Dr. LaVena Wilkin is Dean of Conflict Management programs at Sullivan University.  She has been with Sullivan since 1999 when she became an adjunct instructor for the College of Business.  Before joining Sullivan University, Dr. Wilkin spent twenty-six years in the construction industry, and three of those years she co-owned a masonry sub-contracting company, with sales in excess of $2 million annually.

 After selling the construction company in 2001, Dr. Wilkin came to work full-time at Sullivan serving as the Associate Director of the Evening and Weekend Division.  Dr. Wilkin was also the Dean of the College of Business for Sullivan University for three years. 

Since 2008 at Sullivan, she has been:

Dean of Conflict Management Programs

Director, PhD Programs

Dean, PhD and Graduate Management Programs

Currently she is Executive Dean of the College of Business and Technology.

Click here to see her complete CV (Curriculum Vitae).

Dr. Wilkin has made presentations and facilitated workshops on communication, conflict, and change for the following organizations:

• E.A.C.E. From Conflict, Academic Leadership Academy Presentation (October 2023)Speaker, Nova Southeastern University Successful Alumni Series (September 2023)
•  
• Keynote Speaker, Staff Retreat and Professional Development, Sullivan University (August 2023)

• Resolving Conflicts with Students Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Podcast (August 2023)

• Freedom to Choose, Unity of East Louisville (July 2023)

• I am Grateful for P.E.A.C.E, Unity of East Louisville (November 2022)

• Addressing Workplace Bullying, Manousso’s Musings Podcast (November 2022)

• Resolving Conflicts in the Post-Pandemic Workplace, Manousso’s Musings Podcast (October 2022)

• Awareness of Oneness, Unity of East Louisville (July 2022)

• Overcoming Your Fears, Unity of Louisville (May 2022)

• E.A.C.E. From Conflict Presentation, Academic Leadership Academy Presentation (April 2022)

• Love Brings Happiness Motivational Talk, Unity of East Louisville (February 2022)

• Lighting the Way to Peace Motivational Talk, Unity of East Louisville (December 2021)

• Walking in Faith Motivational Talk, Unity of Louisville (November 2021)

• Conscious Living Motivational Talk, Unity of East Louisville (October 2021)

• E.A.C.E. From Conflict Workshop, Licensed Unity Teachers (October 2021)

• E.A.C.E. From Conflict Presentation, Southern Association of Institutional Research (October 2021)

• E.A.C.E. From Conflict Presentation, Sullivan University Faculty Retreat (October 2021)

• Conflict Management Consulting, Louisville Grows (August 2021)

• Creating a More Peaceful Life Motivational Talk, Unity of East Louisville (August 2021)

• E.A.C.E. From Conflict Presentation, Academic Leadership Academy Presentation (April 2021)

• Managing Conflict With Your Dissertation Chair, Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) (February 2021)

• E.A.C.E. From Conflict Presentation, Association of Conflict Resolution – Houston Chapter (February 2021)

• E.A.C.E. From Conflict Presentation, High School Educators – Professional Development (January 2021)

• E.A.C.E. From Conflict Presentation, Academic Leadership Academy Presentation (October 2020)

• Creating Harmony by Using the P.E.A.C.E. Model of Conflict Management, Archdiocese of Louisville Workshop (September 2020)

• Workplace Bullying: What Targets Can Do, Raise Your Voice Podcast (May 2020)

• Introduction to Conflict Management Course Modules, Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) (March 2020)

• Trust and Listening Circles Workshop (February 2020)

• Building Trust Through P.E.A.C.E. Workshop, Unity of Louisville (February 2020)

• E.A.C.E. From Conflict, Center for Non-Profit Excellence Workshop, Louisville, KY (February 2020)

• Healing Through the Power of Forgiveness Talk, Unity of Louisville (January 2020)

• Enlightened Transformation: Transform Your Life Through the Power of Forgiveness Workshop, Unity of Louisville (January 2020)

• Nurturing Workplace Engagement and Motivation Workshop, Education Center, Ft. Knox, Kentucky (January 2020)

• Be the Joy Motivational Talk, Unity of East Louisville (December 2019)

• E.A.C.E. From Conflict Presentation, Sullivan University College of Pharmacy Class (December 2019)

• Feedback and Assessment, Sullivan University Faculty Retreat Presentation (October 2019)

• From Discord to Harmony: Five Strategies for Making Your Workplace Hum Presentation, Kentucky Association of State Financial Aid Administrators (October 2019)

• Conscious Kindness Motivational Talk, Unity of East Louisville (May 2019)

• Warning: Workplace Bullies Can Be Hazardous To Your Health Presentation, Integrating Women Leaders 5^th Annual Conference (April 2019)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict Presentation, Academic Leadership Academy, Eastern Kentucky University (April 2019)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict, Sullivan University Presentation, Admissions and Financial Planning Departments (February 2019)

• Imagine Creating Your Most P.E.A.C.E.(ful) Life Motivational Talk, Unity of East Louisville (December 2018)

• Conflict and Communication Presentation, Sullivan University College of Pharmacy (December 2018)

• Key Note Speaker Sigma Beta Delta Induction Ceremony (October 2018)

• What If: Don’t Let Worry Rob You of Your Joy Motivational Talk, Unity of East Louisville, Louisville, KY – Available on YouTube at Unity of East Louisville Channel (August 2018)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict Presentation, FireKing Security Group, New Albany, IN (July 2018)

• Visualize Your Research: Mind Mapping Your Research Questions Presentation, Sullivan University PhD Student Retreat, Louisville, KY (July 2018)

• Maneuvering the Advisory Committee Relationship Presentation, Sullivan University PhD Student Retreat, Louisville, KY (July 2018)

• Enlightened Transformation: Transforming Our Lives Through the Power of Forgiveness Motivational Talk, Unity of East Louisville, Louisville, KY - Available on YouTube at Unity of East Louisville Channel (May 2018)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict Presentation, Academic Leadership Academy, Frankfort, KY (April 2018)

• Finding Your Style: How the Way We Engage in Conflicts Influences their Outcomes Presentation, Duke Energy, Cincinnati, OH (March 2018)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict, Society for Human Resource Managers Presentation, Heart of Kentucky Chapter, Campbellsville, KY (February 2018)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict Presentation, Sullivan University, College of Pharmacy (December 2017)

• Key Note Speaker Sigma Beta Delta Induction Ceremony (October 2017)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict Presentation, Academic Leadership Academy, Wilmore, KY (October 2017)

• Dissertation Defense Guidelines (co-presenter), Sullivan University, PhD Student Retreat (July 2017)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict Presentation, Sullivan University Northern Kentucky Center for Learning (February 2017)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict Workshop, Unity of East Louisville (February 2017)

• Communication and Collaborative Skills Presentation, Sullivan University, College of Pharmacy (November 2016)

• Workplace Bullying: Addressing the Antecedents and Outcomes Presentation, The Governor’s Equal Employment Opportunity Conference (October 2016)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict, Presentation Sullivan University Northern Kentucky Center for Learning (October 2016)

• Louisville Downtown Partnership Workshop, Conflict Management Workshop (May 2016)

• Conflict and Communication Workshop, Team Building for Sullivan University Admissions, Financial Planning, and Career Services (May 2016)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict Presentation, Academic Leadership Academy, Lexington, KY (April 2016)

• Emerging Fields in Education Presentation, Southern Association of Schools Commission on Colleges (December 2015)

• Conflict Management 101 Presentation, Sullivan University College of Pharmacy (December 2015)

• Conflict Management 101 Presentation, Sullivan University Applications Support (October 2015)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict Presentation, Academic Leadership Academy, Danville, KY (September 2015)
•  
• Principles of Conflict Management Presentation Central Kentucky Society of Human Resource Managers, Danville, Kentucky (August 2015)

• Dealing With Difficult People Presentation, Raymond James/CPA Seminar, Lexington, Kentucky (April 2015).

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict: What Does Style Have To Do With It? Presentation, Sullivan University College of Pharmacy (December 2014)

• Dealing With Conflict: Practice P.E.A.C.E.© Presentation, Active Heroes (June 2014)

• From Discord to Harmony: Managing Conflict in Your Workplace Presentation, Society of Human Resource Managers, Lexington, Kentucky (June 2014)

• A.R.M.O.N.Y.: Learning to Communicate Workshop, Unity of East Louisville Annual Retreat (June 2014)

• Managing Difficult People Presentation, Sullivan University Lexington Graduate School Open House (May 2014)

• Managing Difficult People Presentation, Sullivan University Louisville Graduate School Open House (May 2014)

• Greetings from the Faculty, Sullivan University Spring Commencement Ceremony (April 2014)

• Recognizing and Preventing the Damage Caused by Workplace Incivility Presentation, The University of Louisville, Delphi Center (April 2014)

• The Emotionally Intelligent Leader Presentation, National Guards Yellow Ribbon Event, Cynthiana, Kentucky (April 2014)

• Conflict and Violence Presentation, University of Louisville School of Psychiatric Medicine, Diversity Day (March 2014)

• When Bullies Wear Suits: Managing Conflicts at Work Presentation, Sullivan University Louisville Graduate School Open House (February 2014)

• When Bullies Wear Suits: Managing Conflicts at Work Presentation, Sullivan University Lexington Graduate School Open House (February 2014)

• Guest on Joe Elliott AM 970 Radio Show discussing Conflict Management (January 2014)

• Teaching P.E.A.C.E.© Presentation, Fern Creek Rotary Club, (December 2013)

• Principles of Conflict Management Presentation, Sullivan University Ft. Knox Campus Open House (November 2013)

• How to Work With Difficult People Presentation, University of Louisville, Department of Academic Advising (August 2013)
•  
• Relationship Detoxification – Incivility at Work Presentation, University of Louisville, Ground Rounds Session for Department of OB/GYN and Women’s Health (August 2013)

• From Discord to Harmony: How to Make Your Workplace Hum Presentation, Sullivan University Lexington, Graduate School (August 2013)

• From Discord to Harmony: How to Make Your Workplace Hum Presentation, Sullivan University Louisville, Graduate School (August 2013)

• Workplace Bullying: The Silent Epidemic, Presentation University of Louisville, Campus Climate Committee (July 2013)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict: What Does Style Have To Do With It?, Presentation Sullivan University – Lexington Campus (June 2013)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict Presentation, Sullivan University, Admissions Department (April 2013)

• Women Business Owners: How Earning A Graduate Degree Helped Us Become Entrepreneurs Presentation, Visiting Students from United Arab Emirates, Sullivan University, Co-Presented with Kim Castle (April 2013)

• Conflict Styles and Communication Presentation, Agile Project Management Users Group, Farm Credit Bank (January 2013)

• Emotional Intelligence: A Key Leadership Skill, Sullivan University, Leadership Team, Co-Presented with Dr. Stephen Coppock, (February 2013)

• Emotional Intelligence: A Key Leadership Skill Presentation, Sullivan University, College of Pharmacy (February 2013)

• The P.E.A.C.E© Model: Exploring Peace through Conflict Presentation, University of Louisville, Grand Rounds Presentation, (December 2012)

• Dealing With Difficult People: What Does Style Have to Do With It? Presentation, Sullivan University, College of Pharmacy (November 2012)

• Teaching P.E.A.C.E.© Presentation, Louisville Sunrise Rotary Club, (November 2012)

• Using The Thomas Kilman Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) for Team Building Workshop, Sullivan University, Global Online Financial Planning Department (November, 2012)

• E.A.C.E.© From Conflict Presentation, Sullivan University Leadership Institute (October 2012)

• Conflict and Communication Presentation, Sullivan University College of Pharmacy Preceptors’ Conference (July 2012)

• Enlightened Transformation: Transform Your Life Through the Power of Forgiveness Workshop, Unity Church of Middletown (June 2012)

• Workplace Bullying: Confronting the Silent Epidemic Webinar (May 2012)

• Communication, Perceptions, and Conflict Styles: The Triangle of Conflict Management Presentation, Global e-Learning, Sullivan University (April 2012)

• Workplace Bullying: Cost, Consequences, and Coping Strategies Presentation, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, Guest Lecturer, (March 2012)

• Successful Retention Strategies: A Case Study for Retention Webinar, Campus Management, (February 2012)

• Principles of Conflict Management Presentation, Sullivan University College of Pharmacy Annual Preceptors Conference (February 2012)

• Forgiveness through P.E.A.C.E, Guest on blog talk radio show hosted by the Texas Conflict Coach (November 2012)

• Conflict Management and Conflict Styles: How Knowing Your Style Helps Productively Manage Conflicts, Communication and Collaborative Solutions Presentation – First Year Pharmacy Students (November 2011)

• Workplace Bullying: The Link Between Incivility, Bullying, and Violence Presentation, American Society for Industrial Security (November 2011)

• Workplace Bullying: Causes, Effects, and Coping Strategies Presentation, North American Council for Staff, Program, and Organizational Development Annual Conference (October 2011)

• Kentucky Bar Association – Pursuing Justice in the 21^st Century – One of four panelists – Roundtable discussion on Effective Mediation Techniques (June 2011)

• Conflict and Negotiation: Leading through Conflict Presentation, Kentucky Pharmacy Residency Networking Group  (July 2011)

• Conflict and Communication Presentation, In-Service for College of Pharmacy Faculty (March 2011)

• Workplace Bullying: Addressing Bullying Behaviors in Academe Presentation, Spencerian College (January 2011)

• The Art of Negotiation Workshop, Sullivan University College of Pharmacy (July 2009)

• Conflict Resolution Workshop, Alcan Aluminum (April 2009)

• Conflict Management Consulting, Appalachian Regional Health Care (February 2009)

• Conflict Resolution Train the Trainer Class, the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana (September through December 2009)

• Conflict Resolution Workshop, Altuglas Chemical Company, Louisville, KY (August 2008)

• Conflict Resolution Workshop, Zirmed (April 2007 and July 2007)

• Conflict Resolution Workshop, TMP Computer Systems (January 2007)

• Sullivan Active Learning Techniques (SALT) Train the Trainer, Sullivan University faculty and Louisville Technical Institute Faculty (March 2006)

• DACUM facilitator for Hospitality and Construction Management Concentration programs at Sullivan University

• Workshop facilitator for Diversity Seminar for Sullivan University (September 2005)

• Basic Mediation Skills Trainer for the International Center for Dispute Resolution (June 2005)

• Seminar trainer for the Ford Motor Company Louisville, Kentucky (September – October 2005)

• Conflict Management and Conflict Styles Presentation, American Red Cross (November 2010)

• Workplace Bullying in Academe Presentation, Sullivan University Faculty Retreat (November 2010)

• Conflict and Communication Presentation, Sullivan University College of Pharmacy (November 2009 and December 2010)

• International Conference of Education Research and Training Institute of East Aegean, Samos Island Greece, Title: Workplace Bullying: A Multi-faceted Approach for Management to Address Bullying in Today’s Organizations - Paper Co-written with Alexia Georgakopoulos and Brianna Kent.  Paper was presented by Dr. Georgakopoulos (July 2010). 

• The Psychology Research Unit of the Athens Institute for Education and Research, Title: Workplace Bullying: A Case Study Presented with Conflict Resolution Graduate Students in Problem Solving Facilitation Sessions – Paper Co-written with Alexia Georgakopoulos, Faculty Advisor.  Paper was presented by Dr. Georgakopoulos (August 2008) 

• From Discord to Harmony: Making Your Workplace Hum Presentation, Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants (September 2008)

• Facilitating Change Seminar Presentation, Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union (March 2008)

• Workplace Bullying Seminar, Sullivan University (March 2008)

• The Southern Industrial Relations and Human Resources Conference. Title:  Bullying and the Right to Dignity at Work (October 2006)

• Conflict Resolution Seminar for the Department of Juvenile Justice L.E.A.D. (July 2004 and July 2005) 

• The Handbook of Organizational Conflict Management, Editors: LaVena Wilkin and Yashwant Pathak, DeGruyter Publishing (April 2023)

• Book Chapter: From Disruption to Connection: How Mindful Conflict Management Builds Bridges During the Pandemic and Beyond, Back to a New Normal: In Search of Stability in an Era of Pandemic Disruption - Insights from Practitioners and Academics (March 2022)

• From Discord to Harmony: Making Your Workplace Hum, Editors:  LaVena Wilkin, PhD and Tony Belak, JD, Information Age Publishing (March 2020)

• Book Chapter: Mediation As a Tool for Resolving Workplace Conflicts, The Handbook of Mediation (Published February 2017)

• Organizational Conflicts: Challenges and Solutions, Editors: Yashwant Pathak, PhD and LaVena Wilkin, PhD (2011)

• Georgakopoulos, A., Wilkin, L., Kent, B. Workplace Bullying is a Complex Problem that should be Addressed by Contemporary Organizations, International Journal of Business and Social Sciences (2011)

• Business First, Consult the Expert Column (Quarterly)

• The Toxic Workplace, The Lane Report (December 2010), Interviewed by Judi Bailey for her article on workplace bullying.

Dr. Wilkin’s Educational Achievements 

Dr. Wilkin earned her associate, bachelors, and master’s degrees from Sullivan, where she was a member of the charter MBA class. Dr. Wilkin earned her PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.   Her dissertation topic was workplace bullying in academe.  In addition to workplace bullying, her conflict-related research interests include forgiveness, communication, facilitation, organizational conflict, conflict and change, and interpersonal conflict management. 

P.E.A.C.E. From Conflict

Services Offered by Dr. LaVena Wilkin

One-hour Sessions - $250

Dealing with Difficult People

What Does Style Have to do with It?  This one-hour session provides a brief overview of the costs of conflict, conflict styles, and the P.E.A.C.E. Model of Conflict Management 

P.E.A.C.E. From Conflict

This session can be presented as a one-hour overview of how to use the P.E.A.C.E. Model to manage unproductive conflicts.  It can also be extended to a one-half day interactive workshop. 

Relationship Detoxification – Incivility at Work

This session  can be a one-hour presentation on conflict management and workplace bullying. It can also be extended to a one-half day interactive workshop. 

Two-hour Sessions - $400

From Discord to Harmony: Managing Conflict in Your Workplace - This two –hour session includes the basics of Dealing with Difficult People and includes interactive exercises. 

Enlightened Transformation: Transform Your Life Through the Power of Forgiveness - This  two-hour workshop focuses on why it is important to forgive and what steps to take to release anger, blame, and resentment. 

Conflict and Negotiation: Leading through Conflict - This two-hour interactive workshop teaches negotiation skills and how they are useful for leaders who are facing conflicts in their organizations.

Which Came First the Conflict or the Change

This session helps leaders learn to manage conflicts through change. 

Half-day or Full day Sessions - $250 per hour 

Facilitating Conflicts: Using the Problem-solving Model to Manage Conflicts - This session provides practical experience for managers to learn how to incorporate facilitation as a conflict management tool.  

Employee Engagement: Capturing the Hearts and Minds of Employees. - This interactive workshop teaches the benefits and the strategies of capturing the hearts and minds of employees to increase employee engagement.