IPS21 Higher Education Issues

Nicholas Christen Related seminars and products

Director of Field and Organizing

Illinois Federation of Teachers

Nicholas L. Christen is the Director of Field and Organizing and in-house counsel for the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT). Mr. Christen specializes in union representation, collective bargaining, and unfair labor practice matters for state, university, community college and k-12 employees and supervises a staff of 40 Field Service Directors, Organizers, and Researchers. He is also an occasional adjunct Professor of Labor Law at the University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations. Prior to joining the IFT, Mr. Christen represented public employees for AFSCME in Central and Southern Illinois. Mr. Christen received his B.A. in Political Science from Miami University and his J.D. from the Chase College of Law.

Melissa Mlynski Related seminars and products

Associate Vice Chancellor of Human Resources

University of Illinois Springfield

Andrew Slobodien Related seminars and products

Associate Director, Labor and Employee Relations

University of Illinois at Chicago

Andrew Slobodien is currently Associate Director for Labor and Employee Relations at University of Illinois – Chicago.  In this role, he is lead negotiator and administrator of contracts with the U of I hospital’s unions (residents, nurses, security, support workers) and UIC police and faculty unions.  Previously, Andrew was Managing Attorney for Labor Relations at Chicago Public Schools where he lead a team of lawyers defending the district’s grievance arbitrations and unfair labor practice cases.  Before joining the public sector in 2013, Andrew was a partner at the international law firm Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon, where he advised and litigated on behalf of management on labor and employment matters. Andrew received a B.A. from Haverford College, an M.A. from the Univesity of Chicago and a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law.