When Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman addressed this year's tenth cohort of Public Policy Conflict Resolution Fellows at Maryland Carey Law, she shared how being a fellow herself in 2016 when she was a Maryland State Delegate transformed her ability to negotiate with disputing constituents and stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes. Now, as comptroller, she still uses those skills, whether she is settling disputes between agency staff or responding to complaints from taxpayers in the state.
Lessons from the program, Lierman told the 2025 fellows, “guide so much of what I do.”
“Now more than ever,” she added, referring to today’s combative political climate, “having the ability to deal with conflict in a productive way...we then set a standard for those around us.”
Indeed, the goal of the two-day intensive training, collaboratively organized by Maryland Carey Law’s Center for Dispute Resolution (C-DRUM) and the Maryland Judiciary Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO), is larger than teaching individuals to resolve disputes.
“The Fellows Program is inspired by a broad vision of creating a culture of conflict resolution throughout the state of Maryland,” said Maryland Carey Law Vice Dean Deborah Eisenberg, C-DRUM’s faculty director.
Since 2007, the innovative initiative has manifested that vision by bringing together diverse groups of influential Maryland leaders to expand their negotiation, conflict resolution, and consensus-building skills. Graduates take those competencies back to their organizations, agencies, courtrooms, and communities in every corner of the state and apply consensus building and conflict management strategies in their leadership roles.
Offered every two years, the Public Policy Conflict Resolution Fellows program has trained more than 200 Maryland elected officials, judges, commissioners, university presidents, agency secretaries, non-profit executive directors, faith leaders, and others. Through the years, the fellowship has gained popularity and prestige. The first cohort nearly 20 years ago included 14 fellows. This year, there were 27.
High-profile Marylanders such as former U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron; former Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh; Maryland Public Defender Natasha Dartigue; Howard County Executive Calvin B. Ball; and several Maryland mayors are graduates. The education sector has been represented by Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Sonja B. Santelises; Higher Education Secretary James D. Fielder; Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Carey M. Wright, and the presidents of the University of Maryland, Baltimore; Salisbury University; Sojourner Douglas College; Bowie State University; and Cecil Community College.
The Hon. E. Gregory Wells, chief judge of the Appellate Court of Maryland, was a fellow, as was John P. Morrissey, chief judge of Maryland’s District Court. Non-profit leaders include Harsh K. Trivedi, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt Health System; then president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, William C. Baker; and then president and CEO of the United Way of Central Maryland, Mark Furst.
Faculty director of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and director of the Straus Mediation Clinic at Pepperdine, Professor Stephanie Blondell served as trainer and workshop facilitator for this year’s cohort. An expert in applying consensus-building and conflict de-escalation strategies to address complex issues and disputes at the national and local level, Blondell guided the 2025 participants through an array of exercises and simulations designed to equip leaders with tools of cooperation, negotiation, and integrative bargaining to manage even the thorniest conflicts peacefully. A special session focused on leading in polarized times, which responded to a collective sense within the cohort that leading effectively is especially challenging in these divisive times. On day two of the program, the fellows experienced the role of a professional facilitator and applied their new skills in a Maryland-based multi-party simulation.
Fittingly, cooperation is key to the workshop’s success. Sponsored by the Maryland Judiciary; Maryland Carey Law; and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), and co-hosted by Supreme Court of Maryland Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader, UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, and Maryland Carey Law Dean Renée Hutchins Laurent, the program benefits from the combined strength of these people and organizations. Just as important is the on-the-ground work of experts in the Maryland Carey Law Center for Dispute Resolution and the Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office. Staff work together to offer some of the programming and organize the extensive activities associated with the training.
“We are so appreciative of this longstanding partnership between C-DRUM and the Maryland Judiciary,” said Cynthia Jurrius, director of the Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office. “This year marked the tenth offering of the Public Policy Conflict Resolution Fellows Program, and it is highly rewarding to see how the principles of collaborative problem solving have continued to ripple across many sectors throughout the state. Maryland leaders who have participated over the years are carrying these skills into their work, creating lasting, positive impact in our communities, businesses, and institutions.”
Toby Treem Guerin ’02, C-DRUM’s executive director and clinical instructor agrees. “This partnership has enabled us to expand the impact of the Fellows Program beyond the two days.” said Guerin. “We are always excited to work with fellows to offer training and services uniquely tailored to the needs of Maryland’s public policy leaders and look forward to continuing this special collaboration for many years to come.”