Meet the Staff

J. Michael Chennault
University Ombudsman
Director of Campus Mediation Program

J. Michael Chennault is the Director of the Office of the Ombudsman and Director of the Mediation Program at the University of California, Irvine. He has been with the UCI campus community for 22 years. He is a certified mediator and has extensive experience mediating two party and departmental disputes.

Michael has a Masters of Arts in Educational Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Masters of Science in Counseling from San Diego State University, and a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from San Diego State University.

Dennis DiPlacito
Associate Ombudsman

Dennis serves as an Associate Ombudsman for the University of California, Irvine. He has been with the UCI campus community for over 25 years and has worked extensively with students, staff, parents, administrators and faculty.

In addition to being a certified mediator, Dennis has a Masters of Science in Counseling and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Sacramento.

Jennifer Moumneh
Associate Ombudsman

Jennifer serves as an Associate Ombudsman for the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She holds a Masters in Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute at Pepperdine Law School, as well as an M.B.A. from the Paul Merage School of Business at UCI.

After completing graduate school, Jennifer worked as Director of Operations for a private dispute resolution provider, and then as one of the Ombudsman for UCLA. Jennifer has also mediated cases for the university and court systems.   Jennifer is a member of the Board of Directors for the International Ombudsman Association, and currently serves in the role of Past President.

Shawn Hutchens
Associate Ombudsman

Shawn recently received her Master's degree at Pepperdine's Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. Prior to this, she received her Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Theology at William Jessup University.

Danielle Brewer
Business Manager

La Verne Durham-Rhodes
Administrative Assistant