The ABA Dispute Resolution Section recently awarded the D’Alemberte Raven Award to Susan Yates. Susan is incredibly deserving of this award.

As Andrea Schneider previously posted, Susan Yates to receive D’Alemberte/Raven Award, Susan is a wonderful choice and an amazing resource in the dispute resolution world. She helped found Resolution Systems Inc. (RSI) and has worked diligently as their Executive Director for many years to promote dispute resolution research, programming and system design.

The award is given in recognition of: “development of new and innovative programs, demonstrated improvements in service and demonstrated improvements in efficiency, research and published writings and development of continuing education programs.”

Susan has exceeded the threshold in all of these areas. She has led brainstorming sessions, developed workshops and helped her team to create, monitor and revise dispute resolution systems for court programs across the country. She has developed and supported RSI’s research teams as they design studies, analyze data and create and evaluate numerous programs. Susan has authored or co-authored two books, designed multiple studies and written many articles on ADR in addition to creating training programs. Susan has mediated in multiple subject areas and has served as an adjunct at DePaul, Loyola and Northwestern Universities in Chicago.

Susan gave an inspiring acceptance speech in San Diego that encapsulated how and why she has been so successful and admired. She gave examples of how other people and events shaped her life and career and encouraged her audience to get involved in a variety of ways by speaking to classes, going to and participating in conferences, inviting other to join your projects, and hiring good folks to work with you, even if it may be limited in some way. She followed this blueprint and it has paid off for her, for RSI and for all of the people and programs that she has impacted over her long career. Kudos to Susan and for the section for giving her this award.