Schrage appointed OSCR director

The Division of Student Affairs has appointed Jennifer Meyer Schrage as director of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR). Schrage comes to U-M from Eastern Michigan University, where she was the director of the Office of Student Judicial Services.

(Photo by Scott Galvin, U-M Photo Services)

As OSCR director Schrage will provide leadership to advance the office's mission, which emphasizes educational programming for the entire student body, embraces an educational philosophy in the execution of conflict resolution, encompasses a community responsibility oriented in restorative justice and good citizenship, and places value on the role conflict management and resolution can play in contributing to a just society.

Schrage holds a bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona College (Cum Laude) and a juris doctorate degree earned from work at both the University of Arizona College of Law and the University of Denver College of Law. A certified mediator in the Office of Civil Rights, Office of the Attorney General in Arizona, she approaches her work from a social justice perspective. Schrage's judicial and student affairs expertise includes the areas of judicial process, conflict resolution, mediation and arbitration, policy interpretation and legal compliance, student affairs and development theory, educational programming, ethics and social responsibility, preventing discrimination and promoting diversity, and student, faculty and staff relations.

While at EMU she served as an adjunct faculty member. Prior to EMU, she served as an attorney at the United Auto Workers Legal Services Plan. As a collegiate leadership consultant for Gamma Phi Beta sorority, she also served as a traveling advisor to colleges throughout the country, meeting with student leaders to evaluate organizations and handle regulation violations, such as hazing and alcohol misuse.

"Schrage brings to the Division of Student Affairs a clear vision of promoting civility, ethics, accountability and citizenship; facilitating a fair and educationally focused process; and developing creative educational initiatives for conflict management," says Simone Himbeault Taylor, associate vice president for student affairs. "With a strong background in campus-community issues, she has presented on such diverse topics as student community, academic integrity, and access to disability services. Schrage's credentials, experience, and especially educational and social justice philosophy toward student conflict management and resolution work are all excellent fits for the University, the Division and OSCR."

"The Division of Student Affairs wishes to acknowledge the work of Kathy McGuire, who served as OSCR's interim director during the transition, and who has graciously agreed to remain with the office as project manager," Himbeault Taylor says.

OSCR will hold an open house 3-5 p.m. Sept. 12, during which the community may welcome Schrage to the University.