Mediation & Conflict Resolution is a labor of love that takes dedication.
AAMS has been fortunate to have committed, experienced, and compassionate leadership.
Our Staff |
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Jim Sands, Director
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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.
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DeeDee Dransfield, Coordinator of Mediations
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 later served as the AAMS Director.
John Schmeiding, Community Relations Coordinator
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For the last twenty some years, I have worked with Athens Area Mediation Service, primarily as the director, doing mediation and teaching mediation and conflict resolution. Over one thousand people in the Athens area attended these trainings and workshops. Since retiring as director, I have focused on eliminating racism work and kayaking. Thanks to the support of the Mediation Service and the Athens Community Relations Commission (of which I am chair) we have been able to develop book clubs and other projects on antiracism through the Athens City School System and in the community. That is currently the primary focus for me. I am proud that Debbie and I will celebrate our 50th anniversary this summer. Our daughters and grandchildren live in the Chicago area and being a dad is an important part of who I am.
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