The Division of Student Affairs has announced that Jay Wilgus will become the director of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR).
As OSCR director, Wilgus will provide leadership in advancing the office’s unique educational mission. OSCR embraces an educational philosophy in the execution of conflict resolution, encompassing community responsibility grounded in good citizenship, and places value on conflict management and resolution as key efforts toward a just society.
The position also requires the ability to administer the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities, compassionately adhering to its spirit as well as its legal and ethical implications.
Wilgus follows Jennifer Schrage in this role. While here, Schrage co-edited the book “Reframing Campus Conflict: Student conduct practice through a social justice lens.” Schrage and Monita Thompson, co-director of intergroup relations and assistant dean of students, developed the Schrage Thompson Spectrum Model that offers multiple pathways for conflict resolution.
“We are delighted to welcome Jay to the Michigan community,” says Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Simone Himbeault Taylor. “He is fully committed to embracing and advancing the Spectrum model of conflict resolution introduced here at Michigan. His education, experience and, especially, his educational philosophy toward student conflict resolution work, are excellent qualifications for this role.”
Wilgus will come to U-M from the University of Utah, where his work as assistant dean of students included directing fraternity and sorority life, serving as an educator in student conduct, a counselor for student advocacy, a mediator/facilitator for campus conflict, and an adviser for student groups. Concurrently, he held an adjunct faculty position in Utah’s undergraduate studies and its Educational Leadership and Policy Program. Prior to that, Wilgus worked in Residential Education.
“Educational background, tangible experience, and the capacity to build coalitions and partnerships for conflict-related work were paramount characteristics in our search for the best candidate,” notes Thompson, who chaired the search committee. “We are confident in Jay’s firm grounding in student development, in the greater aims of conflict work, and his orientation toward social justice to successfully advance OSCR’s mission.”
Wilgus holds a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Utah, in addition to a Master of Dispute Resolution degree from Pepperdine University. He will begin his work at U-M on July 19.
Members of the search committee included: Thompson; Jack Bernard, Office of General Counsel; Kerin Borland, The Career Center; Ann Handyside, Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center; Jeffrey Harrold, LSA Academic Advising; Akilah Jones, OSCR; Greg Merritt, University Housing; Melissa Overton, Department of Public Safety; Susan Pritzel, Dentistry Faculty and Student Relations Advisory Committee; Rokimas (Roki) Soeharyo, OSCR Student Staff; and student Amanda Stansinski.
