Our Mediators

Alexandra Degg

Alex has been in the HR field in the private sector, higher education, a California State agency and now as a Sr. HR Division Partner at LBNL. Alex is a firm believer that disputes are best discussed and addressed early. Alex is excited to be part of our new Conflict Resolution Services. Her education in Interpersonal and Public Communication and national certifications in HR- SHRM-SCP and SPHR support her efforts to be an effective mediator.

Bettina Brixner

Bettina has been at the Lab for nine years, primarily in Sr. HR Division Partner roles supporting various scientific divisions, and is currently in the Employee and Labor Relations group. Her lifelong interest in human behavior led her to earn a BA degree in Psychology from UC Berkeley, and eventually to a career in Human Resources. Bettina wholeheartedly believes in the power of authentic dialogue to bring about deeper mutual understanding. She is very excited to be a part of the Lab’s first Conflict Resolution Program and hopes it will be a great resource for employees!

Carolyn Charles

Carolyn has been at the Lab for eighteen years, primarily in Sr. HR Division Partner roles supporting various scientific divisions, and currently the Engineering Division. She is very excited to be a part of the Lab’s first Conflict Resolution Services Program and hopes it will be a great resource for all employees! She's looking forward to helping employees resolve conflict through open dialogue, respect, and trust.

Dina Michail

Dina is a Senior Human Resources Partner at the Lab with over 17 yrs of work in the UC system. After much exploration, Dina's combined interests led to an undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley in Legal Studies. Years later, in furthering her commitment to public service, she completed a Masters in Public Administration. Dina sincerely believes that any relationship is salvageable and agreement possible, if two parties are willing and with open dialogue. To that end she is very excited to be a part of Berkeley Lab's first Conflict Resolution Services Program where she hopes to help mediate fruitful relationships and create a healthy lab culture.

Ewa Elkins

Ewa’s career in Human Resources at Berkeley Lab spans over many years. Ewa is a certified Professional Coach, and holds certification in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from SEEDS Community Conflict Resolution Center, and from Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution of UC Hastings. She believes in resolving a workplace conflict in a peaceful, collaborative and respectful way.

Janet Yokoyama

Janet received her mediation certificate through UC Hastings in partnership with the Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution and The HR Mediation Academy. Janet has been in the Human Resources profession for over 20 years and has worked in High Tech, Government and Non-profit industries. Janet has coached employees, supervisors and executives, to help resolve disputes in the workplace. She is excited to be a part of the Early Conflict Resolution Services Program at LBNL.

Justina (Tina) Clarke

Tina is a Sr. HR Division Partner who began her Human Resources journey after obtaining her BA degree in Psychology from Sonoma State University. Early on Tina knew the importance of understanding human and group behaviors as her role in HR evolved with more exposure in employee relations matters and coaching supervisors and managers. Years later Tina received her MA degree in Career Counseling from John F. Kennedy University. As a Mediator Tina is committed to enabling conflict resolution with respect and trust. Tina is very enthusiastic to be a part of the Berkeley Lab's first Conflict Resolution Services Program and supporting a healthy organizational culture.

Leslie Kleiman

Leslie began her career as a labor lawyer specializing in the litigation of unfair labor practice charges, arbitration cases and other alleged violations of federal labor laws. Even as a young lawyer who enjoyed the competition inherent in trial work, Leslie understood that a system providing a clear winner and loser was not the most lasting or satisfying way to resolve disputes. Years later Leslie undertook an intensive study of interest based mediation and negotiation, achieving a certification as a court mediator in British Columbia, Canada. In joining the Lab, Leslie is thrilled to be a part of the creation of our first Conflict Resolution Services Program and fully believes that if we can learn to feel more comfortable talking about potentially challenging issues, we will thrive as individuals and contribute positively to a reinvigorated culture at the Lab.

Marcia Ocon Leimer

Marcia is the HR Field Manager for Physical Sciences, Operations and Computing Sciences. She has worked in HR for over 15 years and for Berkeley Lab for over ten years. She has experience supporting various business environments including science, IT, creative services, financial services, and non-profits. She is currently pursuing her Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Saint Mary's College with a concentration in Coaching for Organizational Learning and Change. Marcia is passionate about supporting positive and productive workplace experiences and collaborative communication to help organizations thrive.

Neli Lopez

Neli has worked as an HR Professional at Berkeley Lab for over 19 years and has recently been certified as a Mediator. She's looking forward to helping employees through the Conflict Resolution Services program.

Tracy Bigelow

Tracy has worked at UC Berkeley and Berkeley Lab for over 15 years and has almost 30 years of experience as a HR professional. In addition to being a certified mediator through the HR Mediation Academy and Center of Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (UC Hastings), she also received her certification as a business and life coach through IPEC, one of the largest coaching certification programs in the U.S. Tracy chose a career in Human Resources because of her interest in working with people and in helping to cultivate healthy and productive relationships between employees and their co-workers and between management and their staff. She has a strong belief in the power of change and resolution of human issues through the use of facilitated conversations and mediation and is encouraged by the Lab's adaptation of a program for its employees. She is very excited to be part of the Lab's Mediation team and working toward further strengthening and enrichment of the Lab's diverse culture.