June 10, 2024

President Joe Biden has appointed Ramapo College Ombudsman John Woods, Jr., to the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Panel of Arbitrators and Conciliators. The ICSID is the premier global institution specializing in resolving disputes between investors and states through international arbitration. Woods will serve a six-year term through 2030 on the panel.

“I am humbled that I was selected by President Biden to serve in this capacity,” said Woods. “From the quest to sustain industrial peace to formulating equitable solutions in addressing international investment disputes, the world is increasingly leaning in and leveraging Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to resolve both domestic and cross-border conflict. I am excited to serve and contribute to advancing this effort.”

In his capacity as Ramapo College Ombudsman, Woods serves as a confidential resource to assist in resolving disputes such as interpersonal and workplace conflict through ADR processes such as mediation. He identifies systemic organizational issues and trends as well as provides recommendations that contribute to organizational development and training to address such issues, which positions him well for the work he will perform on the ICSID panel. “Conflict is inevitable. Therefore, forward-looking and successful organizations, industries, as well as countries, develop systems to adequately process conflict,” he shared. With his appointment to the World Bank-ICSID panel, Woods will also apply ADR processes to assist in resolving international investment disputes.  

The ICSID functions as a global court for international investment disputes that was established in 1966 and provides for the settlement of disputes by conciliation, mediation, arbitration or fact-finding. Countries (nation-states) have agreed on ICSID as a forum for investor-State dispute settlement in most international investment treaties and in numerous investment laws and contracts.  

Woods is also the founder of the Garvey-Nkrumah Development Incubator, for which he was awarded the Fulbright Scholars Award in 2024. The GNDI is a training, capacity building, and technical assistance program designed to train students and future leaders from U.S. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), as well as African and Caribbean institutions. The principles of ADR and processes are integrated within international development efforts. Woods will also serve as a visiting/guest faculty member at the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill Campus, Barbados) where he will provide instruction on international dispute resolution.