Susan Yates, an Oak Park resident, was awarded the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution’s prestigious D’Alemberte Raven Award.
Yates is the executive director of Resolution Systems Institute, a Chicago-based national nonprofit. RSI is known for evaluating alternative dispute resolution court programs and conducting research.
Alternative dispute resolution is any method of resolving conflicts without litigation, according to Cornell Law School.
The D’Alemberte Raven Award is given to either an individual or organization that provided significant contributions to the field through methods including developing new programs, efficiency improvements, research and writing.
Yates implemented RSI’s mission of strengthening access to justice through court alternative dispute resolution systems, according to a news release.
“Susan’s astute, dedicated stewardship has made RSI the nationally respected ADR thought leader it is today,” said Terry Moritz, member of the RSI board of directors, in a news release.
Yates is the recipient of numerous other awards and has co-authored two books, as well as studies and articles. She was a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Council for several terms, according to the release.
The award presentation will take place at a spring conference from April 10 to 13 in San Diego, California. The award is named in honor of Talbot D’Alemberte and Robert Raven, both of whom were ABA president and chair of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution or its predecessor, according to the release.
Yates will reportedly be stepping away from RSI later this year.