Brief Bio

EDUCATION
I am a California native, born and raised in Pasadena, a product of local schools and colleges (Occidental, 1973, and UCLA, M.A. 1977), and a graduate cum laude of Seattle University School of Law, 1983.

MEDIATION TRAINING

1990 Confluence Northwest, Portland, OR (20 hours)
1996 Basic Divorce Mediation, Jim Melamed, Portland, OR (40 hours)
2002 Centinela Youth Services, L.A., (community mediation)(32 hours)
2003 Advanced Divorce Mediation, Ken Cloke, (15 hours)
2003 Strauss Institute, STAR Basic, Peter Robinson (18 hours)
2006 Strauss Institute, Advanced Family Mediation (18 hours)
2006 Advanced Collaborative, LACFLA, (8 hours)
2006- ongoing advanced training, Woody Mosten (100+ hours)
2007 Advanced Family Mediation / Collaborative, Woody Mosten, (19 hours)
2008 Elder Mediation, Transformative Model, UCSB (21 hours)
2009 Elder Mediation / ARMS Model (28 hours)

LEGAL CAREER
I have been a Navy JAG officer, a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, a lawyer in private practice (approximately one-third of my cases were in family law), and Assistant County Counsel for Jackson County, OR. I am an inactive member of the Oregon State Bar and Washington State Bar. As a mediator, I do not provide legal advice, but I am happy to provide referrals to California lawyers who support mediation as your preferred approach to problem-solving.

MEDIATION
My work concentrates in two areas: divorce and elder care. I also provide online mediation services and teach conflict resolution in an urban public school.

PERSONAL
I am a divorced mother of a young adult son. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, dancing, and pursuing a spiritual quest.