Mediation and Conflict Resolution work is a labor of love that takes time and dedication.
AAMS has been fortunate to have committed, experienced, and compassionate leadership.
AAMS has been fortunate to have committed, experienced, and compassionate leadership.
Our Staff
DeeDee Dransfield, Director
Throughout her life, DeeDee has been involved in advocacy and conflict resolution. Since 1971, she has worked with students with disabilities and the adults who serve these students. In 2017, she became an Athens Area Mediation Service board member. As a board member she served as treasurer, volunteer mediator and helped with annual Souper Bowls. From October to December 2019, she stepped in as the Interim Director and now serves as the AAMS Director.
Trisha Lachman, Mediation Coordinator
Trisha Lachman has been involved in many types of peacemaking activities on the wider national arena throughout her life. In 2003 Trisha found that localpeacemaking efforts of Athens Area Mediation Service were extremely useful and effective in resolving conflicts.
" It was heartening to see the clouds of anger and confusion part during a mediation, allowing for a clear, restored countenance to shine!”
During the next two decades, Trisha was active in the AAMS volunteer community as well as serving on the AAMS board, all the time attending workshops and conferences to enhance mediation skills, particularly regarding Restorative Justice Circles, Art of Hosting Community Building, Police-Community Relations, Faith and Intentional Community mediation, Domestic Relations, and Eldercare mediation.
In January of 2013 Trisha took an AAMS staff position focused on outreach and development of mediation service throughout Athens County. Now in 2020, she serves as Coordinator of Mediation in a team leadership group of Athens Area Mediation Service.
" It was heartening to see the clouds of anger and confusion part during a mediation, allowing for a clear, restored countenance to shine!”
During the next two decades, Trisha was active in the AAMS volunteer community as well as serving on the AAMS board, all the time attending workshops and conferences to enhance mediation skills, particularly regarding Restorative Justice Circles, Art of Hosting Community Building, Police-Community Relations, Faith and Intentional Community mediation, Domestic Relations, and Eldercare mediation.
In January of 2013 Trisha took an AAMS staff position focused on outreach and development of mediation service throughout Athens County. Now in 2020, she serves as Coordinator of Mediation in a team leadership group of Athens Area Mediation Service.
Jim Sand, Coordinator of Event Planning, Training
Jim worked in student affairs for thirty-seven years, most of that time in residence life. Helping students and staff deal with conflict, educating students on social justice issues and leadership development were major components of Jim’s work. Retiring from higher education after working the past thirty years at Ohio University, Jim got involved with AAMS during the fall of 2019.
John Schmeiding, Community Relations Coordinator
