Our People

Michelle Arbid joins the NIH Ombuds team after 7.5 years at the Federal Emergency Management Agency Alternative Dispute Resolution Division. She is deeply dedicated to helping people better understand themselves and others while building their skills in conflict resolution, communication, and navigating crossroads. 

Michelle started her career as a therapist in the Lebanese prison system, where she found that one of the most common topics in her work with incarcerated people was their need to build skills to navigate conflict effectively— both inside the prison system and outside its walls. This led her to pursue a Master's degree in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution in New York. During this time, Michelle worked on the Sustainable Peacemapping Project at the Advanced Consortium on Cooperation, Conflict and Complexity before joining the Federal Government. She has also coached senior leaders at several Federal agencies, non-profits, and private sector organizations. 

Michelle is a PCC level coach and holds an MSc in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University. She is also a Professor of Conflict Resolution, Peace, and Justice Studies at Pace University and Columbia University.

Fernando Caetano is an Associate Ombuds at NIH. Prior to joining the ombuds team at NIH, Fernando served for four years as the Ombuds for the United States Geological Survey, Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as other agencies under the Department of the Interior. 

Fernando started his professional journey in Brazil, first as a teacher, then as an attorney. He’s been a conflict resolution practitioner in the United States for the past twenty years, having served as mediator, arbitrator, and ombuds.  He also designed and taught a graduate level class - Negotiation and Dispute Resolution - at the University of Michigan for seven years. 

Fernando holds a law degree from the Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Campinas and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Wayne State University Law School.  He’s a member of the International Ombuds Association.

Elisa Enriquez is an Associate Ombuds at NIH. Prior to joining NIH, she served as Senior Associate Ombuds at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for over 12 years. Elisa listens to individuals with openness and objectivity, empowering them to explore issues, gain perspective, and navigate workplace problems more fully. Elisa has over 16 years of experience working with individuals and groups across technical and non-technical disciplines, including supervisors, scientists, medical doctors, clinical staff, administrative staff, contractors, interns, and post docs. As an organizational ombuds, she offers individual and group level assistance, including conflict and communication coaching, facilitated processes, and other non-escalating conflict resolution approaches.

Elisa is Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner (CO-OP®) and an active member of the International Ombuds Association (IOA) and Coalition of Federal Ombuds (COFO). She is an ombuds mentor and often presents at professional conferences. Elisa earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and has an MSW from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Toni Hawkins is an Associate Ombuds at NIH. Prior to her role at NIH, Toni amassed over 12 years of experience in ADR consulting as a mediator, arbitrator, and conflict management practitioner where she carefully guided parties through conflicts and communication challenges, provided conflict coaching, facilitated interpersonal and group dialogues, and created learning experiences for private sector entities, government organizations, nonprofits and institutions of higher education. Toni’s conflict management practice centers around her belief in the immense value of creating spaces of safety and trust.  
 
Toni earned a B.S. in Psychology from THEEILOVE Jackson State University, an M.P.H. from Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and an M.A. in Conflict Management from Lipscomb University. She is a member of the International Ombuds Association, Association for Conflict Resolution, and American Bar Association-Dispute Resolution Section.

Amira Langham is the Operations Coordinator for the Office of the Ombuds at NIH. She comes with a background in administrative and operational support. Amira worked previously at the NIH from 2009 to 2017 in multiple institutes, and administrative roles. Most recently and before rejoining NIH, she worked as a Program Officer in the private sector. Amira earned a B.S. in Business Administration from University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and M.B.A. from University of Maryland Global Campus.

Tyler Smith is an Associate Ombuds at NIH.  He returns to the Ombuds team at NIH after serving as the University Ombuds at Northeastern Illinois University for nearly two and half years and part-time as the conference Ombuds for the Midwest Political Science Association during 2021.  Tyler worked previously as an Associate Ombuds at the NIH from 2014 to 2019.  

Before starting his career as an ombuds, Tyler spent several years working as a mediator, facilitator, and conflict resolution trainer at The Bosserman Center for Conflict Resolution in Salisbury, Maryland.  He is an active member of the International Ombudsman Association and holds an M.A. in Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution from Salisbury University.