Constructive Dialogue for Staff

Classes with Co-Curricular Component

• Graduate Student Constructive Dialogue Certificate, Elise Radina (Associate Dean and Professor, Department of Family Science and Social Work, Graduate School) and Jason Abbitt (Acting Associate Dean, Professor of Department of Educational Psychology, Graduate School)
• Honors Residential College, Jonathan James (Assistant Director for Student Engagement, Honors College) and Zeb Baker (Executive Director, Honors College)
• Office of Student Wellness - Peer Educators, Rebecca Young (Director of Student Wellness, Office of Student Wellness) 
• Office of Student Wellness, Katelyn Howell (Associate Director, Office of Student Wellness)
• CDEI Regional Campus - Student Employees, Bennyce Hamilton (Regional Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives and Deputy Title IX Coordinator, College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science) 
• Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), Carolyn S. Craig (Director of Inclusive Excellence Strategies and Initiatives, College of Arts and Science) 
• Leadership Excellence Achievement Diversity Scholars (LEADS) Institute, Carolyn S. Craig (Director of Inclusive Excellence Strategies and Initiatives, College of Arts and Science) 
• Masters' of Accountancy, Michele Frank (Associate Professor, Department of Accountancy) and Anne Farrell (Chair & PricewaterhouseCoopers Professor of Accountancy, Department of Accountancy)
• Beta Alpha Psi, Michele Frank (Associate Professor, Department of Accountancy), Mark Ross (Executive-in-Residence, Department of Accountancy), and Anne Farrell (Chair & PricewaterhouseCoopers Professor of Accountancy, Department of Accountancy)
• National Association of Black Accountants, Eric Marinich (Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Accountancy) and Anne Farrell (Chair & PricewaterhouseCoopers Professor of Accountancy, Department of Accountancy)
• Women in Accounting, Anne Farrell (Chair & PricewaterhouseCoopers Professor of Accountancy, Department of Accountancy)
• Accounting Association, Billy Brink (Associate Professor, Department of Accountancy) and Anne Farrell (Chair & PricewaterhouseCoopers Professor of Accountancy, Department of Accountancy)
• Scholar-Leaders (Spring 2025), Noah Montague (Resident Director, Office of Residence Life)
• Club Sport Officers, Geremy Bardon (Associate Director of Club Sports and Youth Gymnastics, Miami Recreation) and Mike Arnos (Senior Director, Programs and Academic Partnerships, Miami Recreation)
• Recreation Student Managers, Mike Arnos (Senior Director, Programs and Academic Partnerships, Miami Recreation)
• National Society of Black Engineers, Keisha Norris (Asst. Director of Advising and Student Initiatives, College of Engineering and Computing)
• Hillel Student Leadership, Devra Sadler (Assistant Director, Hillel at Miami University) and Whitney Fisch (Executive Director, Hillel at Miami University)
• Jewish Business Leadership Council, Devra Sadler (Assistant Director, Hillel at Miami University) and Whitney Fisch (Executive Director, Hillel at Miami University)
• International Peer Orientation Leaders (iPOLS), Dan Sinetar (Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services) and Laura Desmond (Program Manager, International Student and Scholar Services) 

Department and Divisional Partners 

• Graduate School, Academic Affairs
• Honors College, Academic Affairs
• Office of Student Wellness, Student Life
• Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science
• College of Arts and Science 
• Department of Accountancy, Farmer School of Business
• Office of Residence Life, Student Life
• Miami Recreation, Finance and Business Services
• College of Engineering and Computing
• Hillel at Miami University
• International Student and Scholar Services, Global Initiatives
• Intercollegiate Athletics

Event information coming soon! To learn more about our programming visit our Events Calendar.

If there is a dialogue-based event you are interested in collaborating on, we invite you to reach out to OTIE@MiamiOH.edu so we can connect and discuss opportunities for collaboration.

Constructive Dialogue uses a blended learning approach, which includes both online courses and in-person peer-to-peer conversations to practice what has been learned. At Miami, we have Track 1 and Full Perspectives as options for students to participate in constructive dialogue. The online courses are all housed on the Constructive Dialogue Institute website, in which staff partners are provided an account and information on how to navigate it as an instructor. 

Constructive Dialogue at Miami has two options: Track 1 or Full Perspectives. Track 1 primarily centers behavioral science concepts that help students to understand the necessary mindset for constructive dialogue across differences. This program is shorter and only entails a 1.5 hour time commitment. Full Perspectives is a robust offering that explores psychological concepts to understand how the brain processes information during conflict and learn practical skills for engaging in dialogue, while using real-life scenarios and interactive activities. This option is a 4.5 hour time commitment but provides a stronger foundation for developing dialogue skills. Students who complete the Full Perspectives option (i.e. 6 online courses, 3 peer-to-peer conversations) will receive a certificate at the end of the semester (fall and spring). There is also a Graduate Student Constructive Dialogue Certificate, with similar parameters for completion. The breakdown of components for both options is outlined below:

• Track 1: composed of two online courses (30 minutes each) and a peer-to-peer conversation (30 minutes), for a total time commitment of 1.5 hours. 
• Full Perspectives: composed of six online courses (30 minutes each) and three peer-to-peer conversations (30 minutes each), for a total time commitment of 4.5 hours. 

The content for both options can be divided up throughout a semester, or clustered together to shorten the timeframe of completion. Depending on the needs of your leadership team or co-curricular offering, Track 1 or Full Perspectives might be a better fit. To learn more about how to sign-up to have your courses included in Constructive Dialogue or to learn more about this process, visit the section Leveraging Constructive Dialogue in Programming and Leadership Development.

In July 2023, Constructive Dialogue Institute launched a new initiative - Faculty/Staff Constructive Dialogue Certificate - to support campus partners, like Miami University, in its capacity-building efforts. The certificate program includes six online courses that cover the major concepts and strategies developed by constructive dialogue, with faculty and staff in mind through real-life scenarios and interactive activities. If you are interested in participating, you can join this new opportunity by creating an account and completing all the courses - Faculty/Staff Certificate. 

Current Partners

• University Communications and Marketing, DEI Committee 
• IT Services, DEI Committee
• Miami Recreation, Staff Team

As part of the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence (OTIE) strategy for embedding Constructive Dialogue at Miami, there has been intentional thought put into partnering with staff across the university. Staff support students through capacity-building trainings, leadership development opportunities, and other out-of-classroom experiences. Through the various offerings across Miami, students are able to strengthen their communication and career-readiness skills. The pre-built content in Constructive Dialogue can be a valuable tool across Miami, that can be embedded into leadership development programs, student employee onboardings, and so forth.

The program offers common language and easily accessible virtual content for students, that provides tools and strategies for students. Miami staff can leverage this resource to support with the facilitation of difficult conversations, provide students with skills they can use in their internships/practicums, and develop leadership skills for the rest of their life. Constructive Dialogue also supports our students’ career-readiness skills based on the National Association of Colleges and Employers Competencies: communication, critical thinking, equity & inclusion, leadership, professionalism, and teamwork. 

If you would like to incorporate Constructive Dialogue to a student group, leadership development program, or other co-curricular offering, we invite you to fill out our CD Course Development Form to share some points of information so we can begin the process of working with you. Once the form is submitted, within 3-4 business days you will receive an email from an OTIE staff member with more information on next steps and how to navigate the Constructive Dialogue Institute platform as an instructor. 

As a professional development opportunity for teams at Miami University, we now offer the Faculty/Staff Constructive Dialogue Certificate. The program encompasses six online modules that cover the concepts, tools, and strategies developed by Constructive Dialogue Institute. This capacity-building opportunity will provide your team with a common language and enhance their communication skills to strengthen your team's ability to talk to each other and work as a team. The Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence (OTIE) can build a course just for your team and provide you instructor access so you can see your team's progress through the program. 

OTIE is inviting all teams, departments, and divisions to join this initiative to support our goal of reaching 25% of employee completion of the program. Based on research completed by Constructive Dialogue Institute, once this threshold is reached we can begin to see widespread benefits as we reach culture change on campus. 

We already have commitments from:

• University Communications and Marketing, DEI Committee 
• IT Services, DEI Committee
• Miami Recreation, Staff Team 

Tekeia N. K. Howard (she/her), Director, Programming, Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence 

Tekeia N. K. Howard is the Director for Programming for the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence.  She has over 20 years of experience in primary and secondary education; and in higher education serving in residence life, identity centers, service learning, community building, and teaching. 

Tekeia leverages her experience and background to drive program development, cultural transformation and inclusive education in her work. As the Director for Programming she develops and facilitates workshops, training and events to advance strategic goals. Tekeia also brings the Miami community together  to celebrate culture, heritages and community. She is passionate about creating pathways to achieve equity and access for all through innovation education.

She balances her life between family and serving in the communities, where she lives, works and plays.

Gwen Fears, Ed.D. (she/her), Assistant Vice President for Student Life - Assessment, Planning, and Transition

The Assistant VP for Student Life - Assessment, Planning, and Transition provides oversight and direction for divisional assessment initiatives, long-term planning, and student transition programs, including:

• Communications for the Division of Student Life
• Orientation and Transition Programs
• Parent and Family Programs

A total of 20 hours of virtual and in-person training, reading, and check-ins over the course of the year. Staff will participate in a half-day online training Foundations for Facilitating Dialogue, the full Perspectives program (6 online modules and 3 peer-to-peer conversations, 4.5 hours total), and the SLC group meetings September 2024 through May 2025 (monthly meetings). 

The focus of each month will center on a specific theme/topic that will support identified efforts and goals. Participants will progress through the experience as a cohort, sharing ideas about how to apply the lessons from the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) Dialogue Facilitation Certification, Perspectives program, and shared equity leadership to their work on campus helping one another through challenges and questions that may come up.

Through the Staff Leadership Cohort, participants will work with colleagues to develop a project within their functional area or across various units to incorporate Constructive Dialogue. 

Blueprint for Dialogue on Campus: Staff Leaders Cohort Expectations   

• Identify an area of opportunity for constructive dialogues and skill building that can be implemented in your department/area to enhance the skills of students to navigate dialogue across differences. 
• Attend all 7 sessions and complete all prep work for each session.
• In the Spring, attend all check in meetings, provide updates and outline of projects. 
• Contribute to best practices and toolkits to continue the growth of Constructive Dialogue across Miami.

• Develop an understanding of the researched backed outcomes of the Perspectives program.
• Learn about different strategies that can be applied in different settings at Miami University.
• Empower student-facing staff with skills to confidently facilitate difficult conversations on campus as they arise.
• Develop and sharpen facilitation techniques and intervention strategies to support high pressure moments on campus.
• Connect with other staff leaders who are doing similar work, identify collaborators, and allies to advancing the work.
• Identify/develop best practices and goals for Miami University.

• Jennifer Benz
  • Assistant Vice President, Center for Career Exploration & Success, Enrollment Management and Student Success
• Jonathan James, M.A.
  • Assistant Director for Student Engagement, Honors College
• Jasmine Hardy
  • Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Center for Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership, Student Life
• Liz Walsh-Treviño
  • Director of Orientation and Transition, Office of Orientation and Transition, Student Life
• Chauncey Winbush
  • Deputy Athletic Director/Chief of Staff, Intercollegiate Athletics
• Lois Gillis Brown
  • Director, TRIO Student Support Services, The Tutoring and Learning Center, College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science 
• Robert Abowitz
  • Interim Director, Residence Life, Student Life
• Carolyn Craig
  • Director of Inclusive Excellence Strategies and Initiatives, College of Arts and Science

If you have any questions about Constructive Dialogue, we invite you to reach out to OTIE@miamioh.edu, and an OTIE staff member will be in touch to address your questions. You can also schedule an Inclusive Excellence Consultation, to discuss ways of incorporating Constructive Dialogue in your classroom, leadership program, or staff professional development offerings.