NVMS Staff Members
Arleen Ramirez Borysiewicz, MPA, She/Her/Hers
Executive Director
Office hours: 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday
703.865.7260, aborysiewicz@nvms.us
Arleen has 25+ years of nonprofit experience, with expertise in management, fundraising, external affairs, community relations, board development, and branding and marketing. She served as chief fundraising executive for several nonprofit organizations including United Community, a direct service agency supporting low-income families in Alexandria, Virginia; Ayuda, a Washington, D.C.- based legal immigration services nonprofit; and The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, also based in Washington, D.C. Arleen earned her Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University. She holds professional certifications in nonprofit management from Georgetown University, and in association management and diversity and leadership from the American Society of Association Executives. Arleen is an ex officio board member of NVMS Conflict Resolution Center, and serves on the board of directors Resolution Virginia. She is also a member of the Ayuda Advisory Council.
Guillermina Calles, She/Her/Hers
Family Mediation Program Coordinator
Office hours: 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday
703.865.7263, gcalles@nvms.us
Guillermina is not new to NVMS Conflict Resolution Center. Before her hire as Family Mediation Coordinator, she was Operations Coordinator since November 2021. Her training in the NVMS Basic Mediation Skills and Process course in 2021 and recent assignments to support family mediation screening and intake work make this transition seamless. Her Spanish language fluency has allowed NVMS to address the needs of Spanish-speaking community members calling for assistance, with care and clarity about disputes that they face. In February 2023, Guillermina earned her Supreme Court of Virginia GDC Mediation Certification. Her next aspiration is to earn certification in family mediation. Guillermina received her law degree from the Universidad de Belgrano, Facultad de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales in Buenos Aires, and she earned her LLM in international legal studies from American University, Washington College of Law.
Lydia Ray, She/Her/Hers
Court and Community Mediation Coordinator
Office hours: 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday
703.865.7262, lydia.ray@nvms.us
For more than seven years, Lydia Ray has been utilizing her skills in alternative dispute resolution while expanding her knowledge and experience in conflict resolution in both domestic and international settings. Lydia is a Supreme Court of Virginia certified Juvenile and Domestic Relations and General District Court mediator. She had additional training in domestic violence assessment, ethics in mediation, mediation and communication, and restorative justice circles. Prior to joining NVMS Conflict Resolution Center, Lydia operated her private practice, Guided Mediation LLC, in Fairfax, Virginia. It is a family and community mediation practice that facilitates mediation sessions for families and individuals. She was the lead facilitator in guiding families through divorce and separation through the alternative dispute resolution process of mediation and conflict coaching sessions. She offered monthly blogs on topics related to conflict coaching, alternative dispute resolution themes and holistic approaches, tips and techniques of which Burnout and Vulnerability for the Win! have been featured on Mediate.com. Lydia earned a Bachelor in Global Affairs and Conflict Analysis from George Mason University.
Aaliyah Zagade, She/Her/Hers
Restorative Justice Case Management, Program Outreach
Office hours: By appointment only. Contact her via email.
703.865.7261, azagade@nvms.us
Aaliyah Zagade is a graduate of George Mason University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a concentration in Political and Social Action. Her academic background reflects a deep commitment to understanding conflict dynamics and promoting equitable, community-based solutions. Aaliyah has completed NVMS’s 28-hour Basic Mediation Skills and Processes training and is a certified Restorative Justice (RJ) facilitator. In her role at NVMS, Aaliyah supports outreach, training programs, and she is actively involved in NVMS’s police referred mediation program. She is especially passionate about expanding access to conflict resolution resources in underserved communities and creating inclusive, collaborative spaces for dialogue and transformation.
Madison Sailakkham, She/Her/Hers
Training Program and PRM Outreach Specialist
Office hours: 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday
msailakkham@nvms.us
No stranger to the NVMS family, Madison interned with us during her final semester at George Mason University. While assisting with a variety of administrative tasks, she primarily worked on NVMS’s Family Mediation Program by aiding in documenting and intaking mediation cases, providing a much-needed hand in conducting intake interviews for our high volume of family cases.
Toting a degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and a semester of interning under her belt, Madison will begin the New Year as a full-time staff helping to help coordinate our Police Referred Mediation and Training programs.
Her degree and prior experience interning with NVMS programs aid in her transition from full-time student to joining the NVMS staff. We are grateful to have her aboard and are excited to see what she creates at NVMS.
Brady Jones, He/Him/His
Executive Assistant
Office hours: 9am-4pm, Monday-Thursday
bjones@nvms.us
Brady is the newest addition to the NVMS team. He is currently completing a MS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a concentration in Dispute Resolution and Inclusive Conflict Engagement at George Mason University. He has taken NVMS’s 28-hour Basic Mediation Skills and Processes training and hopes to become a certified Restorative Justice facilitator. Apart from his school and work at NVMS, Brady is working towards becoming a certified Non-violent Communication trainer, looking to incorporate NVC principles in future practice and everyday life. He graduated from Virginia Tech, earning a BS in Sociology and Criminology with a minor in Peace Studies and Social Justice.
Super Volunteers
Diane Hill
Joining the NVMS team in October of 2020, Diane drafts and edits our monthly Enewsletter. She brings an immense history of over 15 years of experience in various positions across sectors, focused on partner & community relations, fundraising & funding partnerships, & community outreach, with a special interest for online digital marketing communications & content management. An active volunteer and Rotarian for over 20 years, Diane aims at making a difference to build community for missions focused on improving “quality of life” community issues. She lives out these values in volunteering her time to help NVMS reach the communities we aim to empower.
Fran O’Brien
NVMS is excited to welcome former Chief Judge of the Arlington County General District Court, Fran O’Brien to the team. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Fran served as a senior assistant Commonwealth’s attorney for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church, where she prosecuted a wide range of cases. Appointed as a judge in 2013, she was later selected by her peers to serve as chief judge. During her tenure, she demonstrated visionary leadership by creating new processes to enhance the legal system, including the Arlington County Behavioral Health Docket, which diverts eligible defendants with mental health disorders into community-based treatment programs. Recently retired, Fran volunteers in helping with NVMS’s Co-Parenting Program.
Sharon Thorpe Kourtz
Sharon values more successful mediation outcomes, so she continues to volunteer and share her valuable knowledge with the team. She has been a part of the NVMS family for the past few years and has become a vital part of business operations. Her computer and office skills contribute greatly to NVMS professionals through projects, data entry, proofreading, and monthly reports. She often acts as plaintiff on training Zoom sessions in order to support and facilitate growth within the organization. Her plethora of talents help NVMS on the path to achieve its mission.
Kathleen Shimizu
Since receiving her Master Degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peace Building from California State University, Dominquez Hills in 2007, Kathy has mediated over a thousand cases in a variety of settings including divorce, elder care matters, civil court disputes, community disputes, juvenile victim- offender situations and student conflicts in school settings. A credentialed teacher prior to becoming a mediator, Kathy has utilized her teaching expertise to develop trainings that have advanced the skill level of hundreds of mediators. Kathy is most proud of her work creating an extensive court-based mediation practicum that provided novice mediators with real-life opportunities to refine their mediation skills in a safe structured setting. Now retired, Kathy is looking for ways to help NVMS promote and support the use of peaceful conflict resolution strategies in the community.
Interns
Gabrielle Jacobs, She/Her/Hers
Operations Volunteer/Intern
Gabby has recently received a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and International Politics and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Conflict Analysis at George Mason University. She has joined NVMS as a volunteer intern to experience facilitating dialogue, organizing community events, and entering the professional field of mediation! Her role in NVMS includes operations (maintenance of the website), fundraising (mailing letters, event, and appeals), communication/external affairs (Constant Contact, newsletters, annual reports, social media, and graphic design). Gabby has previously worked with RSO’s like Dialogue and Difference and the PIVOT Lab at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, where she has designed and facilitated campus dialogues on political violence, war, and extremism. She received her court mediation certification last fall and is excited to start her mediation journey! She is passionate about religious conflict, childhood education, and international diplomacy. She has experience fostering respectful and constructive conversations among participants with diverse perspectives, which has deepened her ability to create open dialogue.