Back to Top

About

Jay K. Wilgus, J.D., M.D.R., is a highly respected lawyer, mediator, educator, and consultant whose expertise lies at the intersection of law, restorative justice, and higher education conflict resolution. With over two decades of experience, Wilgus has become a nationally recognized figure in student conduct administration and dispute resolution systems design. As the Founder and Principal of Klancy Street, he provides legal and consulting services across the country with a focus on multi-party dispute resolution processes, campus conflict, and sexual misconduct policy reform. Wilgus brings a unique and interdisciplinary background to his practice. He holds a J.D. from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, where he was a member of the Utah Law Review, and a Master’s in Dispute Resolution (M.D.R.) from the prestigious Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University. He also earned an Honors degree in Communications from the University of Utah, an academic foundation that underpins his strengths in facilitation and collaborative problem-solving. His professional career includes leadership positions at major research institutions. At the University of Michigan, he served as Director of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution, developing innovative approaches to student conduct issues and implementing restorative practices. Prior to that, he worked as Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Utah and was also engaged in private legal and mediation practice. Wilgus is particularly known for his groundbreaking work in the application of restorative justice to cases of student sexual misconduct. His published scholarship explores nuanced approaches to handling campus-based conflicts and student conduct concerns, with an emphasis on community healing, risk assessment, treatment interventions, and dialogue-based solutions. His work is frequently cited by institutions seeking to create inclusive, equitable, and legally sound policies that respond compassionately to all parties involved in student conflict. Beyond his consulting and legal work, Wilgus remains deeply engaged in civic and professional leadership. He is President of the Maine Association of Mediators, Co-Chair of the Braver Angels Alliance of New England (a bipartisan conflict-resolution initiative), and a Group Leader for a community of practice affiliated with the Center for Restorative Justice at the University of San Diego. These roles reflect his commitment to promoting civil discourse, restorative processes, and effective conflict engagement both within and beyond the academy. Licensed to practice law in Utah, Wilgus combines legal acumen with deep insight into human behavior, organizational systems, and educational environments. His work continues to shape national conversations around sexual misconduct response, alternative dispute resolution, and the cultivation of healthy campus cultures.

View More >>

Skills

Experience

Attorney, Mediator, and Principal

Klancy Street, LLC

Nov-2018 to Present
Assistant Dean of Students

University of Utah, Salt Lake

Jan-2008 to May-2010
Director, Office of Student Conflict Resolution

University of Michigan

Jul-2010 to Jun-2014

Education

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law

Master of Dispute Resolution in Law

Passout Year: 2005
S.J. Quinney College of Law

Doctor of Law (J.D.) in Law

Passout Year: 2005
University of Utah, Salt Lake

B.Sc. in Speech Communications

Passout Year: 2001

Publication

  • dott image April, 2014

Campus Sexual Misconduct: Restorative Justice Approaches to Enhance Compliance With Title IX Guidance

Campus response to sexual violence is increasingly governed by federal law and administrative guidance such as the 1972 Title IX, the 2011 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), and the 2013 Violence ...

Doctoral and Master Thesis Guided

U of U Neighbor/Fraternity Conflict: History, Analysis, and Proposed Resolution
Research Scholar:

Self (Honors Thesis)

Institute : University of Utah, Salt Lake

Area of research: Speech Communications

Scholar9 Profile ID

S9-032025-0109887

Publication
Publication

(1)

Review Request
Article Reviewed

(0)

Citations
Citations

(234)

Network
Network

(3)

Conferences
Conferences/Seminar

(0)