Ellen Dichner

Ellen Dichner is a Distinguished Lecturer in Labor Studies at the City University of New York's School of Labor and Urban Studies, leveraging over 25 years of labor and employment law experience. She previously served as Chief Counsel to the Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board during the Obama administration and was a partner at a New York City law firm, representing unions in collective bargaining, arbitrations, and federal litigation.

Education:

• B.A., Government, Oberlin College
• J.D., Northeastern University School of Law

Research Interests: Her expertise centers on labor law dynamics, including worker advocacy, labor arbitration, union organizing strategies, and employment litigation. She explores systemic barriers to worker rights and the evolving legal landscape of labor relations.

Publications Focus: Her scholarship analyzes trends in labor policy, NLRB governance, and worker classification, with recent work assessing presidential administrations' impacts on labor rights.

Teaching: Courses include

• LABR 669: Labor Arbitration & Future of Labor Law
• LABR 604: Labor Law
• LABR 302: Contemporary Labor Issues
• Project L.A.W. (using real court cases to train future lawyers)

Professional Engagement: Frequent panelist at labor law conferences, including AFL-CIO and SEIU events, discussing NLRB developments and organizing strategies.