Student Spotlight: Dmitriy Bogorodskiy, 2021 JAMS Scholar

Dmitriy Bogorodskiy is an experienced intranational litigator from Russia in the area of asset recovery. Bogorodskiy became interested in ADR a few years ago when he joined a new team at work. "Recalling my first experiences in dispute resolution, I found that in about 80 percent of my cases, the best option was to settle," he said. "That is when you need ADR mechanisms."

A colleague from a top-tier firm informed Bodorodskiy about the Straus Institute, and in particular, its distinguished faculty and top-notch reputation in the field. "I applied to many top programs in the US, but Straus was the only institute that met with me prior to my admission, and afterward, I had another opportunity to connect with Professor Singh, the director of the program. To me, that meant that Straus cared about its students."

Bogorodskiy has enjoyed his first semester at Straus, saying, "I would like to make conflict my comfort zone. What is great about studying negotiation and mediation in the academic environment is that you can try different styles, experiment with new techniques, learn from the best professors, and receive their feedback." He encourages future applicants and peers to lean into their passions and go after their ambitions.