Faculty

Trainers for the elder mediation courses are Susan Butterwick, Roxanne Chang and Zena Zumeta, experienced mediators and trainers in family and elder issues with practices located in Michigan and a national training base. They have presented at major national mediation conferences and given training programs in Elder Mediation from North Carolina to Alaska. Susan is a member of the National Elder Mediation Training Committee, currently engaged in developing standards for elder mediation training and forming an Elder Mediation Section of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR). Zena is a former President of the Academy of Family Mediators and member of the Family Section Council for ACR. She has worked for the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Michigan and has done training in Advocacy and Aging around the midwest.

Zena D. Zumeta, J.D.

Zena D. Zumeta received her Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School. Ms. Zumeta is an approved trainer for Domestic Relations Mediation, Domestic Violence Screening Protocol, and Civil Court Mediation trainings through the Michigan State Court Administrative Office, and for Domestic Relations Mediation training through AFM/ACR and many states.

She is a former board member and president of the Academy of Family Mediators, past president of the Michigan Council for Family and Divorce Mediation, and past Regional Vice President of the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution. She is active with the Association for Conflict Resolution. Ms. Zumeta has extensive experience as a trainer, mediator, facilitator, and consultant. She has been providing mediation services since 1981.

Prior to becoming a mediator, Zena worked at the University of Michigan Institute of Gerontology, providing training in advocacy and aging. She has presented at conferences on Elder Mediation nationally, and has been a faculty member at Elder Mediation training programs for ten years, and provides Elder Mediation services to families.

Roxanne J. Chang, J.D., MS, LLP

Roxanne Chang is an attorney specializing in elder and special needs law. She is also a Limited Licensed Psychologist, with a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. Ms. Chang has experience in consultation and advocacy for persons with dementia, developmental disabilities, and other individuals with special needs. She has a private practice in Plymouth, Michigan. Ms. Chang is currently a council member of the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section of the State Bar of Michigan and a member of the Michigan Dementia Coalition. She was also a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Elder Abuse.

Susan Butterwick, J.D.

Susan Butterwick provides advanced training in adult guardianship / probate and caregiver mediation for Michigan's community dispute resolution centers and nationally, for community centers, court programs, and other organizations. She served as directing attorney for a national demonstration project on adult guardianship and caregiver mediation and co-authored an evaluation of adult guardianship mediation in four states. Susan is a member of the national Elder Mediation Training Committee and a co-author of the committee's Elder Mediation Training Standards. She is a Michigan State Court Administrative Office approved trainer for community mediation and civil court roster mediation. In addition, she provides advanced trainings in child welfare mediation, parent-teen, and truancy prevention mediation.