Melissa Back

About Melissa Back

Back to Yes was founded by Melissa Back J.D, in 2012. Melissa is a licensed Attorney in the State of Texas, who practices as a Mediator & Arbitrator. Melissa earned the distinction as “Rising Star” Super Lawyer in ADR from 20••••22. Melissa is on the panel of mediators for various District Court judges in the greater Houston area. She is a federal contract mediator for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Better Business Bureau Melissa has an extensive arbitration practice across the country for the “No Surprise Act” in the medical insurance industry. She is on the IDR panel for various states, including Texas, Virginia, and Colorado. Melissa is thrilled to be an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, where she is team-teaching Global Conflict Management, an upper level & graduate level course, with Dr. Barbara Manousso. Additionally, Melissa helps teach the 40-Hour Basic & Family Mediation Trainings & Arbitration Training at Manousso Mediation & ADR Services. Melissa has trained thousands of mediators and arbitrators in the last decade. Melissa graduated from Rice University (3.9 GPA), and subsequently earned her J.D. from the SMU Dedman School of Law. Melissa has a double major in Sports Medicine and Hispanic Studies. She was on the prestigious SMU International Law Review. Her legal experience includes working at the international law firm of Jones Day in Munich, Germany, where she assisted in preparing bilingual cross-border international contracts. She is a Senior Consultant at Global Colleague, where she uses her training as a lawyer and ADR specialist, as the lead in Latin American and European compliance investigation for Fortune Firms. Due to her unique background, she is well-versed in intercultural and interpersonal communications, and is fluent in Spanish and German.Melissa is currently the Co-Convener of the Texas Mediation Trainers Roundtable, which oversee all the mediation and arbitration trainers in Texas. She is Past President of the Texas Association of Mediators and President of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Houston Chapter. Melissa is also a member of the Texas Assoc of Mediators, the State Bar of Texas, Texas Mediators Credentialing Assoc, Texas Mediation Trainers Roundtable, Houston Young Lawyers Assoc, & Assoc of Attorney-Mediators.Melissa brings fresh energy to her lectures, conflict coaching, mediation, and arbitration work replete with sensitivity toward differences, as well as notable enthusiasm to help the parties and the community.

Experience

1. Adjunct Professor

   University Of St. Thomas Tx

   Aug 2013 — Present

   Teaches Global Conflict Management, an upper level and graduate level course, to aspiring and eager students. This course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of conflict resolution, analysis, and management within the field of mediation and alternative dispute resolution. It will also provides students with the international “gold standard” certificate required to become a professional and credentialed mediator.The course begin from the premise that conflict is a part of every day life that spans across every inch of the globe. Conflict is as common as laughter, anger, love, sex, or prayer. Cultural differences and misunderstandings often generate conflict unwittingly. Conflict is explored in different contexts, including intergroup, interpersonal, cross-cultural, legal, and international. The students learn conflict behavioral tools to assist individuals, groups, businesses, organizations, and governments manage their conflicts, domestically and globally. This course also introduces positive conflict management processes, including active listening, communication skills, principled negotiation, facilitation, and peacekeeping skills.

Education

• Rice University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Sports Medicine and Hispanic Studies, cum laude

  2002 — 2006

• SMU Dedman School of Law

  Doctor of Law (J.D.), Law

  2007 — 2010