PMC was founded on the belief that conflict is an inevitable result of the diversity of individual perspectives; we all come from someplace, belong to specific cultures and traditions, and inherit beliefs and values regarding what is and is not appropriate. While we cannot eradicate conflict, we can increase our awareness of perspective when communicating with others, and we can grow more skillful in our responses when conflicts arise.
PMC's director, Justin S. J. Miller, specializes in communicative understanding. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Reed College in 1990 in the field of political philosophy, and his area of emphasis was in Hermeneutics, or the study of interpretation. His thesis explored how traditions and values affect our understanding of, and communication with, the world around us.
He earned his Master's Degree in Conflict Resolution from Portland State University in 2002. His master's thesis explored how these hermeneutic traditions impact a mediator's ethics when attempting to balance the values of self-determination and fairness.
His training included Negotiation and Mediation, Psychology of Conflict Resolution, Anger and Communication, Divergent Settings and Perspectives, Professional Ethics, and International Conflict Resolution.
Since graduating, Justin has served as guest lecturer in the graduate program in conflict resolution at P.S.U.
He is a member of the Oregon Mediation Association, and has provided mediation services to the Multnomah County Small Claims Court. He has experience in a wide variety of disputes, including construction, workplace, landlord/tenant, earnest money agreements, interpersonal conflicts, and many others.
Justin has extensive experience in the non-profit sector, has provided mediation services within organizational settings, and has designed conflict resolution systems for use in non-profit organizations.
Justin is comfortable in diverse cultural settings, and has traveled extensively, including trips to Nepal, India, Vietnam, and Kenya.
