The DAVIS Ombuds Resource
Please remember that the Ombuds Team is here to support you in thinking through challenging interactions and situations and to help you consider a range of options for how you might proceed. You can read more about our confidential, informal services here.
Contact one of the ombuds below for more information.
Nnena Odim is a mediator, ombuds, attorney, trainer, and consultant. She has been mediating since 1997 and has mediated disputes involving issues such as employment, housing, business, consumer, academic/higher education, and domestic relations. Nnena has also designed and/or led conflict management trainings for several local and national businesses and agencies, including the Boston Public Schools, Massachusetts Housing Authority, Neighborhood Works, Coca-Cola, and Netflix. In addition to her mediation and conflict resolution training background, Nnena is trained by the International Ombuds Association and has served as an ombuds for CVS, the American Planning Association, and several local construction companies. After 25 years, Nnena has recently retired from Harvard Law School, where she was the Director and Senior Clinical Instructor of the Family/Domestic Violence Law Clinic at Harvard’s Legal Services Center. In addition to being an active practicing attorney in Massachusetts Family and Probate Courts, she provided experiential training to law students and taught them how to become effective and ethical attorneys. Nnena has worked with the Harvard Mediation Program (HMP) and Harvard Program on Negotiation to provide trainings for students and community members, and to supervise Harvard Law School students in their mediation and negotiation studies. Nnena has also served on numerous panels and speaking rosters on topics including self-care and mental health for students and faculty, establishing boundaries in a professional setting, race and gender, and LGBTQ+ rights. Nnena was honored by the Harvard Women’s Law Association International Committee, received the Harvard Law School Dean’s Award for Excellence, and was a Top Women in the Law award recipient from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Schedule a time to talk with Nnena by emailing nnena-ombuds@mwi.org or calling 617-898-0938.
Josh Hoch has been an experienced ombuds, mediator, and instructor with MWI since 2001. He is the Director of Ombuds & Mediation Services, overseeing MWI’s Organizational Ombuds Panel and Conference Ombuds. Josh currently serves as an organizational ombuds for DAVIS Construction and previously served as an ombuds for CVS Health, a ski resort in Colorado, and a construction company in Boston. Josh also manages and mentors a panel of mediators for the MBTA and Boston Public Schools, providing direct mediation and oversight of conflict resolution services and training. Josh partners with organizations to design and deliver conference ombuds services, ensuring participants have an impartial and accessible resource during conferences, meetings, trade shows, and events. He is a member of the International Ombuds Association (IOA) and the East Coast Ombuds Group (ECOG). With more than 24 years of experience in conflict resolution, he helps individuals and organizations resolve conflicts and build healthier environments. Schedule a time to talk with Josh here, by sending an email to josh-ombuds@mwi.org or by calling 617-895-4028.