Developing Research-Based Programming for Everyday Negotiation Skills Development for Non-Traditional Learners
- Conference Year
- Online Northwest 2026
- Session
- 1
- Type
- Breakout Session
- Presenters
- Beth Filar Williams, Oregon State University
- Laura Rees, Oregon State University
- Meghna Sanjara Rao, Oregon State University
- Abstract
Most of us do not have the opportunity to learn the critical everyday skill of negotiation, a key to community building – for connecting, communicating, collaborating, and effectively resolving conflicts when they arise. Typically fewer than 1% of university students have the opportunity to develop this skill. This presentation is sharing initial results and ongoing work from an interdisciplinary team working to establish a self-sustaining initiative, The Hub for Everyday Negotiation, to have an international reputation for research and training excellence, providing resources, accessible training, and research scholarship opportunities surrounding negotiation topics. More specifically, The Hub will offer science-based education, training, and resources for deserving populations that currently have little to no access to high-quality negotiation and conflict management preparation while fostering the development and publication of novel conceptual and empirical research. In this session, we will introduce our long-term vision, share initial findings and outreach efforts, and preview future steps. Dr. Laura Rees, negotiation expert will give a short introduction to the field of negotiation research and practice, including key terms, tactics, and tips for negotiation in daily life. Then the full team will share our preliminary research and future ideas, along with the challenges of working across disciplines and institutions as well as what role libraries in particular can have in this kind of work.