Circle Keepers
What is a Circle Keeper?
Circle keepers are Bryn Mawr College faculty and staff who are trained in the restorative practice style of conflict mediation. They serve as the leaders in the RP process and work individually and in teams to support our community.
When engaging in the RP process, you may request a specific Circle Keeper to assist you. However, it is not guaranteed that the individual you request will be able to lead your RP process. Reasons for this include scheduling, a Circle Keeper’s ability to stay neutral, and personal relationships between all members and the Circle Keeper.
How to Become a Circle Keeper
Our staff and faculty circle keepers are trained through the International Institute of Restorative Practice. This highly rated international training center offers professional development and graduate school education. The multi-day training took place over the summer, and there are plans for additional training with IIRP throughout the year. Circle Keepers meet throughout the academic year to refine skills, discuss challenges, and learn better ways to support our community. Circle Keepers must participate in DEI programs on campus, such as the Dialogue Project.
Interested in becoming a circle keeper?
Just so you know, for Fall 2024, there are no openings for additional circle keepers. If you are interested in becoming a circle keeper in the future, please consider working with us as an ambassador.
How to Become an Ambassador
The ambassador role will allow you to take part in shorter trainings during the year to learn about restorative practice, understand and help educate our community on RP on campus, and take part in inclusive decision-making about what RP on campus can look like as the program grows. All members of our community are encouraged and welcome to participate as ambassadors. We hope to have all aspects of our community represented in this role.
Interested in becoming an ambassador?
Meet our Circle Keepers
Rose Miller
Campus Safety and Student Support Liaison
Pronouns: she/they
Why did you get involved with the RP program at BMC?
I got involved because it is essential to focus conflict and mediation on growth instead of punitive measures. During my MSW, I was able to work in a school setting that relied on restorative justice and saw the positive effects that this model offered the students.
How would you describe your conflict and mediation style in 3 terms?
My style is active listening, apologies, and ownership of actions.
What does a typical evening look like for you?
A typical evening is cooking a meal for my household, gardening or walking, playing evening video games, and cat cuddling.
What do you do to calm down when you are angry?
When I am angry, I take a shower to relax and be able to participate better in the conversation.
Jennifer Coval
Student Success Librarian
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Please describe your role.
I do programming and outreach build relationships with students and connect them to library resources.
Why did you join the program?
I became involved in the RP program so I can learn effective ways to build relationships through meaningful engagement. Healthy dialogue and active listening are tools that can benefit us not only in times of conflict but as we navigate through everyday life.
How would you describe your conflict and mediation style in 3 terms?
resolution-seeking, compromising, conversational
What does a typical evening look like?
I generally have busy evenings - cooking dinner, driving my kids to their activities, helping with homework, walking my dog, squeezing in Jeopardy, then reading in bed.
What do you do to calm down when you’re upset?
When I am angry or frustrated, I need to remove myself and redirect my thoughts and energy. I need physical activity so I might walk or clean or garden as a way of recentering.
Joi Dallas
Assistant Dean for Intercultural Engagement
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Please describe your role.
I provide program leadership and manage the daily operations of the ECC. Additionally, in collaboration with Team Impact, I help to provide and promote diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism (DEIA) programming.
Why did you join the program?
During the Strike of 2020, students expressed interest in seeing more restorative practices incorporated into college culture.
How would you describe your conflict and mediation style in 3 terms?
Measured, Reflective, Intentional
What does a typical evening look like?
If I'm not on campus supporting evening programming, I'm at home with family.
What do you do to calm down when you’re upset?
Take deep breaths.
Sara Donals
Assistant Director of Student Support Services
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Please describe your role.
Student Support Services provides a supportive and empowering pathway to connect students in distress to 1-1 support, guidance, and comprehensive resources.
Why did you join the program?
I got involved with the RP program at BMC so I could contribute to supporting our community through a practice that allows for listening, healing, supportive accountability, and pathways for moving forward, while fostering trust and psychological safety.
How would you describe your conflict and mediation style in 3 terms?
Active listening, vulnerability, and validation.
What does a typical evening look like?
Spending time with my family, usually that is us enjoying a delicious meal together that my spouse made, playing, dancing, and reading with my daughter and watching a favorite show.
What do you do to calm down when you’re upset?
When I am upset or overwhelmed, I self-reflect on my experience, emotions, and needs and talk through it with a trusted support.
Akirah Fenimore
Assistant Dean of the Senior Experience
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Please describe your role.
I provide high impact academic and co-curricular advising to students. I assist seniors in identifying appropriate resources and help support them in the successful completion of their degree.
Why did you join the program?
I am involved in the RP program at BMC to help facilitate meaningful dialogue that helps identify areas for growth and actionable steps to improve relationships amongst the Bryn Mawr Community.
How would you describe your conflict and mediation style in 3 terms?
Collaborative, Empathetic, and Holistic
What does a typical evening look like?
Spending time with my family!
What do you do to decompress?
I enjoy going for walks, reading books, and talking to family and friends to help quiet my mind and decompress!
Dean Richie Gebauer
Dean of Student Success
Pronouns: He/him/his
Please describe your role.
To create a culture where our students can thrive academically while also feeling fulfilled in all other aspects of their lives at and beyond the college. Through advising, programming, and mentorship, our student success team is dedicated to supporting them in their holistic journey.
Why did you join the program?
Becoming involved in RP seems critical in our effort to engage with each other, as colleagues, and with our students to navigate complex moments and challenges.
What does a typical evening look like for you?
Spending time with my family and watching the Phillies and Sixers (depending on the season).
What do you do to calm down when you’re upset?
I do my best to practice deep breathing and, typically, step away from a situation (when angry or frustrated) to allow myself to calm emotionally. This allows me to return with my whole self-present in a way that is rational and appropriate for the situation.
Melissa Giess
Assistant Dean of the Sophomore Experience
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Please describe your role.
I provide academic advising and support to the Sophomore class and facilitate the completion of the Sophomore Plan for all students by the end of their second year.
Why did you join the program?
I have a background in restorative practices and interest in supporting implementing these practices in this community.
How would you describe your conflict and mediation style in 3 terms?
I aim to center listening, empathy, and compassion.
What do you do to decompress?
I love to read, especially at the end of a tough day. I'm also a big fan of taking a walk to change my perspective.
Quanisha Green
Associate Director, Center for Professional Development
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Please describe your role.
I oversee our leadership development programs for social sector professionals.
Why did you join the program?
I got involved because I was interested in learning more just approaches to handling conflict and fostering community at Bryn Mawr College.
How would you describe your conflict and mediation style in 3 terms?
Active Listening, Assuming Good Intent, and allowing space for all voices.
What does a typical evening look like?
As a mom, my typical evening consist of parenting duties. When I have time, I also enjoy a good book or watching Netflix.
What do you do to calm down when you’re upset?
What I do to calm down when I'm angry is I walk away to gather myself. I take deep breaths and try to detach myself from the situation so I can see it clearly.
Beth Kotarski
Director of Health Services
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Please describe your role.
Direct the health and wellness operations of students on campus
Why did you join the program?
I got involved in RJ at Bryn Mawr because it is central to the work of healthy community-building.
How would you describe your conflict and mediation style in 3 terms?
empathic, facilitative, neutral
What do you do to calm down when you’re upset?
Talk with trusted friend, write in my diary, or plan a fun weekend away
Candice Love
Director of the Impact Center for Community, Equity, and Understanding
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Please describe your role.
Provide program leadership and manage the daily operations of The Impact Center. Develop and promote workshops and events surrounding diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism (DEIA) for campus constituents through the Impact Center.
Why did you join the program?
So that I may effectively support students and staff members resolve conflict.
How would you describe your conflict and mediation style in 3 terms?
My conflict resolution style is to be compassionate, neutral, and maintain clarity for myself and the parties.
What does a typical evening look like?
A typical evening is sitting on my porch, relaxing in my rocking chair, and enjoying nature.
What do you do to calm down when you are angry?
When I am angry, I take a bike ride or walk the Perkiomen Trail.
Baru Roberson-Hornsby
Assistant Dean of the Junior Experience
Pronouns: he/him/his
Please describe your role.
As Assistant Dean for the Junior Experience, I support and advise the entire junior class.
Why did you join the program?
Restorative practices are very valuable tools to use when facing confrontation.
How would you describe your conflict and mediation style in 3 terms?
Relational, transformative, and empathetic
What does a typical evening look like?
Unwinding from the day of work, focusing on my personal relationships with family and friends.
What do you do to calm down when you’re upset?
When I am anxious about something: I tend to run through various scenarios in my mind on how to approach that situation this way I feel more prepared when encountering it.
Joanna Timmerman
Assistant Director of Access Services
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Please describe your role.
I work with students, faculty, and staff to address institutionally-created barriers to access for people with disabilities on campus. Most of my time is spent with students facilitating academic and residential accommodations.
Why did you join the program?
I was fortunate enough to start at BMC around the time that this program was recruiting facilitators, and it was an opportunity that I absolutely jumped on. I think that RP is so important in how we build community and address conflict in a way that strengthens our relationships. I'm very grateful and humbled to be in these spaces with students at BMC.
How would you describe your conflict and mediation style in 3 terms?
Three terms to describe my style: emotional, collaborative, and empowering.
What does a typical evening look like?
In the evenings, I'm typically walking or hiking with my dog, participating in one of my many low-stakes book clubs, and/or watching a light-hearted movie or TV show.
What do you do to calm down when you’re upset?
When I'm angry or upset, I really like to go outside and be in nature in some capacity. I typically will walk it out for a bit and then find a spot where I can observe some stillness to process before re-entering the situation.