On The Cover : Melanie-Anne Atkins

Melanie-Anne Atkins featured on the cover of our Winter Course Calendar, shares a few key takeaways from her time at Western Continuing Studies.

Melanie-Anne Atkins calls her time at Western Continuing Studies “one of the most transformative experiences I’ve had in all my years of schooling.” That’s high praise from Atkins, who holds a Ph.D., Educational Psychology and who works as the Doctor of Education Manager at Western University.

Last summer, Atkins returned to the classroom to complete an accelerated certificate in Leading Through Conflict at WCS. “The idea of leading through conflict rather than trying to avoid it intrigued me,” she says. “It made a lot of sense, and I wanted to learn how to do it.”

Atkins had read widely about negotiation and mediation, but found the focus on winners and losers at odds with her background in equity and social justice.

“I believe when two people come together, we can both get what we want,” she notes. “But I didn’t have the language for that mindset - until I took this program.”

The 12-week accelerated certificate left Atkins with new leadership skills that have had a positive impact on both her professional and personal interactions.