Center for Conflict Management Testimonials

"My time as a student at UA was rewarding in every possible way. As an Emergency Management & Homeland Security major, I had the opportunity to learn disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery in what is arguably one of the best programs in the country. I am proud to say that I currently serve as a Disaster Services Consultant at the Ohio Emergency Management Agency in Columbus.

That being said, the program that I believe I benefited from the most was the Center for Conflict Management. The certificate program through CCM provides students with a curriculum that teaches the values of diversity, mutual respect and unique problem solving. As Dr. Lyons’ student, I learned how important it is to be concise and sincere. More than that, I learned that active listening is the number one skill that we bring to our relationships and future careers.

As a CCM student, I grew and approached learning from a new and better perspective. Having the CCM certificate on my resume sparked interesting conversations during my interview process. Prospective employers wanted to know how that education and experience would affect and impact the skills that I would bring to their agency/company."

Christen Swayer, '19, Disaster Services Consultant
Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Columbus, OH)

"As Director of the Neighborhood Leadership Institute of Summit County, I consider the training presented by Bill Lyons of The University of Akron an incredibly valuable piece of our program. Each year, his session challenges our participants to change and grow, review and reconsider how they view conflict in their lives, personally and professionally.

As we work to equip grassroots community leaders, we know that we would be far less effective without the thoughtful, thought provoking material presented by Dr. Lyons. People have conflict. Bill helps people understand the nature of conflict but more importantly how it can be harnessed and utilized as a productive force in our lives. If your organization has people, your organization needs to hear from Bill Lyons."

John Hafford II, Director
Neighborhood Leadership Institute of Summit County

"Professor Lyons is a dynamic instructor who engaged the group through fun and insightful exercises and discussion. By the end of the workshop, I no longer feared conflict because I was better equipped with tools to manage it."

Hudson Action Together

"One of the most powerful educational workshops we provided at the Step II Transitional Domestic Violence Shelter was a conflict management program offed by the University of Akron’s Center for Conflict Management. Dr. Lyons and his team provided ongoing group sessions to the adult residents who were often faced with conflicts and disagreements as a result of living in such confined quarters. The conflict management team provided the staff with tips on dissolving and mediating conflict, but more importantly, the facilitated group sessions allowed the residents to learn techniques to resolve conflict on their own."

Leanne Graham, Step II Shelter Manager
Battered Women’s Shelter of Summit and Medina Counties