Michele Goldfarb

Michele Goldfarb is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Penn Carey Law, University of Pennsylvania, where she is affiliated with the Mediation Clinic. She has played a significant role in the university’s clinical legal education programs for nearly two decades, focusing on training law students in mediation and conflict resolution. Her career at Penn also includes leadership roles such as Associate Ombudsman, Director of the Penn Women’s Center, and Director of the Office of Student Conduct (1995–2006, 2012–2014).

Goldfarb’s research and professional interests center on conflict resolution, academic integrity, and ethical issues in higher education. She has led numerous workshops on mediation, academic integrity, and sexual misconduct policy. Her expertise has contributed to university-wide committees on student records confidentiality, hazing, substance abuse, and disciplinary systems.

Her recent and past publications reflect a strong commitment to ethical practices in academia and mediation training. Notably, her work includes a forthcoming piece on plagiarism as a systemic issue, a published guide on mediation in higher education, and a chapter on promoting academic integrity in nursing education. These works span disciplines including law, education, ethics, and organizational behavior.

• BETRAYAL OF TRUST: PLAGIARISM AS A WINDOW INTO THE INCENTIVES IN THE UNIVERSITY (in progress)
• MASTERING MEDIATION: A GUIDE FOR TRAINING MEDIATORS IN A COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY SETTING (2001)
• Promoting Academic Integrity (2001)

Goldfarb has advised on policy development and conducted extensive training for faculty, administrators, and students. Though no formal students are listed, her mentorship of law students in clinical settings has been continuous and impactful. She has not received publicly listed scientific awards, but her contributions to institutional policy and dispute resolution are significant.

She has been involved with judicial programs, including Pennsylvania’s Superior Court and Philadelphia’s Municipal Court Dispute Resolution Program. Her earlier career as a prosecutor and judicial clerk underscores her deep legal background. She is not associated with a formal lab or research team but operates within clinical and administrative frameworks at Penn.