Episode 67: Restorative Justice, ADR, and Title IX with Dr. Kaaren Williamsen

Author: Courtney Bullard
Published: Wed 22 Jan 2025
Episode Link: https://thelawandhighered.libsyn.com/restorative-justice-adr-and-title-ix-with-dr-kaaren-williamsen

Leadership is at the heart of every Title IX coordinator's role, making it essential to have a clear vision. This episode, the first in a series on leadership, revisits a past conversation with Dr. Kaaren Williamsen, Director of the Prevention Education, Assistance & Resources (PEAR) unit within the Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office at the University of Michigan. In this insightful discussion, Kaaren offers valuable guidance for Title IX coordinators as they lead efforts on campuses and in districts. She also shares strategies for incorporating restorative justice practices into their work, distinguishing restorative intervention from mediation, and encouraging a broader perspective that prioritizes responsibility. This approach moves beyond simply addressing policy violations to genuinely meeting human needs. Join us as we explore these topics and more.

Key Points From This Episode:

The content of this episode: a replay of a past conversation with the highly experienced Dr. Kaaren Williamsen.
Her professional journey which began at Carlton College.
What her role at the University of Michigan’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center.
Understanding the shared responsibility of creating safe spaces on campus.
Two elements to Kaaren’s concept of restorative justice.
How restorative justice can be incorporated into a formal grievance process.
Adapting to specific needs for justice and accountability on a case-by-case basis.
How choosing a restorative approach empowers Title IX workers.
Reframing an understanding of the processes and their purpose.
Embracing a bigger vision for how to do this work.
Why every Title IX role is a leadership role.
How the entry point to restorative justice in the context of sexual misconduct differs from a mediation process.
The danger of over-emphasizing reporting.
Going beyond addressing a policy violation to address human needs.
Unpacking the ‘both and’ approach.