National University Sponsors Ombuds Day 2025 Webinar

National University and its Ombudsman, LaCrisia "Cris" Gilbert, are hosting a fee webinar to celebrate Ombuds Day. After a welcome by NU's president, Donna Douglass Williams, the Ombuds at Pinterest, will offer a keynote address on "Ombuds: Empowering Voices, Resolving Challenges." A panel discussion on Promoting Ombuds & Dispute Resolution follows with Tom Kosakowski, Ombuds at the University of Southern California, and Jack Hamlin, Professor in the NU School of Public Service at National University. Aurelia Bickler, NU Professor Social & Behavioral Sciences, will offer an opening mediation. 

IOA Announces 2025 September Symposium Speakers

The International Ombuds Association has announced the speaker lineup for its 2025 September Symposium, "Advocating for Your Office and the Ombuds Role." The virtual event will take place on September 30, 2025, from 11:00am to 7:00pm Eastern time.

Here are the scheduled speakers:

Rutgers Expands Ombuds-Like Service for Staff

Cherekana Feliciano has joined the Employee Partners for Conflict Transformation (EmPaCT) Office at Rutgers University as an Associate Conflict Navigation Specialist. She will work with Frieda Hoffman, the inaugural Conflict Navigation Specialist, providing services to university staff that generally follow IOA standards. Meanwhile, Rutgers has existing Ombuds programs for students and medical trainees.

Pinterest Adds an Ombuds

Awab Al-Rawe became the newest Ombuds at Pinterest in August 2024. He reports to Donna Douglass Williams, CO-OP, Head of Ombuds, and joins Teresa Ralicki, Ombuds Analyst, and Shawday Berstler, Senior Ombuds Specialist. (Berstler was promoted from Ombuds Program Manager in June 2023.)

Dispute Resolution Section 2024 Conference Registration Now Open

The American Bar Association has posted the agenda and opened registration for the Dispute Resolution Section's Spring Conference. The in-person event is touted as the world's largest ADR conference and will take place at the Westin hotel in San Diego, April 10-13, 2024. This year, the event includes a panel about Ombuds work:

Ombuds at Virginia Commonwealth University Celebrates 10th Annual Conflict Resolution Day

For the past decade, VCU's Ombudsperson, William King, sponsors a National Conflict Resolution Day program. This year, his signature event on October 19, 2023, will feature a keynote by Donna Douglass-Williams, Senior Director of the Ombuds program at Pinterest. The theme for her address is "The Conflict Reframe: Maintaining Richness Inspiring Hope for Dialogue and Resolution." The day is rounded out with panel discussions on managing conflict in a range of situations, including Geetha Ravindra, former Ombuds for the IMF and Center for Global Development. As usual, the event is free and open to the public.

IOA Posts Agenda and Opens Registration for 2023 Conference

Organizational Ombuds will gather in Seattle for the International Ombuds Association 18th Annual Conference on April 3-5, 2023. This the first in-person conference since 2019. IOA cancelled the event in 2020 shortly after the outbreak of COVID and held virtual conferences in 2021 and 2022. The theme considers the role of Ombuds and also hints at the changes in Ombuds practice: "Ombuds as Change Agent? ReEngaging and Transforming Conflict." Registration is now open and now the detailed agenda is available.

Podcast Interview with Pinterest Ombuds

Law and politics researcher İdil Elveriş has another podcast with an Ombuds for her podcast ,"We can Find a Way." This time, she interviews Donna Douglass Williams, CO-OP, the Head of Ombuds at Pinterest. Williams shares her perspective as one of the few Ombuds in tech and her experience with workplace conflict.

Pinterest Gains Second Experienced Ombuds

Teresa Ralicki has been hired as Ombuds Analyst at Pinterest, joining Head of Ombuds, Donna Douglass Williams, CO-OP. Ralicki comes to the position from the University of Colorado Denver, where she was an Ombuds for nearly six years.

Job Posting: Pinterest

The social media company will expand its Ombuds program with the hiring of an Ombuds Analyst. The new position will report to Pinterest's Head of Ombuds, Donna Douglass Williams, CO-OP. Duties will include managing and analyzing case data, and identifying systemic issues; Developing reports on case data; Coordinating and supporting Ombuds program case management; and Providing Ombuds services to employees. Work will be performed remotely.

IOA Releases Detailed Agenda for 2022 Virtual Conference

For the second year in a row, the International Ombudsman Association will hold its annual conference virtually. IOA's 17th annual meeting will take place April 4 through 6, 2022. Social events will use Gather.town, a virtual world with video features. Registration has been open for a few weeks and now the detailed agenda has been posted.

SHRM Article Touts Effectiveness of Ombuds

An article posted to the Society for Human Resource Management website this week explains that, "Alternative complaint systems can be an effective way for organizations to address and resolve harassment and discrimination disputes without resorting to formal legal channels." The article includes quotes from Elizabeth Schwartz Hill, Associate Director of the Ombuds Office at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Donna Douglass Williams, the new Ombudsperson at Pinterest. (SHRM Employee Relations.)

2021 Year in Review: Responding to Challenges

In 2021, a persistent pandemic and urgent social issues exerted significant pressures on Ombuds individually, on the organizations where they worked, their professional associations. On a personal level, there were undoubtable many small acts of courage that went largely unnoticed. There were, however, several notable and more public responses to these challenges that reflect positively on the Ombuds field.

Leading Ombuds to Head New Program at Pinterest

Donna Douglass Williams, CO-OP, has been selected as the Head of Ombuds for Pinterest. She brings over two decade of Ombuds experience to the international social media company, most recently as the Ombudsperson for the University of Connecticut health system. As the Pinterest Ombuds, Douglass Williams will be an integral part of a plan to reform the company's workplace culture. She will would serve over 2,500 employees who work in offices around the world. Although details are still pending, it is expected that the Pinterest Ombuds program will follow IOA standards.

Healthcare Ombuds to Discuss Pandemic and Black Lives Matter for IOA Roundtable

The International Ombudsman Association has announced the next virtual program which will feature Ombuds from a range of healthcare settings. IOA's "Community Connections" series is designed to keep its members connected and provide relevant educational programming. The healthcare roundtable will take place on Zoom on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, 9:00 AM PDT / 12:00 PM EDT.

Job Posting: Green Climate Fund

The UN-affiliated fund that assists developing countries counter climate change is hiring its next Ombudsperson. The consultant position reports to the Fund’s Executive Director and serve staff with work-related complaints, disputes and issues. The appointment will be as an international Consultant working part-time, remotely, for an initial period of 12 months. The Consultant will be required to visit the Fund’s offices in Songdo, South Korea, periodically. 

UConn Health Recruits Experienced Ombuds

Donna Douglass Williams has been selected as the first Ombuds for the University of Connecticut health system. She will provide services to faculty, students, trainees, and staff affiliated with a teaching hospital, the UConn School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, and Graduate School. Williams will be based in Farmington and coordinate with the UConn Ombuds in Storrs, Jim Wohl.

VCU's 2018 National Conflict Resolution Day Program to Feature Green Climate Fund Ombuds

Donna Douglass Williams, the first Ombudsperson for the Green Climate Fund, will be the featured speaker at the annual event hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University Ombudsman William King on October 16, 2018.  This is the sixth time National Conflict Resolution Day has been marked at VCU. The event is free and open to the public.  

Cal Caucus Announces Agenda, Opens Registration for 45th Meeting

The California Caucus of College and University Ombuds has posted the lineup for its the 45th annual gathering, which has the theme: "Honoring Our Past to Engage with Our Future." The event will be held at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, California, November 4-7, 2018. The caucus attracts Ombuds from beyond California and the higher education sector with its inclusive, casual, and intimate tradition. 

Green Climate Fund Names Experienced Ombuds to Open Office

Donna Douglass Williams will be the first Ombudsperson for the UN-affiliated fund that assists developing countries counter climate change. Williams has held a number of Ombuds positions and most recently has been the Director of the Ombuds Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center since 2012.  In her new role, Williams will serve staff with work-related issues for an initial appointment of one year.