St. Charles resident earns Coach of the Year by international mediation organization

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(L to R) Dr. Jim Houlihan celebrates Coach of the Year Award with Ed Stern, who earned the honor previously as coach of Boston University.

ROMEOVILLE, IL (01/10/2014)(readMedia)--  Dr. James Houlihan of St. Charles recently earned Coach of the Year by the InterNational Academy of Dispute Resolution (INADR) for the performance of the Lewis University Mediation teams and quality of the students, both in and outside the competition matches. The professor of Justice, Law and Public Safety Studies and director of the Pre-Law program was honored for his leadership, and ethical and collegial manner.

While presenting the award, Dick Calkins, treasurer and founder of INADR, said Lewis University mediation teams have consistently exhibited the qualities of a peacemaker: cooperation, understanding and creativity.

In the past six years, Lewis University successfully competed in England and Scotland Law School tournaments. During the 2013 season, the Lewis University Mediation Team finished in third and fourth place at the INADR championship competition. Lewis University teams have ranked in the top since their entry into the mediation competitions six years ago under Houlihan's leadership.

The award citation credited Houlihan with the Lewis University students' display of the positive characteristics of a peacemaker: courtesy, civility, fairness and sportsmanship. Houlihan's positive attributes make him a problem solver and harmonized while assisting in competitions. He also has helped teams from other schools that are new to mediation through counseling and advice.

Since Houlihan's election to the INADR Board of Directors in 2010, his leadership has greatly contributed to the success of the organization.

Houlihan is the first individual to be selected Coach of the Year in both Mediation and Mock Trial. He earned the Mock Trial coaching award in spring 2012. He has been coaching the Lewis University Mock Trial since it started in 1996.

Other coaches that assist Houlihan with Mediation include Angela Henderson, attorney at Henderson Law and Mediation Center in Joliet and Joseph Volin, alumnus and assistant director of Lewis Alumni Relations.

Lewis University is a Catholic university in the Lasallian tradition offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 6,600 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected, and socially responsible graduates. The seventh largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.