Roy Crenshaw

Video Transcript

Hello, I'm Roy Crenshaw. I'm 55 years old and executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Manhattan, Kansas, and I'm a Wildcat. Currently, I'm the executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Manhattan. I'm also a regional director for Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters for the north region. I currently have two boys I'm matched with from Paxico, Kansas, in Wabaunsee County, David and Jordan. We try to get together every week and do different things. A lot of times, I will go to their school, I'll have lunch with them and go to some of their classes. And then during the summer, we do more activities that are a little more light-hearted.

How did you learn about K-State's Conflict Resolution Program?

My daughter Valeri was in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Kansas State and was talking to me about this mediation process and how she was thinking about going and encouraged me to attend and I did. And I participated in it all summer and that really lead to my key interest in a more formal mediation process and the potential in a master's certificate program.

How has the program enhanced your career?

I have been able to do a much better job of managing the conflict that is in so many of the families that we work with in Big Brothers Big Sisters. I think everybody is aware of conflict around the world, but a lot of people, I think, are unaware of how much conflict there is in the communities in which we live and work. And when you learn about real mediation and you learn the methodology, you learn the process, you learn the statements, you learn the positions and the interests that people have, you'll be able to really start helping them resolve the conflict.

How has the program benefited Valeri?

Valeri: I'm pleasantly surprised by how helpful the mediation process and learning about formal mediation—how helpful it's been with my job. I think the biggest thing that's been helpful is the idea that it's a win–win situation; it's not one person wins, one person loses. It's, Let's go through this process and figure out how to make a win–win situation.

Would you recommend the program to others?

I would strongly recommend anyone, everyone, to enroll in this program, regardless if you're in the corporate world, the non-profit world, if you're in the social services, if you're a teacher, if you're a parent, learning a process of methodology that would help you manage conflict—it's just invaluable.

Quick Facts about the Conflict Resolution Certificate Program

Degree: Graduate certificate
Or non-degree undergraduate certificate
Description: Academic study of conflict analysis and resolution
Course delivery: Online
Application requirements: Graduate certificate: bachelor's degree; admission to K-State Graduate School
Undergraduate certificate: high school diploma
Completion requirements: 12 credit hours

Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution
Manhattan, Kansas

As an executive director with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Roy works daily with families in conflict. After learning about a new program to teach professionals formal processes for mediating conflict, Roy thought it would be very useful in his job – and for his daughter Valeri, who works in Kansas City as a marriage and family therapist.