Dr. Barbara Sunderland Manousso and Melissa Back McAlpine, JD, co-taught Global Conflict Management, a class blended with graduate and undergraduate students from the Center for International Studies (CIS). On April 30, 25 students received certificates in basic mediation, in a gold standard training for qualifying a civil mediator. 13 of the students were exchange students from France, so this certificate for 40 hours of training will allow them to practice as a civil mediator in Europe as well. In addition to the mediation certificates, the students will also receive a regular grade as a three credit course. Interim Director for the CIS, Dr. Yeh, helped Dr. Manousso award the certificates.

The Global Conflict Management course was centered around the concept of teaching listening skills, giving the parties a chance to express how they each see the conflict (since two parties can see one event very differently) and as acting as a mediator that helps the parties see clearly what the conflict is about by recognizing the objective criteria (measurable facts, not opinion). Parties can't negotiate a solution without using the truth that is based on objective criteria, a lesson that is important to seek in all of life, especially now politically.

Dr. Barbara Sunderland Manousso, the CEO of Manousso Mediation and Arbitration, LLC, since 1993, was the 2019 recipient of the Adams Award, the annual award for Texas' top mediator. She was also recognized by the Houston Business Journal in 2018 as A Woman Who Means Business in Professional Services. She is well known worldwide for leadership in many mediation organizations and frequently lectures worldwide.

Professor Melissa Back McAlpine, an attorney and mediator, is the 2019 president of the Texas Association of Mediators, the youngest leader ever. She is also the co-convener of the Texas Mediation Trainers Roundtable, the Texas consortium for training mediation trainers. She is a Director of Training at Manousso Mediation and Arbitration, LLC.