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Who We Are

The National Conflict Resolution Service (NCRS) is a nonprofit collaboration between the Cornell ILR School's Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution and the American Arbitration Association (AAA).

Since 1945, the Cornell ILR School has been an avid supporter of the labor-management community through training, assessments, and conflict assistance. Since 2007, the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution has combined academic rigor with practical expertise to study the nature of conflict, transform that knowledge into education and training, and partner with individuals and organizations to build cultures and leadership practices that turn inevitable conflict into a catalyst for growth, effectiveness, and workplace health. Continuing and building on this long history, NCRS' mission is to establish a central, trusted, and national hub to coordinate the high quality labor dispute resolution, training, facilitation, and conflict management and prevention services available across ILR. This hub is built on a foundation of neutrality, excellence, and public service values.

NCRS brings together some of the most experienced conflict resolution professionals in the nation — ensuring parties have access to trusted, effective support when it matters most. 

Harry C. Katz

  • Jack Sheinkman Professor of Collective Bargaining
  • Director, Scheinman Institute

Javier Ramirez

  • Executive Manager, National Conflict Resolution Service

Sally Klingel

  • Executive Director of Scheinman Institute

John August

  • Director, Healthcare Labor Relations

Ariel Avgar

  • Professor
  • Labor Relations, Law, and History
  • Senior Associate Dean for Outreach and Sponsored Research

Alexander Colvin

  • Kenneth F. Kahn '69 Dean, ILR School
  • Martin F. Scheinman '75, MS '76, Professor of Conflict Resolution

Sarah Miller Espinosa

  • Mediation and Arbitration Senior Associate

Alice Lee

  • Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior

Dan McCray, Esq.

  • Director of Labor Relations Professional Programs

Traci Morse

  • ADR Program Manager

Katrina Nobles

  • Director of Conflict Programs

Dionne Pohler

  • David and Alexandra Lipsky Professor of Dispute Resolution

Ellen Gallin Procida

  • Director Labor-Management Relations Programs, Public Sector
  • Labor Arbitrator and Mediator

Cheryl Teare

  • Senior Extension Associate, Labor Relations Programs

Mission, Vision and Values

Transforming challenges into understanding and growth

Mission 

The Scheinman Institute's National Conflict Resolution Service (NCRS) advances effective labor-management relationships by delivering impartial mediation, training, and services that support productive dialogue, resolve disputes, and strengthen workplaces across the nation. 

Vision 

To be the nation’s leading resource for effective labor-management relations and the peaceful resolution of workplace conflict. 

Values 

  • Integrity – We uphold the highest ethical standards in all of our work.
  • Impartiality – We serve both labor and management with neutrality and fairness.
  • Collaboration – We believe lasting solutions come from mutual respect and joint problem-solving.
  • Service – We are committed to advancing the public good through accessible, high-quality dispute resolution services.
  • Innovation – We adapt and evolve to meet the changing needs of the labor-management community.