Alana Cohen Knaster

Alana Cohen Knaster is an Adjunct Professor at the Caruso School of Law, affiliated with the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. She specializes in public policy conflict resolution, with a focus on environmental and transportation planning.

• Mediation expertise in public policy and community change initiatives
• Former Mayor of Hidden Hills, CA (1983–1987)
• Leadership roles in Monterey County Resource Management Agency and Puget Sound Partnership
• Project manager at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Her research interests emphasize practical solutions to complex policy disputes, particularly in environmental governance and urban development.

Ms. Knaster has been a faculty member at the Straus Institute since 1989, contributing to its reputation as a leader in dispute resolution education.