Kristen Blankley Henry M. Grether, Jr., Professor of Law
Professor Blankley is the Henry M. Grether, Jr., Professor of Law. She teaches and researches in the areas of alternative dispute resolution, legal ethics, and at the intersection of ethics and dispute resolution. She teaches Alternative Dispute Resolution, Advocacy in Mediation, Mediation, Family Mediation, Arbitration, Facilitation, and Legal Professions, and Sports Law Practice. She also coaches students in mediation competitions.
Professor Blankley researches a wide variety of topics within alternative dispute resolution. She publishes on domestic arbitration topics under the Federal Arbitration Act, focusing on issues involving jurisdiction, preemption, statutory interpretation. She also writes on mediation ethics, arbitration ethics, collaborative law ethics, and other topics in the area of ADR ethics. She is also engaged in interdisciplinary research focusing primarily on restorative justice.
She is involved in ADR policy within Nebraska as well as nationwide initiatives. Professor Blankley served as a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Council from 2016-2022, and she is a former chair for the Section on Ethics. Professor Blankley has been involved in developing ethics policies and standards in the areas of mediation, restorative justice, and special master work.
Professor Blankley currently sits on the University's Academic Rights and Responsibility Panel, which is an elected position. She also serves by appointment on the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee.
Locally, Professor Blankley sits on the Board of Directors of The Mediation Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. She is a past member of the Board of Directors and former Board President of the Nebraska Mediation Association. She also serves as the Secretary of the Advisory Council for the Nebraska Office of Dispute Resolution. Professor Blankley serves as a community mediator for three community mediation centers across Nebraska. She is a member of the FINRA roster of arbitrators, for consumer and employment cases in the area of securities.
Professor Blankley joined the faculty in 2010. She received her B.A. in History and Political Science and graduated summa cum laude from Hiram College, and she received her J.D. from The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law, and graduating first in her class and earning a Certificate in Dispute Resolution. After law school, Professor Blankley served as a law clerk on the Sixth and Eighth Circuits and worked at the Columbus, Ohio office of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, LLP (now Squire Patton Boggs).
Watch to see how Professor Blankley's research is disrupting the school to prison pipeline in Nebraska.
Jamie C. Cooper Assistant Professor of Law
Professor Cooper joins the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Law after practicing law in the areas of family law, criminal defense, and juvenile justice for 14 years. Cooper has extensive trial experience and has successfully argued cases before the Nebraska Supreme Court and Nebraska Court of Appeals. Prior to joining the faculty, Cooper served as an adjunct professor for the College of Law, teaching Pretrial Litigation. She holds a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law and a B.A. magna cum laude from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Outside of the classroom, you can find Professor Cooper on a yoga mat. She is a certified yoga teacher trainer and teaches community yoga classes. She enjoys international travel and gardening. Cooper sits on several boards and committees and has held a number of leadership roles in her community.
Alan H. Frank Professor of Law Emeritus
Professor Emeritus Frank joined the faculty in 1972. He received his A.B. degree from Duke University in 1966 and a J.D. (cum laude, Order of the Coif) from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1972. From l966 to l968, he served in the Peace Corps in Libya. He was employed with the Legal Services Center for Dane County in Madison, Wisconsin, prior to coming to the University of Nebraska. Although now retired, Professor Frank still teaches Client Interviewing and Counseling and continues to help with the College's alumni magazine, The Nebraska Transcript, as editor emeritus. He also continues to serve as one of the coaches of Law College's Client Counseling Competition team. For five years, Professor Frank served as Associate Dean of the College, working with financial aid, admissions and student advisement. In 2005, he was awarded the Outstanding Service Award by the College of Law's Alumni Council.
