Ombuds at UNC Marks Decade of Service

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the University Ombuds Office.  Ombuds Wayne Blair, Associate Ombuds Laurie Mesibov, and program specialist Victoria Dowd together have created a program that now serves more than 40,000 faculty staff and students. “You have to give credit to University leaders because it took a leap of faith to allow an ombuds program to run true to form,” Blair told the UNC Gazette. “From the chancellor on down, there was a real commitment to make it work.”

IOA Opens Election for 2014 Board of Directors

The International Ombudsman Association has announced the slate of candidates for Board of Directors terms starting in April 2014. As it has in the past, the Ombuds Blog provides links to public information about the candidates to supplement the official ballot statements.

FCO and ACCUO Announce 2024 Biennial Conference

The Forum of Canadian Ombudsman and the Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons have released details for their biennial conference on October 22-24, 2024, at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC. The conference theme is "Ombuds on Edge: Tackling Challenges, Evolving Practices, Enduring Principles" and registration is now open.

Updated Job Posting: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC's search for its next University Ombuds has been updated. Applications are now due by February 22, 2018 (previously it was February 8) and the expected start date is June 4, 2018 (previously it was March 1). These changes should dispel any implication that the search is perfunctory and that an internal candidate has been pre-selected.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Selects Ombuds

Yesterday, UNC announced the appointment of Dawn Osborne-Adams as its new University Ombuds and Director of the University Ombuds Office. Osborne-Adams comes to UNC from Shell in Houston, where she was a consultant Ombuds. She joins Laurie Mesibov, Associate University Ombuds, and Victoria Dowd, Assistant University Ombuds and Program Specialist, in serving over 40,000 students, staff, faculty, and administrators.

IOA Announces New Board Members

The International Ombudsman Association recently held elections for open board position.  Results were announced recently.

Job Posting: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC's has opened a search for its next University Ombuds. The search will replace Wayne Blair, who established the program in 2005.  The position reports to the university chancellor and directs an office that serves over 40,000 students, staff, faculty, and administrators following IOA standards and practices.

Programs Mark Ombuds Day 2020, Now Just One Month Away

The ABA Ombuds Committee website is posting links to events commemorating the third annual Ombuds Day on October 8, 2020. Organizers (led by Ken Skodacek, ABA Dispute Resolution Section, Ombuds Day Subcommittee Chair) aim to survey the full range of Ombuds practices. Several are online and open to the public.

IOA Conference Session Aims to Attract Ombuds Support Staff

At the International Ombudsman Association's Eighth Annual Conference in Miami, Florida, April 21-24 2013, most session are intended for practicing and aspiring Ombuds.  One concurrent session stands out.  “Who’s Out Front: Skills for the Ombuds Assistant,” scheduled for Tuesday, April 23 at 1:30 p.m. is for those who assist the Ombuds and for Ombuds officers. 

Job Posting: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina's flagship public research university has opened a search for its next University Ombuds and Director of the University Ombuds Office. The full-time position reports directly to the Chancellor and serves faculty, staff, students, administrators, and postdoctoral scholars across the university. The position is expected to begin in October 2026 and succeeds Dawn Osborne-Adams, who served as University Ombuds from 2018 until earlier this year. The successful candidate will join Josh Canzona, who is serving as Interim Ombuds, and Victoria Dowd, Assistant University Ombuds and Program Specialist.

University of North Carolina to Open National Search for Next Ombuds

UNC's founding Ombuds, Wayne Blair, will leave the campus early next year to serve as the Ombuds for the Asian Development Bank. In announcing the move, the University Chancellor renewed her commitment to the Ombuds program and promised a broad search for Blair's successor.  Here is her statement to the campus yesterday: 

University of North Carolina Adds an Associate Ombuds

UNC Chapel Hill has selected Joshua Canzona as its newest Associate Ombuds. Canzona come from the UNC School of the Arts where he established the Ombuds Office in 2017. He joins Dawn Osborne-Adams, University Ombuds and Director, Laurie Mesibov, Associate University Ombuds, and Victoria Dowd, Assistant University Ombuds and Program Specialist.

IOA Posts 2013 Conference Agenda, Opens Registration

Registration is now open for the Eighth Annual Conference of the International Ombudsman Association, April 19-24, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency in Miami, Florida. Special pricing is being offered for attendees who also register for a pre-conference professional development course. Priority registration closes on April 1.  

Here's an overview of the conference sessions: