CAMPUSPEAK

In 2007, Mike Dilbeck partnered with renowned academic and researcher Dr. Alan Berkowitz to develop the Response Ability project.

Response Ability directly addresses so-called “bystander behavior”—those times when a person observes something, recognizes it to be problematic, but fails to intervene in a constructive way.

Mike recently published a book written by Dr. Berkowitz on his bystander behavior research. Mike has also produced an award-winning DVD programming package that is being used on more than 100 campuses nationwide. The Response Ability program was used in the curriculum of the 2009 Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI) and Mike received the 2009 Laurel Wreath Award from the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) recognizing the impact of the program on college campuses.

Now, Mike is available to help your students understand the far-reaching impact of bystander behavior. In his interactive keynotes and workshops, he makes a direct appeal to students to challenge the negative behaviors they see around them every day.

• Keynotes

• Response Ability: Transforming Values into Action

Response Ability: Transforming Values into Action

In his campus keynote, Mike is helping students from all walks of campus life understand how seizing upon an opportunity to act can dramatically change their campus community. He uses video segments from the award-winning Response Ability program to frame the discussion, giving students new tools for confronting harmful behavior they see from their peers.

In this challenging keynote, Mike reveals the barriers many of us feel when we consider whether or not to act. Using interactive methods, Mike gives audience members the skills and framework upon which to act when they see unhealthy or negative behavior among their peers, in their classes and on their campus.

This keynote is appropriate for all student groups, and it has been especially popular for fraternity and sorority leadership training. Consider it also for residence life training, student-athletes, emerging leaders events, peer education groups, wellness programs and more.

Note from the speaker:

This is our opportunity to empower the 95-percent of students who make the right choices. It’s time for them to stand up, say something and act when they see the other 5-percent making choices that bring down their communities.

Mike's Bio

Mike is a Chicago-based video and film producer who creates educational projects aimed at empowering young people. He has produced more than 60 educational and promotional film projects for higher education organizations over the past two decades, earning awards and a reputation for challenging negative social norms in college student communities. He is a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and founded his chapter at Texas Christian University (TCU). He also served his international fraternity as Assistant Executive Director. 

Mike stresses the importance of speaking up and acting based on your values. Seizing upon an opportunity to act can dramatically change the campus community.