Director: Andrea Schneider
The Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law was established in 1990, thanks to a generous gift from the late Ira and Doris Kukin. Cardozo Law is deeply grateful to the Kukin family for their ongoing leadership, support, and friendship, which have been vital to the program’s growth and impact.
About the Kukin Family
Dr. Ira Kukin was an honorary member of the Board of Overseers at Cardozo, and his son, Jonathan Kukin (CSL ‘87), also served on the Board. Dr. Kukin held the role of vice chairman of Yeshiva University's Board of Trustees and led its Committee on Academic Affairs. In addition, he was a founder of Apollo Technologies International Corporation, an influential company in air pollution control and energy conservation based in Livingston, New Jersey.
The Kukin family also established the program to honor the late Frank J. Scardilli, Chief Circuit Mediator of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the nation’s longest-serving appellate court mediator. Through the Frank J. Scardilli Lectureship in Negotiation, Mediation, and Conflict Resolution, Cardozo students have ongoing access to foundational courses in negotiation theory and conflict resolution. Frank Scardilli, the inaugural lecturer, taught negotiation at Cardozo from 1989 until 2003, helping to lay the groundwork for the program’s commitment to real-world skills.
Mission of the Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution
The mission of the Kukin Program is to develop modern-day problem solvers adept in the use of dispute resolution to benefit clients and society. Through a blend of theory, practical skills training, clinical experiences, externships, and scholarship opportunities, students pursuing an LL.M. in Dispute Resolution and Advocacy or a Certificate in Dispute Resolution build a robust foundation for careers in dispute resolution and advocacy, both domestically and internationally.
