Manage 
As legal counsel, consultant and university president, Kathleen has over two decades of experience in providing consultation, professional development training, leadership coaching and dispute resolution services to clients across the country. She is considered to be a highly valued thought partner to governing boards, colleges, universities and other organizations in the development and implementation of strategic initiatives – providing in-depth assistance and insight regarding the management of operations relating to a wide range of issues, including board governance; strategic planning and budget management; student affairs; employment relations and human resources; shared governance; risk management and legal compliance; and constituency development.
As a dispute resolution practitioner, Kathleen has facilitated or mediated some of the most serious and complex issues organizations and their leaders face, assisting them in the (a) identification of the factors that contribute to organizational or departmental conflict; and (b) utilization of creative and practical tools to improve interpersonal communications and better manage conflict over the long term in order to ensure the ongoing implementation of strategic goals.
In addition to her work with individual colleges, universities and other organizations, Kathleen is regularly requested to present at regional and national professional association conferences on the wide range of legal and strategic issues that impact organizational effectiveness and success. Kathleen’s work also has been recognized through the award of the Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) in 2017, recognition as a Life Member of NACUA for her contributions to the law in Higher Education in 2019, and by the Milwaukee Business Journal as a Woman of Influence for Education Leadership in 2019.
Kathleen was awarded a Bachelor of Arts, Juris Doctor and Masters in Dispute Resolution (MDR) from Marquette University. With her MDR, Kathleen’s focus has been on conflict coaching, professional development for organizational leadership, and the design of dispute resolution systems and tools for colleges, universities and other nonprofit organizations. Kathleen also was awarded a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Chicago.
Kathleen had the honor of serving Justice Janine P. Geske (Ret.) for two terms at the Wisconsin Supreme Court and served as a member and Chair of the Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bard of Wisconsin.
A list of presentations and publications is available upon request.
Kathleen can be reached at [email protected] or (847) 220-1863.