Meet the Mediators
The peer mediators are talented undergraduates and graduates who have undergone 25+ hours of training in conflict resolution as well as continual professional development. Your conflict may be within a personal relationship, a student organization, or something else—the mediators adjust to the needs of the group, facilitating a conversation that considers all participants’ needs and thoughts. They will not control the discussion, instead creating a space that will allow underlying tensions to be recognized, addressed, and resolved.
Theo Poling
Theo (he/they) is a first-year graduate student in the Graduate School of Education. Theo has professional experience working as a facilitator and mediator for the Office of Student Conflict Resolution at the University of Michigan. Theo's research focus is on best practices for implementing conflict resolution and mediation programs in higher education. Theo is also interested in intersectional social justice advocacy, getting out in nature, and befriending campus cats.
Emily He
Emily is a first-year medical student. She became a peer mediator to promote deep, lasting, and productive human connection through listening, clear communication, and conflict resolution. She has experience mediating conversations regarding racial bias and diversity, cultural misunderstandings, and interpersonal disagreements in the academic and extracurricular setting.
Meet the Professional Staff
Ankita Rakhe (Assistant Dean for Student Support/Director for Special Projects, Office of Inclusion, Community and Integrative Learning) manages this program. She will review incoming mediation requests and help peer mediators manage cases.