Our Team

Director

Ben Cook is an associate professor at the J. Reuben Clark Law School and director of the Center for Conflict Resolution. He teaches courses on negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution, and is certified as an Arbinger Institute facilitator. He is a Utah court-qualified mediator, and has developed and delivered workshops on dispute resolution in cities across the United States and in various countries. Ben trained as a mediator through the Harvard Mediation Program, and has taught negotiation at the Harvard Negotiation Institute.

Assistant Director

Emily Taylor is the assistant director at the Center for Conflict Resolution. A BYU graduate, Emily later earned master’s degrees from the University of Chicago (international policy) and the University of Denver (conflict resolution). As a mediator, author, and conflict coach, Emily enjoys presenting on and teaching about conflict resolution topics both on and off campus.

CCR Fellow

Grace Johnson is a third-year student at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU. As a law student, she participates with a variety of campus law organizations including: the Student Bar Association, Women in Law, and Trial Advocacy. As a trained mediator, she has worked in the Utah Valley Small Claims Courts and even won the J. Reuben Clark Negotiation Competition. She is excited to work with both students, landlords, and community members to help resolve conflict through alternative dispute resolution processes.

CCR Fellow

Gary Nielsen is a third-year student at BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School. With a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from BYU’s Marriott School of Business, Gary’s interests in litigation and systems intersect in alternative dispute resolution. Gary’s study of negotiation, mediation, and dispute systems design give him a diverse set of skills to help individuals find amicable solutions outside of court.