Saltman Center Keeps Busy During the Summer

The Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution at the Boyd School of Law is allowing two students to gain real-world Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) experience with the creation of two fellowships.

Vincent Vitatoe

Ray Patterson, associate director of the Saltman Center, said that the fellows will assist the faculty in running the Center. The two students selected for the summer semester are Vincent Vitatoe and Hillary Walsh. Patterson said their fellowships could extend to fall if they do well and want to continue.

"We want the Saltman Fellows to learn about ADR as they help Director Jean Sternlight and me keep the Center running this summer," Patterson said. "The fellows will be invited to all our events and to luncheons with guest speakers. I encourage them to consider taking the mediation training we sponsor, too."

Hillary Walsh

Saltman fellows are expected to put in 10-15 hours a week on Saltman Center matters, according to the job description that the Center put out. They work on the Center's newsletter, are involved in annual Saltman Center competitions and maintain the Saltman Center showcase on the first floor of the law school.

"Organizational ability, the ability to deal with details, and a team attitude are necessary for a Saltman fellow," according to the job description.

The fellowships aren't the only academic opportunities the Saltman Center is offering this summer. The Center is also hosting a Summer Institute geared toward graduate students and professionals.

The institute's three courses are at near capacity, according to Jean Sternlight, Director for the Saltman Center.

"We have had a strong program for years now, so our goal in setting up the Institute is to expand to include students from other law schools as well as professionals from the community and the world at large," Sternlight said. "We welcome any kind of professionals, but we expect most of the registrants to be attorneys, social workers or persons with experience in fields like human relations."

Saltman Summer Institute Pamphlet

Right now, the majority of the students that are signed up for the courses are UNLV law students, but Sternlight said that as the Institute continues, she hopes to see more professionals and non-UNLV students attending.

The three courses that make up the Summer Institute are "Mediation," "Dispute Resolution in the Workplace" and "Advanced Negotiations."

The Mediation course ran from May 10-15 and was taught by Michael Moffitt, University of Oregon Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. "Dispute Resolution in the Workplace" ran from May 17-22 and was taught by Roger Wenthe, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

The final course, "Advanced Negotiations," runs June 14-17 from 5:45-9:15 p.m., June 18 from 3-7 p.m. and June 19 from both 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. UCLA Professor of Law Russell Korobkin will be the instructor.