunities for community members to provide mediation , restorative justice , and a variety of community building activities and services . “ At the center in Muskegon , I partnered with them to conduct peer mediation trainings in two prisons ,” Pappas notes . “ I included my law students in competitions where the inmates and students competed as lawyers , clients , and
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