Throughout her adult life Marilyn has been deeply invested in international humanitarian work, both as a consultant and a professional volunteer. In her world travel she worked with projects that were wonderfully successful, and others that were heartbreakingly ineffective. Her passion is to help define a path that will empower others to become self-sustaining; this will allow future generations to benefit from the effort and resources put forth today. She is consulting with organizations that have the desire to achieve sustainable outcomes in humanitarian aid projects. She believes that this is best accomplished by providing the opportunity for all primary stakeholders to have their voices heard through the process of integrative negotiation.

Marilyn’s professional career includes 17 years as a M.A. Clinical Psychologist; she then returned to the classroom to obtain a M.B.A. and founded a consulting group specializing in organizational development providing training and seminars in leadership skills, communication and organizational dispute resolution. She has taught numerous courses in American and international M.B.A. programs. Marilyn then again revisited the traditional academic setting to achieve a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. She is currently president and founder of the consulting firm, Common Ground Solutions, LLC. This company provides project design, planning, implementation and evaluation to organizations seeking to attain sustainable outcomes.

mfitzgerald@utopiafound.org