This September, UO law professor Jen Reynolds will be featured in a 2022 Dragon Con virtual panel, “Conflict Experts Fight About Star Wars.” Professor Reynolds, an expert in negotiation and dispute resolution, will engage in spirited debate around thorny topics like whether Han should have shot first, who was at fault in the Poe-Holdo debate, and what Star Wars character would be the best companion when negotiating the price of a used car.

Reynolds is excited about being part of Con culture. “The basis of our proposal for Dragon Con Star Wars was our upcoming book on conflict resolution and Star Wars,” she said. “Applying negotiation models and conflict theory to complex and fascinating subjects like Star Wars helps refine our understanding of how and why conflicts happen and widens our perspective on what constructive conflict engagement looks like.” Joining Reynolds on the Dragon Con panel are contributing authors Noam Ebner (Creighton University), Sherrill Hayes (Kennesaw State), Hillary Anger Elfenbein (Washington University), and Scott Maravilla, an administrative judge with the FAA.

Since 1987, Dragon Con has been one of the largest popular culture conventions in the world. More than 75,000 people are planning to attend this year’s event in Atlanta. Star Wars and Conflict Resolution, edited by Reynolds and Ebner and currently in production with DRI Press, will be published later this year.

“Conflict Experts Fight About Star Wars” premieres at Dragon Con on Friday, September 2, 2022, at 7:00 P.M. Pacific. After the premiere, the recording will be made available publicly on the Star Wars at Dragon Con YouTube channel.