John Revitte said he thinks he's a real people person, and he's putting his talent to good use as MSU's new faculty grievance official.

The labor and industrial relations professor will try to resolve professional differences in his position. Revitte has studied, taught and practiced in the field of dispute resolution for several decades.

The grievance official said he tries to see compromises or unique answers that the disputants can't see anymore, because they're too close to the issues and the emotions.

One issue that Revitte might deal with is the Liberal Arts reorganization that is currently under consideration.

"It doesn't sound like people are going to lose their jobs," Revitte said, "but some of them might be disappointed and might look to the grievance official to ask questions or make complaints."

Revitte has always liked history, social psychology, politics and the way organizations can impact societal change. While a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Revitte helped create a union of graduate student employees. Now, he works to educate others.

"It's interesting to work with adults who are leaders in the workplace and teach them about something," Revitte said.

He said he will be busy with his new job, but he looks forward to it.

"I enjoy working with people, and as an optimist, not everything can be solved - but you can try," he said. "It's not always, but sometimes there are answers."