Walking Through Tensions: Conversations on Identity and Community in Higher Education with Dr. J. Cody Nielsen

Restorative Works!

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes J. Cody Nielsen, Ph.D. to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Claire is joined again by co-host, Associate Director for the Collaborative Center for Restorative Practices in Higher Education Kaleigh Mrowka, Ph.D. In this series of episodes, we explore what it means to “walk through tensions” - how we exist, find, and build community and forge a path forward through times of extreme polarization. Dr. Nielsen joins us to explore the growing polarization in higher education, particularly around religious, secular, and spiritual identities within the landscape of intersectional equity. Drawing from his experience in higher education and faith inclusion, Dr. Nielsen examines how these identities intersect with broader cultural and geopolitical tensions, offering insight into the complexities educators and students in higher education face today. He challenges us to rethink our approach to discourse and the importance of the proactive, rather than reactive, use of restorative practices. Dr. Nielsen is Executive Director of Convergence Strategies, an international consulting organization focused on addressing issues of religious, secular, and spiritual identities (RSSIs) as a part of broad diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. His work spans higher education, non-profit, K-12, and corporate settings. For more than 15 years, Cody has worked in higher education settings in both the US and Canada and has established himself as an expert voice on issues related to religious equity and the ways in which religion has caused harm at the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality movements. His work in relation to the Israeli and Palestinian conflict has exposed the need for more serious consideration of restorative practices to be incorporated into the interfaith movement, which he suggests needs a significant revisioning. He serves as adjunct faculty at VCU, Lesley University, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and lives in Minneapolis. Dr. Nielsen received his master's degree in Mental Health Counselling from the University of Northern Iowa and his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Iowa State University. Tune in to discover practical strategies for navigating tensions and the critical role that restorative practices play in bridging gaps and building stronger relationships on campus. Walking Through Tensions is a special series of the Restorative Works! Podcast. Through this series, we aim to generate reflection, hope, and wisdom about how to strengthen relationships and community in situations of unrest, dissent, polarization, and concern. Its title, far from literal, represents a metaphor that poses a question: how can we exist and collaborate while surrounded by complex and tense environments? Our guests are doing impactful work in these areas: please be mindful that they may mention specific sensitive topics of situations taking place around the world. Their positioning may or may not be aligned or reflective of the IIRP’s. We invite you to listen and to reflect with us while also taking care of your mental and emotional wellbeing. We hope to guide you in finding the learning tools that will help you and your community to walk through tensions in the best way possible.