Policy Studies Faculty and Staff

Sandi DiMola JD

sdimola@chatham.edu
Adjunct Faculty Member and Director, Center for the Study of Conflict

Hometown : Pittsburgh, PA
Joined Chatham : 2007

Academic Areas of Interest

The role of networks and interactive technologies in the peace process. Facilitated decision-making. Rule of Law initiatives in post-conflict societies.

Personal Website : Visit Website | Visit Website

Biography

Sandi DiMola is the Director of the Center for the Study of Conflict at Chatham University. Her work includes curriculum development, campus programming, and the development of national and international partnerships to encourage students’ interest in capacity building in post-conflict societies and rule of law initiatives. She offers courses in the Structure of Conflict, International Human Rights Law, Constitutional Law, and Citizenship and Civic Engagement. Her current research involves the role of information networks in peace-building. She holds an M.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and a J.D. from Duquesne University and completed a fellowship in negotiation at Stanford University. The American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative recently appointed her to the panel of Rule of Law experts.

Education

• BA, Chatham College, Pgh, PA, 1975; M.Phil, Univ of Pittsburgh, 1977; JD Duquesne Univ., Pgh, PA, 1981; Fellow, Gould Negotiation Center, Stanford Univ., Palo Alto, CA, 1999

Publications

• Nationality Commentary Prepared for: "Analysis of the Aliens and Nationality Law of the Republic of Liberia." ABA Rule of Law Initiative, May 2009
• Lunsford, Rachel and Sandi DiMola. "Refugee Resettlement: Is Pittsburgh a Model?" Mediators Beyond Borders White Paper
• "The use of an 'appreciative inquiry model' to resolve conflict between immigrant and established communities in Pittsburgh" (Jan 2009)
• "Application of the 'third side model' to resolution of ethnic tensions in a Pittsburgh middle school". Pittsburgh Foundation Grant, Nov. 2008

Certifications

• Licensed to practice law in DC, New York, and Pennsylvania

Awards

• Faculty Research Grant (2008-9)

Organizations

• Program Manager: The Program on Deliberative Democracy, Carnegie Mellon University
• Women’s Law Project, Co-Chair, Advisory Board Center for International Legal Education, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Advisory Board
• Member, Board of Directors: Mediators Beyond Borders; Center for Victims of Violence & Crime; Pennsylvania Women's Campaign Fund; Pittsburgh Camerata

Achievements

• Appointed Rule of Law expert by American Bar Association's Rule of Law Initiative; Recipient, Faculty Research Grant (2008)

Presentations

• Lowe, A. and DiMola, S. (2010). “Combating ‘Ghost Discrimination’ Against Hidden Populations: Best Practices for EU Inclusion Policies in the Roma Pilot Project for Inclusion.” University of Antwerp, Dec. 4, 2010.
• Lowe, A. and DiMola, S. (2010). “Global Citizenship: The Scholar-Practitioner’s Role in Fostering International Engagement.” 2010 Summer Faculty Institute. Community College of Allegheny County.
• Lowe, A. and DiMola, S. (2010). “Academic Assessments, Plan “Bs”, & Challenging Conversations: What to do and say when law school isn’t in your advisee’s (immediate) future. Northeast/Southeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors Annual Meeting. Durham, N.C.
• Lowe, A. and DiMola, S (2010). “EU initiatives for Roma Inclusion: Assessing funding priorities for cultural mediation. Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting.” Chicago, IL.
• Lowe, A and DiMola, S (2010). “Citizenship and the World: The Scholar-Practitioner’s Role in Fostering an International Perspective.” International Studies Association Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.
• Lowe A. and DiMola, S (2009). “Incorporation of Conflict Management Methodologies in Building Democratic and Inclusive Societies: Lessons for the Roma in Europe from Pittsburgh’s “Lawrenceville Dialogue Project.” MEDIARCOM Annual Conference. Lisbon, Portugal.
• "Messaging across the Divide: Communicating in the Face of Conflict". "Winning Edge" Campaign School" Pennsylvania Center for Women, Politics, and Public Policy, Jan., 2009
• "Facilitated decision-making among Liberian former ex-combatants", Stanford University, October 2008
• "Achieving Common Ground: A Guide to Cooperative Problem-Solving". Counseling Psychology Graduate CLE, May, 2008
• "The Use of Information Technologies and Social Networks in Peacebuilding", Carnegie-Mellon University, April, 2008