Merna Jacobsen has worked in the field of alternative dispute resolution since 1986. She completed basic mediation training from CDR Associates in Boulder, Colorado in 1994. She was instrumental in establishing a cohort of mediators at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) where she collaborated with the university Ombudsman and the UNC Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution to design and deliver mediation training to faculty and staff. She has trained experienced mediators in advanced mediation and facilitation skills. She is currently the primary trainer for the Basic Mediation Course offered through the Brazos Valley Dispute Resolution Center in Bryan, Texas. Merna is currently the Coordinator of the Program for Staff and Organizational Development for the Division of Student Affairs at Texas A&M University.

Merna mediates two party and multi-party disputes dealing with a range of workplace issues including supervisor/subordinate conflicts, discrimination and harassment cases, and employee to employee conflicts. In addition to work in higher education, Merna mediates for the federal government, businesses, the K-12 school system, and non-profit organizations.