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New Leadership Roles

Harry Katz has two new leadership positions – director of the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution and president-elect of the Labor and Employment Relations Association.

ILR’s Jack Scheinkman Professor of Collective Bargaining, Katz begins his term with the association, known as LERA, in July 2017 and started his tenure at the Scheinman Institute this past July.

“We are the lead academic institute in the domain of conflict resolution – we have more faculty, do more outreach and more research. No one else can do what we do,” he said, noting 10 years of growth in scope, portfolio, staffing and impact.

Through faculty teaching, research and outreach to academics and practitioners, he said, “this institute exactly represents ILR’s mission. Professor David Lipsky has provided remarkable leadership to the institute over the past 10 years and I’m delighted that Dave will continue to be actively involved in its programs.”

Scheinman faculty members teach students from across campus, often teaming with faculty from the Cornell Law School and School of Hotel Administration, and guide student research on projects such as Bargaining for Better Schools.

Additionally, extension and resident faculty members regularly collaborate with advisory board members to create opportunities such as the Asian Labor Arbitration Project, which included a Global Service Learning trip to Vietnam and a student-led conference.

ILR alums coach the Scheinman-sponsored intercollegiate team that scrimmages, via video livestream, with alternative dispute resolution teams from across the country.

In the public, private and non-profit sectors, as well as in litigation, the institute addresses commercial, environmental, international, regulatory and other conflicts.

The institute is widening its footprint in New York City, said Katz, who will split his time between Ithaca and Manhattan. “We want to be part of Cornell’s increased presence in New York City.”

Institute workshops, certificate classes and other activities are offered in ILR’s New York City Conference Center.

An endowment from Martin and Laurie Scheinman, along with their active guidance, has helped the institute expand, Katz said.

Martin Scheinman ’75, M.S. ’76 teaches institute classes and provides one-on-one mentoring to undergraduate and graduate students interested in arbitration and mediation, Katz said.  

As the lead executive for the Labor and Employment Relations Association, Katz will serve on the executive committee of the international arm of the organization and will oversee the group’s two annual meetings in the United States.

The association is the primary professional organization for faculty and practitioners in labor and employment relations. It brings together labor, management and government representatives with academics, advocates and neutrals.

Katz, dean of ILR for nine years, also served as Cornell’s interim provost.  

He is the third ILR faculty member to lead the association. Professors Francine Blau and Lipsky also served in the role.

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