Meet Maralise Hood Quan (she/her)

As a certified mediator, Maralise brings a breadth of experience in the field of conflict resolution to the Center For Dialog & Resolution. She has served as the Executive Director since May 2007.

In 2023, Maralise was awarded the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize.

Before earning her BA in International Relations and Conflict Management, Maralise worked in intercultural and nonviolent conflict resolution settings in her native Washington State. In 1985, Maralise was the Coordinator of the Conflict Resolution Program at the United Nations University for Peace. In that role, she was instrumental in the success of such projects as the Central American Peace Education curriculum, World Conflict Resolution Center and multiple trainings and sessions for parties involved in national peace negotiations.

In 2000, after years of working together as consultants to help resolve conflict, Maralise and her husband, Julio Quan, returned to Washington. She worked as a professional mediator in a small firm focusing on land use, state agency mediations and problem-solving services. This led her to pursue her long-time interest in the law-making process. She became Chief of Staff to State Representative Dennis Flannigan, serving the people of the 27th Legislative District for five years. In 2007, she became the Executive Director of the then Pierce County Center for Dispute and Resolution. She received her Juris Doctorate in 2008.