"My twenty-two years of Mediation experience combined with my experience as a trainer of Mediation has ingrained the essence of this process in me. I have realized, quite simply, that wherever there are people, there is going to be conflict and that they do not realize, for the most part, that a peaceful resolution is possible for them. Mediation can provide that. I have learned that a Mediator can provide a non-threatening, safe environment for the conflicted parties so that they  may have the opportunity to mutually resolve their issues. Having been empowered by the Mediation process, they can walk away having saved face and with a mutually agreed upon resolution."
                                                                                         - Nancy J. Wise 

Training Completed

• Basic 40 Hour Mediation Training, Nueces County Dispute Resolution Services, 1987
• Family Mediation(Divorce) Training, East Texas State, 1987
• Peer Mediation, Institute of International Peace, Notre Dame University, 1988
• Victim/Offender Training, Loyola University in conjunction with the IL Justice Dept., 1988
• Parent/Teen Training, New Mexico Center for Dispute Resolution, Albuquerque, 1988
• Youth Gang Intervention and Prevention, Sam Houston State University, 1991
• Public Policy Mediation, Center for Public Policy Mediation, University of Texas Law School, 1993,1995
• Masterful Facilitation, 40 hours, The Yarborough Group, 1997
• Child Protective Services Training, 24 hour, Harris Co. Dispute Resolution Services, 2007

I have learned how to manage conflict in groups

• As the Executive Director of Nueces County Dispute Resolution Services, I was called to handle conflict in groups of persons were conflicted. The secret to handling such situations is to remain focused, not personalize anything, and empower all parties to express themselves as calmly, yet effectively, as possible.

I am committed to Confidentiality

• This is one of the pillars of Mediation (the other is neutrality). Without confidentiality, the process does not work. In the beginning as the Mediator is establishing rapport with the parties, she/he must communicate his/her own commitment to confidentiality, thus communicating his/her trustworthiness. This empowers the participants to feel safe in freely expressing themselves. Being a Mediation purist, I believe that the role of a Mediator is to empower the parties to determine the outcome of the conflict themselves. Unlike an attorney or arbitrator, a Mediator does not advise or direct the resolution of the conflict but acts, instead, as a facilitator of the process.

MEMBERSHIPS IN ORGANIZATIONS

• Associate Member of The Texas State Bar as a result of having been on various committees related to Mediation
• Member of the Director's Council, composed of the Directors of all the Texas Dispute Resolution Services.
• Founding Member of MAST (Mediator's Association of South Texas, Corpus Christi)
• Member of the International third party Organization SPIDR (Now AICR)

Currently Member of the TAM (Texas Association of Mediators)

Fellow of the Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution (University of Texas School of Law).