Roberta Reyes Cordero, J.D. (Chumash) currently serves as a Senior Associate Mediator and Trainerwith Indian Dispute Resolution Services, Inc. Ms. Cordero is a trained lawyer with a strong background and interest in family law and domestic violence. In addition, she has extensive training in alternative dispute resolution and has served as a facilitator, mediator, and ombudsman. She has helped to resolve interpersonal disputes, intra- and inter-organizational disputes and disputes in the public policy arena. She has worked in private practice, for community-based organizations and for city and county government agencies.

Ms. Cordero has served as a Program Associate with the Santa Barbara Community Mediation Program. It provides free or low-cost mediation services to low-income residents, community-based non-profit organizations, and public/government agencies and the Small Claims Court. She has served as a mediator and has trained volunteer mediators who offer their services to the program.

Ms Cordero served as a Coordinator/Facilitator/Trainer with the Partnership for Families, a Project with the Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara. It is a collaborative of agencies serving Lompoc Valley in a demonstration youth violence prevention program.

Ms Cordero, several years ago, served as the Assistant Ombudsman with the King County Office of Citizens Complaints in Seattle, Washington. In this capacity, she advocated for administrative fairness for citizens and King County employees and investigated and resolved complaints concerning Metropolitan King County government. She dealt with complaints ranging from issues concerning the building permit process and drainage problems to employee complains about special treatment or delay in job reclassification.

Ms. Cordero serves as the President and Director of the Chumash Maritime Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing the Maritime culture of the Chumash Indian people along the southern California coast. It has played an integral role in creating relationships with other Native American communities along the coast in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska.

Ms. Cordero earned her B.A. Degree and was a Phi Beta Kappa and graduated Cum Laude from the School of Music at the University of Washington. She received her J.D. Degree from the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, Washington.