Emily A. Nemeth, Ph.D., has been an associate professor of Educational Studies at Denison University for 15 years, where she also served as department chair. Her teaching and research focus on how people make sense of and share information using the forms of communication available and familiar to them. This background enables her to support others as they bridge communication differences, build understanding, and navigate conflict constructively.

Nemeth has worked in both higher education and nonprofit settings, and brings extensive experience facilitating complex conversations and collaborative processes within those organizations. Her conflict-resolution work includes mediation, conflict coaching, and facilitated planning with faculty members, academic leaders, teams, and boards.

Nemeth is a certified mediator through the Social Justice Mediation Institute and has completed the International Ombuds Association’s “Foundations of Organizational Ombuds Practice” course. She has served as a faculty ombud at Denison since 2021.

Abram W. Kaplan, Ph.D., has worked in the field of conflict resolution for 35 years and has been a full-time faculty member at Denison University for 30+ years, where he is Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Studies.  He has devoted more than 20 years of his career to directing the program.  His research, teaching, and practice focus on change process at both micro/personal and macro/institutional scales.

 For a dozen years, Kaplan served as negotiation lead instructor for the U.S. Geological Survey’s national leadership program, and regularly teaches a 15-week college level conflict resolution course.  He has been a member of the Association of Conflict Resolution since its inception in 2001.  Kaplan has shared relevant work in national journals and conferences, including a talk on objectivity and the role of ombuds at the 2025 International Ombuds Association (IOA) conference.

 Kaplan is a certified mediator through the Social Justice Mediation Institute, completed the IOA “foundations” course, and is trained in the “CINERGY” model of conflict management coaching.  He co-founded Denison University’s Faculty Ombuds Program, which he has coordinated since its inception.