Kristen Blankley

Professor Blankley joined the faculty in 2010. She received her B.A. in History and Political Science and graduated summa cum laude from Hiram College, and she received her J.D. from The Ohio State University, Mortiz College of Law, and graduating first in her class. After law school, Professor Blankley served as a law clerk on the Sixth and Eighth Circuits and worked at the Columbus, Ohio office of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, LLP (now Squire Patton Boggs).

Professor Blankley teaches Alternative Dispute Resolution, Advocacy in Mediation, Mediation, Family Mediation, Arbitration, Facilitation, and Legal Professions. She first became interested in the field of alternative dispute resolution while in law school, where she earned a Certificate in Dispute Resolution. Her research has largely focused on the crossroads of alternative dispute resolution and ethics and on contemporary issues in arbitration law. Professor Blankley is an active member of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution. She was appointed as a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Council in 2016. Additionally, she serves on the American Bar Association Law School Division Arbitration Competitions Committee, which oversees the annual law school Arbitration Competition. Professor Blankley is also a practicing mediator and arbitrator in Nebraska.

Professor Blankley also instituted and coaches the Nebraska Mediation Competition for students. This competition teaches students how to be effective mediators and advocates for their clients in mediation.

Professor Blankley sits on the Board of Directors of The Mediation Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. She is a past member of the Board of Directors and former Board President of the Nebraska Mediation Association. She also serves as the Secretary of the Advisory Council for the Nebraska Office of Dispute Resolution. Professor Blankley currently sits as a co-chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution Subcommittee on Ethics.

Professor Blankley has experience as an arbitrator and mediator. She is a member of the FINRA Roster of arbitrators, for consumer and employment cases in the area of securities. She mediates in a wide variety of disputes, including civil, family, collective bargaining, and workplace disputes. She is also an approved Parenting Act Mediator in Nebraska.