UMass Boston

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Douglas Thompson

Department:
Conflict Resolution, Human Security & Governance
Title:
Associate Lecturer A
Location:
Wheatley Hall Floor 04
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Areas of Expertise

Environmental and Public Policy Disputes, Freshwater and Marine Issues, Habitat Protection Disputes, Court Mediation

Degrees

MSc, Biology, Northwestern University
BS, Environmental Science, Northwestern University

Professional Publications & Contributions

  • “Exit Strategies: Typology and Tips” (with Jacks, Tonkin and Schweisberg), New York Dispute Resolution Lawyer, 2010.
  • “Public Apology: An Unapologetic Primer” (with Patrick Field), U.S. EPA Public Involvement Newsletter, 2009.
  • “Theory Meets Practice in Court Internship Program,” Graduate Program in Dispute Resolution Newsletter, 2001.
  • “Uncertain Ground: Battles over wetland regulation reflect American ambivalence when private property and public rights collide,” Technology Review, 1994.

Additional Information

Doug Thompson has been an adjunct faculty member since 1996.  He is currently a senior mediator with The Consensus Building Institute in Cambridge, MA.  Prior to joining CBI, he worked as a senior mediator for eight years with The Keystone Center and has a background in environmental protection, dispute resolution and management.  Recent case work has included matters related to issues as diverse as drinking water disinfection, marine mammal concerns, the legitimacy of green marketing and sustainable product claims, pandemic flu planning, mountaintop removal mining conflicts, national water policy issues and endangered species.

Mr. Thompson previously spent over 25 years with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in various technical and management capacities including chief of wetland protection and chief of water enforcement. As part of EPA’s dispute resolution program, he served as a mediator and facilitator for a number of environmental issues; he also worked on assignment as a program associate to the US Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution in Tucson, Arizona.

He is a senior trainer and court supervisor for Metropolitan Mediation Services and has mediated extensively in the Massachusetts court system and has experience mediating Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), workplace, and family disputes.