Center for Dispute SettlementCDS Principals
Linda R. Singer, President
Ms. Singer is a mediator, arbitrator, lawyer, teacher, and author and has been president of the Center for Dispute Settlement since 1971. She also is a principal in JAMS, the Resolution Experts. Through the years, she has maintained an active mediation practice, while training thousands of professionals, students, and volunteers worldwide in mediation and negotiation skills. Ms. Singer co-teaches the Mediation Workshop at Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation for Lawyers and trains mediators for the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution. Ms. Singer was awarded the prestigious
D’Alemberte-Raven Award in 2012 by the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution.
Edna A. Povich, Vice President
Ms. Povich is a mediator, facilitator, trainer, program director and systems designer. She has worked for the Center for Dispute Settlement since 1984. Ms. Povich has helped resolve disputes for business partners; employees and employers; developers, community, and government representatives; divorcing couples; parents and teenagers; and neighbors. As a lead trainer for CDS, Ms. Povich has provided training in mediation, negotiation, and systems design for organizations and government agencies. Ms. Povich has designed mediation and dispute resolution programs nationally and internationally.
Michael K. Lewis, Senior Associate
Mr. Lewis, senior associate of the Center for Dispute Settlement and principal in JAMS, the Resolution Experts, is a mediator, arbitrator, teacher, and lawyer. Mr. Lewis has mediated a variety of disputes involving commercial, public policy, and interpersonal issues. His mediation skills have been featured on television and instructional videotapes. He has trained thousands worldwide in mediation and negotiation techniques, including co-teaching at Harvard Law School's Mediation Workshop and trains mediators for the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution. Mr. Lewis was awarded the prestigious D’Alemberte-Raven Award in 2012 by the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution.
CDS Staff
Melinda Selden, Manager of Finance and Benefits
Ms. Selden received her undergraduate degree from Queens College and her graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Since graduation, she has worked in the fields of education, finance, human resources and administration. She taught at secondary and college level institutions before concentrating on for-profit and non-profit organizations. In 1992 she joined the staff of the Center for Dispute Settlement as the Manager of Finance and Benefits.
Kahlill Palmer, Program Manager
Mr. Palmer is a mediator and attorney, barred in Washington, DC and New York. He currently manages CDS' foreclosure mediation program for the District of Columbia. Additionally, Mr. Palmer has trained District of Columbia Public School students in peer mediation and has mediated for CDS' community programs. Mr. Palmer also works with the Chief Arbitrator on the federal class action case, Pigford v. Glickman. Mr. Palmer received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and his juris doctor degree from Howard University School of Law.
Kalee Bacon, Program Coordinator
Ms. Bacon is a trained mediator who mediates for CDS' community mediation programs. She also coordinates the mediation programs for the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and the DC Office of Police Complaints. Ms. Bacon trains students in mediation for District of Columbia Public Schools. She also organizes CDS’s bi-annual mediation training. Prior to CDS, Ms. Bacon worked as Mediation Services Case Coordinator for court referred family mediations at the Community Mediation Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia Ms. Bacon earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from James Madison University.