Leading With Passion: A Graduate’s Journey Through Alternative Dispute Resolution
HLOs: 
By Sherena Hamilton, Alternative Dispute Resolution graduate
From a young age, Sherena Hamilton was the go-to person for problem-solving, offering a listening ear or a fresh perspective whenever someone needed it. That natural inclination to support others eventually guided her academic and professional path. Sherena graduated from the University of Ottawa with an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, specializing in Conflict Studies and Human Rights. During her final years, she explored courses in diplomacy and mediation, which sparked a deeper interest in alternative ways of resolving disputes, ultimately leading her to Humber Polytechnic’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program.
The ADR program allowed Sherena to explore conflict resolution on a human level, combining a scientific understanding of behaviour with a focus on interpersonal dynamics. What drew her most to the program was its hands-on approach, role plays, simulations, and community placements, helping bridge the gap between theory and real-world practice.
In 2023, Sherena graduated with honours and secured a paid role as a Program Coordinator with St. Leonard’s Place Peel, her ADR placement organization. There, she gained valuable insight into trauma-informed care within the judicial system and worked directly with vulnerable populations. She also helped design and deliver programming aimed at helping clients develop conflict resolution, emotional regulation skills and communication strategies.
Eager to deepen her experience and explore new dimensions of ADR, Sherena took on a volunteer leadership role with the Dispute Resolution Committee of Empowered Futures, a non-profit organization. This opportunity allowed her to expand her leadership skills, reinforce her ADR knowledge, and contribute to building an effective and collaborative committee environment. Around the same time, she was accepted as an intern at SJG, a workplace investigations and consulting firm, where she is now gaining hands-on experience in navigating the complexities of workplace conflict and investigations.
As Sherena explored her options in the professional world, she came to realize just how valuable and versatile the ADR certification truly is. The program’s practical skillset and conflict management framework complement any career, because let’s face it, conflict exists everywhere. From corporate offices to community organizations, there is not a single workplace or industry that does not benefit from someone who understands how to de-escalate tension, facilitate dialogue, and create solutions.
More importantly, having an ADR credential does not lock you into one career path. You don’t have to become a lawyer, mediator, or investigator. ADR alumni go on to work in fields as diverse as project management, social services, accounting, education, and more. The program attracts people from all walks of life, and equips them to succeed in just as many directions.
Not only has the Humber ADR program shaped how Sherena approaches conflict; it’s changed how she views people, relationships, and the world around her. It’s taught her to see possibility in tension, to stay grounded in tough conversations, and to recognize the value of listening before acting.
If there's one takeaway from her journey, it's this: follow the things you're naturally drawn to because they often lead you exactly where you're meant to be. For Sherena, that path led to ADR, and she couldn't be more grateful for where it’s taken her so far, and where it will continue to take her in the future.
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