New environmental collaboration and conflict resolution postdoc

Julie Minde will be a post-doctoral research associate on environmental collaboration and conflict resolution, starting in spring 2021. This position will be jointly supervised by Andrea Gerlak of the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and Brian Manwaring of the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution (under the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation).

Julie recently completed her doctorate in conflict analysis and resolution (CAR) at George Mason University's (GMU) Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, where she researched the use of maps and mapping in conflict resolution with a focus on two Chesapeake Bay case studies. She holds MS degrees in geographic and cartographic sciences, as well as CAR, both from GMU, and an MA in Russian language and literature from the University of Iowa. Her academic professional experience complements her service in the Army National Guard; she is currently deployed as a brigade commander in Afghanistan.

This jointly hired, co-supervised postdoc position is another important step in the expanding collaboration between the Udall Center and the Udall Foundation. Planned research will focus on stakeholder engagement and issues of inclusiveness and accessibility as cornerstone principles for environmental collaboration and conflict resolution (ECCR) processes. Adherence to these principles supports effective collaboration and conflict resolution processes, helping ensure diverse and divergent voices a seat at the table, with the goals of robust and implementable outcomes, improved data and information in the decision-making process, reduced likelihood of future challenges, and a more just, democratic process. Recent events, including the Covid-19 pandemic and social, economic, and political polarization and disruptions, require a rapid pivot to new approaches, policies, and attitudes related to coordination and communication among very diverse and divided constituencies.