Massachusetts Office of Dispute Resolution
University of Massachusetts, Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
McCormack Bldg. 1st Floor, Room 627
Boston, MA 02125
617-287-4040; fax: 617-287-4049
www.umb.edu/modr
Executive Director: Susan M. Jeghelian
susan.jeghelian@umb.edu
Deputy Director: Loraine M. Della Porta
loraine.dellaporta@umb.edu
The Massachusetts Office of Dispute Resolution & Public Collaboration (MODR), formerly a state agency, is now a free-standing institute of the University of Massachusetts Boston. MODR’s mission is to promote and facilitate the use of conflict management and collaborative practices to address contentious issues related to economic development, environmental resource management, land use, agriculture, transportation, housing, healthcare and other community objectives. MODR works with government agencies, businesses, non-profits, and citizens to establish effective systems to prevent and manage conflict and to facilitate collaboration and consensus-building across sectors, jurisdictions, interests, and issues.
MODR services include mediation, regulatory negotiation, policy dialogue, systems design and research, conflict assessment, convening and facilitating public participation, education and training, collaborative problem-solving, public and private sector consensus building, and public deliberation. Services are provided through highly-experienced, qualified conflict resolution and collaboration practitioners who are staff or affiliates of MODR. MODR practitioners have knowledge, skills and competencies working within legal and regulatory frameworks at all levels of government and in addressing issues at the community level. In addition, MODR works with centers, institutes and academic programs at the University of Massachusetts, including the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, the College of Public and Community Services, the Urban Harbors Institute, the Center for Social Policy, and the Graduate Programs in Dispute Resolution.
From time to time, MODR offers internships for graduate students and law students interested in the field of dispute resolution and collaborative governance. Arrangements for internships are flexible and projects on which interns work may include assisting with: program development and administration; project management; data collection, analysis and reporting; research; preparation of case studies; and special projects.
