John B. Stephens
John Stephens is an associate professor of public administration and government at the School of Government. He is an expert on citizen participation and civic involvement, civic technology, collaboration, dispute resolution, facilitation, and mediation of public disputes.
He joined the School of Government in 1996. Previously, he was research director for the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management. His publications include Guidebook to Public Dispute Resolution in North Carolina and Public Management Bulletin: Using a Mediator in Public Disputes.
Stephens is co-author of Reaching for Higher Ground: Tools for Powerful Groups and Communities and School Funding Disputes: Mediate, Don't Litigate. He serves on the steering committee of the University Network for Collaborative Governance.
He earned a bachelor's degree from Earlham College, a master's degree in philosophy from The City University, London, and a Ph.D. from the Jimmy and Roslyn Carter School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University.
Selected Publications
E. Franklin Dukes, Marina A. Piscolish, and John P. Stephens. 2000. Reaching for Higher Ground: Tools for Powerful Groups and Communities. Jossey-Bass.
Stephens, John P. 2004. Guidebook to Public Dispute Resolution in North Carolina. School of Government, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Stephens, John B. 2017. Civic Technology: Open Data and Citizen Volunteers as a Resource for North Carolina Local Governments. School of Government, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Stephens, John B.; Morse, R.S.; O’Brien, K. 2011. Public Outreach and Participation. School of Government, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 47 pages.
John B. Stephens and Berner, M. 2011. “Learning from Your Neighbor: The Value of Public Participation Evaluation for Public Policy Dispute Resolution,” Journal of Public Deliberation. 22 pages.
R.S. Morse and Stephens, John B. 2012. Teaching Collaborative Governance: Phases, Competencies, and Case-Based Learning, Journal of Public Affairs Education. 30 pages.
John B. Stephens. 2007. Consensus Building and Leadership. In Transforming Public Leadership for the 21st Century, Ricardo S. Morse, Terry F. Buss, and C. Morgan Kinghorn, (eds.), Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe. 22 pages.
Additional Publications
Books and Book Chapters
Stephens, John B. 2008. Citizen Outreach by North Carolina Judicial Branch Officials: Comparison of Three Projects. Public Management Bulletin #3. Chapel Hill: School of Government. 13 pages.
Stephens, John B. 2008. Energy - Governor-Elect Perdue’s Transition Advisory Group (report based on Energy Issue Group consultation, December 2008 - One of 14 issue papers prepared by various SOG editors). 12 pages.
Stephens, John B. 2007. Consensus Building and Leadership. In Transforming Public Leadership for the 21st Century, Ricardo S. Morse, Terry F. Buss, and C. Morgan Kinghorn, (eds.), Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe. 22 pages.
Stephens, John B., and Berner, Maureen. 2006. Citizens’ Involvement. County and Municipal Government in NC (Article 9). Chapel Hill: School of Government. 15 pages. 50% contribution.
Stephens, John B. 2003. A Guidebook to Public Dispute Resolution in North Carolina. Chapel Hill: School of Government. 184 pages.
Kirk Emerson, Tina Nabatchi, Rosemary O’Leary, and John B. Stephens. 2003. The Challenge of Environmental Conflict Resolution, in The Promise and the Performance of Environmental Conflict Resolution, Lisa Bingham and Rosemary O’Leary (eds.) Washington, DC: Resources for the Future. 24 pages. 25% contribution.
E. Franklin Dukes, Marina A. Piscolish, and John B. Stephens. 2000. Reaching for Higher Ground in Conflict Resolution: Tools for Powerful Groups and Communities. 256 pages, collaborative authorship. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 33% contribution.
William O. Stephens, John B. Stephens, and E. Franklin Dukes. 1995. The Ethics of Environmental Mediation, in Environmental Mediation: Theory and Practice, J. Walton Blackburn and Willa Marie Bruce (eds.) Westport, CT: Quorum Books. 18 pages. 35% contribution.
Stephens. 1994. 'Gender Conflict': Connecting Feminist Theory and Conflict Resolution Theory and Practice, in Conflict and Gender, Anita Taylor and Judi Beinstein Miller (eds.). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, Inc. 19 pages.
Stephens. 1988. Acceptance of Mediation Initiatives: A Preliminary Framework, in New Approaches to International Mediation, C.R. Mitchell and K. Webb (eds.). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. 22 pages.
Refereed Papers and Articles
Ricardo S. Morse and Stephens, John B. (2012). Teaching Collaborative Governance: Phases, Competencies, and Case-Based Learning, Journal of Public Affairs Education. 18:3, 565-583.
http://www.naspaa.org/JPAEMessenger/Article/VOL18-3/JPAE%2018_03final.pdf
John B. Stephens and Berner, M. (2011). “Learning from Your Neighbor: The Value of Public Participation Evaluation for Public Policy Dispute Resolution,” Journal of Public Deliberation. Vol. 7: No. 1, Article 10. 22 pages.
http://services.bepress.com/jpd/vol7/iss1/art10/
Christine Carlson and John B. Stephens. 2004. Governance and Institutionalization; Sustaining Consensus-based Processes for Improved Stakeholder Collaboration on Public Issues. In Environmental Dispute Resolution for the 21st Century. S. Senecah (ed.). Washington, D.C: Association of Conflict Resolution. 13 pages. 50% contribution.
Meredith Miller and John B. Stephens. 1998. A Partnership Paradigm: A Case Study in Research Assistant and Faculty Interaction. Journal of Staff, Professional and Organization Development, Vol. 15, No. 3, 9 pages. 50% contribution.
Monographs, Bulletins, and Other Works
Stephens, John B, and colleagues. 2012. Chapel Hill 2020: An Assessment of Public Participation - Analysis and Recommendations for Near- and Longer-term Public Involvement. Chapel Hill, NC: School of Government, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 62 pages. Client: Town of Chapel Hill, NC.
Stephens, John B. 2011. SOG offers help with engaging citizens in the budgeting process, County Lines, Volume 37, No. 6 (June) , Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. Pages: 1.
Stephens, John B. 2011, Creating Effective Citizen Participation in Local Government Budgeting: Practical Tips and Examples for Elected Officials and Budget Administrators, Public Management Bulletin #06, Chapel Hill, NC: School of Government, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 37 pages.
Stephens, John B. 2008. Citizen Outreach by North Carolina Judicial Branch Officials: Comparison of Three Projects. Public Management Bulletin #3. Chapel Hill: School of Government. 13 pages.
Stephens, John B. (ed.). 2007. Hands on the Pulse, Eyes on the Future. Popular Government, Vol. 72, No. 3. School of Government, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 8 pages.
Stephens, John B., 2007. Consensus Building and Leadership: The Contributions of Public Conflict Resolution Practitioners. ACR Environment and Public Policy Section Quarterly (Summer). 7 pages.
Stephens, John B., [reprint] 2007. Do it Yourself Citizen Participation. ACR Environment and Public Policy Section Quarterly(Summer). 2 pages.
Stephens, John B., 2007. “Do it Yourself Citizen Participation?” PA Times 30:2 (February). 1 page.
StephanieCoplinand John B. Stephens. 2005. School Budget Mediation: Three Cases from 2004, School Law Bulletin. Vol. 36, No. 2. 7 pages. 40% contribution.
Stephens, John B.. 2003. Alternative dispute resolution, Arbitration, and Mediation. [three entries]. For David Schultz (ed.), Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy, New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2003. 3 pages.
Stephens, John B.. 2001. Achieving Better Group Performance, Popular Government, Vol. 66, No. 4. Institute of Government, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 8 pages.
Stephens, John B., [book review]. 2001. The Making of a Mediator: Developing Artistry in Practice by Michael D. Lang and Alison Taylor. International Journal of Conflict Management, Vol. 12, No. 2. Center for Advanced Studies in Management, Bowling Green, KY: Winter 2001. 4 pages.
Stephens, John B., [article reprinted online, January 2001]. Using a Mediator in Public Disputes. Public Management Bulletin No. 2. Available, as of November 28, 2007: http://www.mediate.com/articles/stephensJ.cfm
Debra Henzey, John B. Stephens, and Patrick Liedtka. 1999. Listening to Citizens: County Commissioners on the Road, Popular Government, Vol. 64, No. 3. Institute of Government, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 12 pages. 40% contribution.
Stephens, John B.. 1998. Using a Mediator in Public Disputes. Public Management Bulletin No. 2. Institute of Government, University of North Carolina and Chapel Hill. 6 pages.
Stephens, John B.. 1998. Perspectives on Public Participation. National Civic Review, Vol. 87, No. 3. National Civic League, Washington, D.C. 8 pages.
Stephens. 1998. [book review]. Public Participation: Review of Three Resources. Popular Government, Vol. 63, No. 4 Institute of Government, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 4 pages.
Stephens, John B.. 1998. Public Dispute Resolvers Lack Consensus on ‘Consensus.’ SPIDR News, Vol. 22, No. 2, Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution, Washington, D.C. 3 pages.
Stephens, John B.. 1998. When Boards Clash, Mediation Can Help. CountyLines, Vol. 24, No.11, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, Raleigh, NC. 3 pages.
Stephens, John B.. 1998. Mediation of Budget Disputes between School Boards and County Commissioners, Dispute Resolution Vol. 5, No. 4. North Carolina Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, Cary, NC. 6 pages.
John B. Stephens and Matthew J. Michel. 1998. School Funding Disputes: Mediate, Don’t Litigate, School Law Bulletin, Vol. 29, No. 2. Institute of Government, University of North Carolina and Chapel Hill. 14 pages. 70% contribution.
Stephens, John B. [book review]. 1998. Public Participation in Public Decisions: New Skills and Strategies for Public Managers by John Clayton Thomas, in Participation Quarterly, International Association for Public Participation, Alexandria, VA. (First Quarter, 1998). 2 pages.
Stephens, John B., 1998. Liberal-Conservative Dialogue in the United Methodist Church. Conflict Resolution Notes, Vol. 15, No. 3. Conflict Resolution Center International, Pittsburgh, PA: January 1998. 2 pages.
John B. Stephens, and A. Fleming Bell, II. 1997. Public Comment at Business Meetings of Local Government Boards, Part One: Guidelines for Good Practices. Popular Government, Vol. 62, No. 4. Institute of Government, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 13 pages. 60% contribution.
A. Fleming Bell, II, John Stephens, and Christopher Bass. 1997. Public Comment at Business Meetings of Local Government Boards, Part Two: Common Practices and Legal Standards. Popular Government, Vol. 63, No. 1. Institute of Government, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 10 pages. 30% contribution.
Stephens, John B., [book review]. 1997. Review of Making Community Meetings Work: Ten Tips for Successful Public Events, by Debra Stein in The Alternative Newsletter, March 1997. 1 page.
Stephens, John B., [dissertation]. 1997. Conflicts over Homosexuality in the United Methodist Church: Testing Theories of Conflict Analysis and Resolution. University of Michigan Microforms. 396 pages.
Stephens, John B., 1995. Peace/Conflict Resolution Electronic Resources. Conciliation Quarterly, Vol. 14, No. 2. Mennonite Central Committee: Spring 1995. 1 page.
Stephens, John B., [book review]. 1995. Review of A Consumer Guide to Selecting a Mediator. NAFCM News. National Association for Community Mediation, Washington, D.C. (Autumn). 1 page.
Stephens, John B., [book review]. 1995. Review of Community Mediation: A Handbook for Practitioners and Researchers, edited by Karen Grover Duffy, James W. Grosch, and Paul V. Olczak. in International Journal of Conflict Management, Vol. 6 No. 1. International Association for Conflict Management, Bowling Green, Kentucky: Winter 1995. 5 pages.
Richard E. Rubenstein, E. Franklin Dukes, John B. Stephens, and Johannes Botes. 1994. Frameworks for Interpreting Conflict: A Handbook for Journalists. Fairfax, VA: Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University. 85 pages. 15% contribution.
Stephens, John B., 1993. Exploring Conflict over Sexual Orientation, Conflict Resolution Notes, Vol. 10, No. 4. Conflict Resolution Center International: Pittsburgh, PA. (April). 2 pages.
Resource Websites
Public Dispute Resolution Program, 1997-present. Content provider and manager http://www.sog.unc.edu/node/93
Citizen Participation, 2006-present. Initiated and designed content, coordinated material from six colleagues. http://www.sog.unc.edu/programs/participation
Local Government Citizen Surveys, 2010-present. Co-developed with Maureen Berner. http://www.sog.unc.edu/node/522
Retreats for Local Government Elected Boards- http://www.sog.unc.edu/node/99 (Co-designer and content provider, with Lydian Altman and Vaughn Upshaw).
Blog Posts
Local Government Actions to Promote Sustainability: 2010 National Survey Results - https://ced.sog.unc.edu/local-government-actions-to-promote-sustainability-2010-national-survey-results/
E-Modules
Better Negotiation and Problem-Solving: Understanding Positions and Interests
Effective Consensus Decision-making using Gradients of Agreement
