“Keep a straight face.” “You can’t show emotion.” “Don’t acknowledge one person’s side.” As an investigator, I’ve heard these things a lot over the years from folks who are really enthusiastic about “neutrality.” The general pitch is usually some version of the idea that, by acknowledging an individual’s perspective, you are giving it credibility and,Continue reading “Empathy, Neutrality, and Bias in Investigations”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Data in Title IX and Civil Rights Offices
For anyone who’s worked with me, you know this already: data integrity is one of my soapboxes. Good data isn’t just administrative housekeeping. It’s strategic. Even in smaller or low-volume operations, clean, consistent data: In other words, it protects people—and institutions. Where should you start? I’d love to say, “Buy a case management system.” SometimesContinue reading “Data in Title IX and Civil Rights Offices”
Title IX in 2026: When Enforcement Priorities Do Not Reflect Compliance Obligations
In 2025, The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) resolved zero Title IX matters and zero race discrimination cases after President Trump took office. While this might suggest education institutions can take a deep breath when it comes to implementing their policies, that sentiment couldn’t be further from the truth. Despite the many changesContinue reading “Title IX in 2026: When Enforcement Priorities Do Not Reflect Compliance Obligations”
From Title IX to FCPA, what your investigations say about overall compliance
What can your investigations function say about the overall health of your compliance program? Turns out: A lot. Whether you’re dealing with human subjects research, civil rights or Title IX, conflicts of interest, or FCPA matters, your investigations (or dispute resolution) systems can be a goldmine of insight into how well you’re really living upContinue reading “From Title IX to FCPA, what your investigations say about overall compliance”
Dispute System Design
“Just fix the problem!”Sound familiar? That’s often the rallying cry from leadership when disputes arise. But for large or growing organizations—or communities navigating new kinds of friction—diving straight into “fix-it” mode can backfire. Sometimes, the smartest move is to pause and consider how you’ll fix it. That’s where dispute system design comes in. It’s theContinue reading “Dispute System Design”