Boston University Adds an Associate Ombuds

Lailul Ikram was hired by the Ombuds Office at BU in July 2025, joining University Ombuds, Francine Montemurro, and Senior Associate Ombuds, Erin Wright.

Job Posting: Federal Reserve System

The governing board of the U.S. central bank is hiring an Assistant Ombuds in Washington, DC. This Executive Ombuds position: acts as facilitator for the fair and timely resolution of complaints related to the System’s regulatory activities; receives, reviews, and decides claims of retaliatory conduct by System staff; and reports to Board members and senior Board staff on issues that may have a significant impact on the System’s mission, activities, or reputation, including patterns of issues that occur in multiple complaints. In addition, there are collateral administrative duties. This is a hybrid position, with on-site cadence of about six times per month.

Marc DeWitt: Ombuds at Central State University

Central State University announced that Marc DeWitt, its Student Ombudsman and Director of the Office of the Student Ombudsman, passed unexpectedly last week. A longtime member of the campus community and alumnus, DeWitt had worked in higher education for more than two decades, including roles at Wright State University, Wilberforce University, and Sinclair Community College, before being appointed CSU Ombuds in November 2025.

Update: Details Emerge About Closure of Cal Poly Pomona Ombuds Office

New reporting by the student newspaper at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona provides additional detail about the termination of Mark Patterson and the closure of the Office of Conflict Resolution Services and Ombuds, which the university had not previously disclosed. Patterson, who had been appointed in 2025 as the inaugural Director of Conflict Resolution Services and Ombuds, said he was terminated in February during a meeting with senior administrators and was not given a reason for his dismissal as an at-will employee. 

Toni Robinson: Former MIT Ombuds

Toni Robinson, a longtime Ombuds at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, died on April 18, 2026, at age 73. She served as Ombudsperson in the Office of the President for two decades before her retirement in 2017. Robinson was widely recognized for her impact across the Institute and received MIT’s Collier Medal in 2015, honoring her efforts to build trust and resolve concerns across a diverse campus community.

Job Posting: University of Toronto Scarborough

The large, research university in Ontario is hiring an Assistant Secretary of the Governing Council & Ombuds Officer, a position held by Miranda Edwards for the past year. The job has two roles and a dual reporting structure. The Assistant Secretary provides administrative support, advice, and information to the Governing Council on policies, precedents, and procedures for assigned boards and committees. In addition, the Ombuds position reports to the University Ombudsperson, Bruce Kidd, and serves as a primary contact for faculty, staff and students seeking assistance from the Office of the Ombudsperson.

Podcast: Insights from a Longtime Ombuds

Reece Ramos, the University Ombuds at Virginia Tech and founder of the Ombuds Academy is the guest this week on "Conflict Managed," a podcast hosted by Merry Brown. Ramos has been an Ombuds for 25 years and is a past president of IOA. In this podcast, he shares insights from his years of work as an Ombuds.

Job Posting: Asian Development Bank

The multilateral development bank headquartered in Manila is seeking a Senior Ombuds Programs Specialist for its Office of the Ombudsperson. The role provides Ombuds services to ADB’s internal community and contributes to training, outreach, and systemic analysis efforts. The position reports to the Ombudsperson, Anje Schubert, who was appointed last month to a three-year term.

CIDR Posts Agenda for 2026 Symposium

The Centre for Informal Dispute Resolution at Saint Paul University in Ottawa has announced the agenda for its 2026 annual symposium. The hybrid virtual and in-person event, "Navigating Crises: The Evolving Role of ADR Practitioners and Ombuds in Turbulent Times," is set for May 11-12, a beautiful time of year in Ottawa. 

Job Posting: Loudoun County Public Schools

The public school district in Northeast Virginia, is seeking its next Ombudsperson. The full-time position reports to the LCPS Chief of Staff and provides services to families, employees, and community members across the division. Carey Williams established the position in 2022. The Ombuds is described as a neutral and confidential resource but is also tasked with drafting formal complaint responses, advising on policy, and providing consultative services to administration. The starting date is "immediately."

Radboud University Combines Student and Staff Ombuds Roles

Radboud Universiteit, the public research university in Nijmegen, Netherlands, has combined its Ombuds functions for students and employees following the departure of Job van Luyken, the Staff Ombuds. Aukje Verstegen, who has served as Student Ombuds since October 2023, will now handle both constituencies. The university does not plan to immediately recruit a replacement and will first review a national evaluation of the Ombuds role at Dutch universities, which may influence the future structure of the position.

Job Posting: Stellenbosch University

The public research university in South Africa's Western Cape province is seeking its next Ombud. Reporting directly to the University Council, the Ombud provides independent, impartial, confidential, and informal services to the entire campus, including over 32,500 enrolled students. The search will fill a position held by Rina Meyer since 2016. The position is a five-year fixed term, renewable once, with an anticipated start date of November 1, 2026.

German BioImaging Appoints First Ombuds

Gesellschaft für Mikroskopie und Bildanalyse e.V. (GerBI-GMB), the scientific society for light microscopy and image analysis across Germany, has appointed its first Ombudspersons for good scientific practice. Christian Feldhaus and Nina Schulze, were appointed at the 2026 General Assembly for three-year terms. The move follows the organization’s alignment with the German Research Foundation’s Code of Conduct and the adoption of internal Ombuds regulations as part of its governance framework.

CEITEC Names Student Ombuds

The Central European Institute of Technology (Středoevropský technologický institut), a multidisciplinary research center based in Brno, Czech Republic, appointed Beáta Idesová as its PhD Ombudsperson in January of this year. She follows Katarína Rovenská in the role and provides peer-based, informal and confidential support for doctoral students with academic and workplace concerns. Idesová is completing her PhD in nanotechnology. (CEITEC News.) 

University of Iowa Ombuds Releases 2024–25 Annual Report

Iowa's Office of the Ombudsperson reported 455 new visitor appointments for FY2025, with Professional & Scientific Staff making up 42% of visitors. The office is led by University Ombudsperson Chanelle Reese, with Faculty Ombudsperson Meenakshi Gigi Durham and Senior Assistant Ombudsperson Corey Pass. (Heather J. Erwin joined as a half-time Assistant Ombudsperson earlier this month.)