Susan Podziba

Susan Podziba is a seasoned public policy mediator with over 30 years of experience, specializing in resolving polarized disputes through innovative mediation strategies. She is Principal at Podziba Policy Mediation and currently holds academic affiliations as a lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and faculty member for negotiation courses at Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation. She is also a Fulbright Senior Specialist in Peace and Conflict Resolution.

Ms. Podziba’s expertise spans governance, environmental policy, and international conflict transformation. She founded the Sacred Lands Project and contributes to the Religion and Conflict Transformation course at the University of Basel (SwissPeace). Her work has been featured in major media outlets like the New York Times and Washington Post, and she has authored influential books such as *Civic Fusion: Mediating Polarized Public Disputes* and *Our City: From Corruption to Participatory Democracy*.

Education:

• Master of City Planning, MIT (specializing in mediation and international conflict resolution)
• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania (concentrations in social theory and biblical studies)

Research Focus: Ms. Podziba’s work bridges academic and applied mediation, focusing on inclusive decision-making processes for complex public disputes. She designs frameworks for stakeholder engagement in areas like environmental protection, urban planning, and cross-border conflicts. Her projects emphasize collaboration between governments, civil society, and marginalized groups.

Notable Projects:

• Mediation of pro-life/pro-choice dialogues after clinic shootings in Massachusetts
• Design of UN mediator tools for community-investor disputes
• Facilitation of Congress reform strategies via the Rebuild Congress Initiative
• Environmental mediation for crane safety standards and brownfield revitalization

Grants & Recognition: Recipient of the National Partnership for Reinventing Government Award. Her work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and World Bank reflects her impact on global policy mediation standards.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Sacred Lands Project and collaborates with SwissPeace on religious conflict resolution initiatives. Her international lecture engagements include recent talks in Israel and Bahrain.