Job Posting: University of Virginia

Virginia’s flagship public university is seeking its next University Ombuds. The search will fill a position held by Amanda Monaco since 2022. The UVA Ombuds manages a program that serves nearly 40,000 faculty, staff, and students and supervises the UVA Health Ombuds, Henry Yampolsky, and a Program Coordinator. The position budgetarily reports to the AVP for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights, but maintains strict independence in its casework and direct lines of communication with university leadership.

SAP Adds an Ombuds for India and Asia-Pacific

SAP has appointed Ranju Gupta as its first Ombudsperson for India and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, based in Bengaluru. The appointment expands the reach of the SAP Global Ombuds Office, which is headed by Carsten Pöschl and also includes Danillo Alves for SAP Americas and Agnes Eising for EMEA. 

Job Posting: University for Peace

The United Nations affiliated university in Costa Rica is seeking an Ombudsperson for a one-year contractual appointment, with the possibility of extension. The search will fill a position held by Laura Navarrete since 2022. The part-time role (about four hours per week) reports to the Rector. The position is is focused on enforcement of institutional policies and compliance with Costa Rican law, a significant change from the search that created the position. Several included duties are outside the scope of IOA standards, including: receiving and acting on complaints; advising disciplinary panels; and organizing investigations.

IOA Seeks Feedback on Revised SOPs and Code of Ethics

The International Ombuds Association Board of Directors has convened a task force to review professional Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics as part of the Board's regular review cycle. The task force shared its proposals on January 28 and now solicits feedback from members for input on the meaning, interpretation, and practice alignment of the proposed revisions. Online feedback sessions and regional meetings are offered over the next several weeks. In general, the revisions aim to better reflect the complexities of modern workplaces and to better integrate the primary ethical standards.

Job Posting: SOS Children's Villages, Austria

The Vienna-based international development organization for children is seeking an Ombuds Framework Consultant to support its Global Ombuds Office during a six-month organizational transformation process. The consultant will review governance changes, analyze alignment with existing Ombuds procedures, and propose updates to guidance, toolkits, and frameworks. The role also includes advising on the scale-up process, supporting Regional Ombuds during transition phases, and assisting with participation of children and young people and related communications. The consultancy is expected to start on March 1, 2026.

Job Posting: University of Calgary

The large, public research university in Alberta is seeking its next Student Ombuds, which serves about 36,000 students. The full-time position is part of the Office of Student Experience & Support and reports operationally to the Senior Director, Student Affairs. Currently, Karen Quinn is serving in the role on an interim basis.

Online Course Surveys the Ombuds Field

A new course, "Ombudsman: A Unique Role in Dispute Resolution," is now available on Coursera, a global online learning platform that provides access to courses from leading universities and organizations. Developed in partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder, a Coursera partner that served as the academic and production home for the course, and co-curated by Liz Hill and Ken Skodacek, the course offers an accessible introduction to Ombuds roles, models, and the shared values that guide the work across sectors and countries. Nearly 150 ombuds from around the globe participated in and supported the development of the content. The course is designed for those exploring the ombuds field, as well as colleagues, leaders, and decision-makers seeking a clearer understanding of how ombuds programs function.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Opens Internal Search for Ombuds

The private research university in Worcester, Massachusetts, is soliciting applications from employees members interested in serving as the next Staff Ombuds. The position will join the Facutly Ombuds, Kristin Wobbe (director of WPI's Center for Project-Based Learning). The WPI Ombuds serve faculty, staff, and students and practice to IOA standards. Applications are due by February 2, 2026. (WPI News.)

Farmingdale State College Rolls Out Ombuds Program

The State University of New York at Farmingdale is introducing its new Ombuds Team at information sessions this semester. Five Ombuds will provide services to 10,000 students and 1,700 employees at the campus in Nassau County. The founding group of Ombuds was introduced by Farmingdale's president last summer and include: 

Utah Valley University Selects Next Ombuds

In October 2025, Victoria Cruz began as the Assistant Director of Conflict Resolution & Ombuds for the large public university in Orem. She primarily serves a student population of about 37,000 and also works with faculty and staff. (UVU faculty with inter-faculty issues are also served by the Faculty Ombuds, Natalie Grecu.)

Conflict Resolution Framework Developed by Ombuds Practitioner

Kira Nurieli, an Organizational Ombuds and conflict resolution consultant, has developed a new conflict-navigation framework known as 3D Harmony. The model is structured around three core elements of dignity, dialogue, and discovery, and is intended for use in workplace and organizational conflict settings. 

Longtime Ombuds at University of Colorado Denver|Anschutz Retires

According to a campus press release, Melissa Connell, CO-OP, the director of the Ombuds Office for CU Anschutz and CU Denver retired in December 2025. She had served in the role since August 1997. The university said that her "institutional knowledge and ability to adapt to the evolving needs of the campuses made her a valuable resource to staff, faculty, students and administrators." In the wake of her departure, CU Denver and CU Anschutz will separate their Ombuds offices, with the Anschutz Ombuds office merging with the Office of Adaptive Resolution. 

IOA Group Highlights Growth of K-12 Ombuds

The International Ombuds Association’s K–12 Ombuds Workgroup convened on January 15, 2026, to examine national trends in K–12 Ombuds services and their implications for public education. Monique Bookstein, Ombuds for Prince William County Public Schools, facilitated the meeting, which highlighted the continued expansion of K-12 Ombuds programs across the U.S. The workgroup noted that every state and territory now has at least one education Ombuds role, with rising case volume signaling increased reliance on Ombuds services. 

Job Posting: OPEC Fund for International Development

The intergovernmental development bank of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has issued a Request for Expression of Interest for consultant Ombuds services. The new position will serve about 250 OPEC Fund employees for eight days a month for an initial one-year term. Although services will be provided remotely, travel to OPEC headquarters in Vienna is required. The work is anticipated to start in April 2026. 

DAVIS Construction Implements an Ombuds Program

James G. Davis Construction, a privately-held, general contractor based in Rockville, MD, and Philadelphia, selected MWI in February 2025 to create an IOA-compliant Ombuds program. MWI panelists Nnena Odim and Josh Hoch serve as the Ombuds for DAVIS’s 500+ employees across the Mid-Atlantic region. Odim and Hoch have worked together on various clients for the past 25 years, including providing ombuds services for JMA Construction. (DAVIS Ombuds.)