Columbia University Professor Peter T. Coleman is a world-renowned expert in the field of conflict resolution; researching, writing, practicing, and teaching on it for over 20 years. His work as a scientist, educator, mediator, and organizational conflict consultant set the stage for Making Conflict Work.

Dr. Coleman holds a Ph.D. in Social/Organizational Psychology from Columbia University, where he today serves as Professor of Psychology and Education and holds a joint appointment in Social-Organizational Psychology at Teachers College and at The Earth Institute.

Dr. Coleman teaches courses in conflict resolution, social psychology, and social science research, and is Director of the Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution at Teachers College, Columbia University, Chair of Columbia University’s Advanced Consortium on Cooperation, Conflict, and Complexity (AC⁴), and a research affiliate of the International Center for Complexity and Conflict at The Warsaw School for Social Psychology in Warsaw, Poland.

In 2003, he became the first recipient of the Early Career Award from the American Psychological Association, Division 48: Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence and is a founding member of the United Nations Academic Advisory Council on Mediation. Dr. Coleman edits the award-winning Handbook of Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice (2000; 2006; 2014) and his other books include The Five Percent: Finding Solutions to Seemingly Impossible Conflicts (2011), Conflict, Justice, and Interdependence: The Legacy of Morton Deutsch (2011), Psychological Components of Sustainable Peace (2012), and Attracted to Conflict: Dynamic Foundations of Destructive Social Relations (2013). He has also authored over 80 journal articles and chapters, and is a New York State certified mediator.

Robert Ferguson has practiced psychology and executive coaching for twenty years and is associated with Raleigh Consulting Group in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina.  He helps executives, managers, and entrepreneurs resolve conflicts and effectively influence individuals and teams. He has presented hundreds of workshops to companies and universities, and has taught graduate levels courses. He is also a professional speaker and author of several books.

His consulting work includes:

• Coaching executives, managers and team leaders
• Conducting leadership development programs, including conflict resolution in organizations
• Developing individuals and teams toward their full potential
• Assessment of leadership versatility, conflict competence, and other dimensions of effective leadership