Dr. Megan Price is the Founder and Director of the Center for Applied Insight Conflict Resolution (CAICR) and Senior Trainer for Insight Policing: Conflict Resolution for Law Enforcement. With a PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and a Master’s in Reconciliation Studies, Dr. Price is dedicated to equipping professionals with reliable, context-driven conflict communication skills.
Her work spans fields where conflict is a daily challenge—law enforcement, corrections, schools, supervision, compliance, violence prevention, human resources, mediation, and beyond. Dr. Price designs practical, research-backed courses that turn conflict into opportunity, using curiosity to build trust, prevent escalation, and achieve sustainable solutions.
In addition to her leadership roles, Dr. Price is an Adjunct Professor at George Mason University, where she researches curiosity as a tool for conflict resolution, and Associate Faculty at Royal Roads University, teaching Master’s students in Conflict Analysis and Management. She also serves on the board of the Insight Collaboration Institute, contributing to curriculum development and advancing the Insight approach.
Dr. Price’s research, including her work with the Retaliatory Violence Insight Project, directly informs her teaching. Her ability to translate complex ideas into practical tools enables professionals—particularly police officers—to focus on what drives their work: helping their communities.
A passionate trainer and dedicated researcher, Dr. Price’s experiential and authentic approach empowers learners to engage deeply and build lasting skills. She lives in Washington, DC, where she was raised, with her husband and two children.
Learn more about Dr. Price’s approach and insights in the full Q&A below.
What was the driving force behind starting Insight Policing?:
Price: The driving force behind this work began in 2012 with a grant from the Department of Justice, which sought to address retaliatory community violence—tit-for-tat shootings, stabbings, and robberies between individuals taking justice into their own hands. At the time, crime was declining nationally, but retaliatory violence remained steady, especially in economically distressed areas. Agencies wanted to get ahead of this issue, so the Justice Department issued a proposal, primarily aimed at conflict resolution professionals, to explore innovative approaches.
At the time, I was pursuing my doctoral studies at George Mason University and recognized that the Insight Approach could offer a unique perspective. We secured the grant and launched the Retaliatory Violence Insight Project, partnering with Memphis, Tennessee, and Lowell, Massachusetts. Over a year, we explored the dynamics of retaliatory violence, examining how it was perceived by both communities and law enforcement.
Our findings were striking: for police officers, crime was crime—if someone was harmed, it warranted punishment, regardless of personal dynamics. Community members, however, felt differently. They viewed the justice system as inaccessible and untrustworthy, believing they needed to protect themselves. This mistrust drove a cycle of retaliation: individuals sought personal justice to prevent future harm, reinforcing their exclusion from the formal justice system.
This disconnect presented a significant challenge for law enforcement. Officers lacked the relationships needed to mediate disputes, often receiving no cooperation from the community. Without trust, public safety suffers—policing relies on community collaboration. Encounters rooted in mistrust only deepened the divide, leading to more dangerous crimes and fewer avenues for resolution.
Our work focused on breaking this cycle. We proposed reframing noncompliance not solely as criminal but as an opportunity for curiosity and engagement. Officers initially resisted, citing time constraints. However, they discovered that asking questions upfront prevented recurring calls, built trust, and de-escalated conflicts. Insight Policing emerged from this effort, teaching officers to recognize conflict within criminal behavior and approach it with curiosity. This shift not only helped resolve immediate issues but also fostered long-term trust and cooperation.
For me, this work ties to a broader commitment to addressing systemic issues in our own communities, particularly the disproportionate impact of the justice system on minority populations. By focusing locally, we can uncover and address the root causes of injustice, fostering change where it is most needed.
What interested you about this work?
Price: I felt like this work was truly making a difference, especially in our ongoing conversations with police officers. Most people enter law enforcement because they genuinely care about helping their communities—something I hadn’t fully appreciated until I began working closely with them. In fact, 95% of officers choose this profession out of a sincere desire to make a positive impact. It’s a noble pursuit, and through Insight Policing, we provide them with an expanded skill set to do just that. These tools empower officers to better connect with the communities they serve and fulfill their commitment to public safety in a more meaningful way. I deeply value being part of that effort.
What is your favorite part of your role here?:
Price: One of the most rewarding aspects of this work is collaborating with the co-trainers, who are an essential part of Insight Policing. These trainers bring decades of law enforcement experience, and I learn so much from them every day. Watching them embrace the program and skillfully convey its principles to other officers is incredibly gratifying. My favorite part is building those relationships with the co-instructors and seeing how they bring the skills to life in ways that resonate with their peers.
I also love working directly with police officers. It’s fulfilling to provide them with tools that they find practical and empowering—tools that help them do their jobs in the way they aspire to.
Another aspect I enjoy is developing the courses themselves. It’s both challenging and exciting to integrate conflict resolution and the Insight Approach into training that feels authentic and effective for law enforcement professionals. Finding that balance is a creative process I deeply value.
What experience prepared you for this role?
Price: This journey has been a process of learning by doing. The Retaliatory Violence Insight Project laid the foundation, providing key insights that shaped my approach. Building on that, I used what we learned for my dissertation, where I developed a curriculum tailored for school staff. This required me to condense a 40-hour program into 16 hours while adapting it to the school discipline environment. Those experiences taught me how to identify the essential components of a curriculum, effectively teach diverse professional groups, and customize training for specific fields.
When I returned to policing in 2017, I had a strong foundation to refine the material into what it is today. Each step along the way has deepened my understanding of how to create impactful, adaptable programs that meet the unique needs of different professions.
What do you think is the most effective part of what you do?
Price: The key is truly listening to our learners—the people we are training. We don’t approach this work as experts telling them how to do their jobs. Instead, it’s a dialogue: we bring expertise in conflict resolution skills, and they bring expertise in their field, whether it’s policing, school discipline, or customer service. Together, we explore how these skills can be seamlessly integrated into their professional practice. Staying open to the unique needs and realities of each field is essential for making the training effective and impactful.
What impact are you hoping to have being part of Insight Policing?
Price: My goal is to make law enforcement encounters safer for everyone—both the community and the officers. By integrating conflict communication skills into their daily work, I hope officers can build stronger connections with the communities they serve, leading to better outcomes and renewed trust. Communities depend on the security officers provide, and fostering that trust is essential. I see Insight Policing as one piece of the larger puzzle, contributing to a more collaborative and effective relationship between law enforcement and the people they protect.
What is a common theme you notice when teaching classes?
Price: A common theme I’ve noticed is that officers are often instructed to be polite, to listen, and to explain—but they’re rarely taught how to do these things effectively. Politeness and listening, while important, are not always enough. True understanding requires curiosity—genuinely seeking to understand where someone is coming from. When officers adopt this mindset, they’re better able to gather the information needed to help those they serve.
I frequently encounter frustration among officers who feel that empathy and listening alone don’t go far enough without concrete skills to support them. At the same time, I see officers showing up every day with a genuine desire to help their communities—a story that isn’t shared often enough in public conversations about law enforcement.
Do you have any interactions or outcomes that stand out to you from training?
Price: In conversations with participants, I often hear that Insight Policing not only helps them perform better on the job and communicate effectively with citizens but also enhances their personal lives. Many professionals have shared that they bring these skills home, leading to improved relationships with their children and families. Being an officer is an incredibly challenging job, one that exposes them to significant trauma. The ability to use these skills to strengthen family connections provides vital support, creating a sense of comfort and balance that is crucial for their well-being.
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