IOA's Ombuds Release 2025 Annual Report

The International Ombuds Association's Ombuds, Laura C. Smythe and Tyler S. Smith, reported increased engagement in 2025, handling 33 cases and 51 individual visits, up from 16 cases and 35 visits in 2024. They noted that many interactions followed the IOA Annual Conference, underscoring the role of in-person events in surfacing concerns. Most visitors were affiliated with academic institutions and had between two and ten years of experience. Cases were split between IOA-related concerns and issues arising in members’ home institutions.

Meet the Second Ombuds for Harris Health System

In February 2025, Lauren Manning Salomon became the second Ombuds for the public healthcare system for Harris County, Texas, joining the Managing Ombuds Director, Jai McBride-Calloway. Salomon assisting in providing Ombuds services to over 7,000 HHS employees across three hospitals and affiliated clinics. She has been with the health care provider since 2019 and has held positions Manager of Talent & Workforce Strategies, Talent Program Manager, and Senior Organizational Development Consultant.

University of Colorado Boulder Names Faculty Ombuds

Keith Maskus and JoAnn Silverstein are the new Faculty Ombuds at CU Boulder. In these part-time roles, they primarily work with faculty, researchers, and graduate students. Maskus and Silverstein join an office led by Director Kirsi Aulin and including Associate Ombuds Jason J. Sinocruz and has hired Detric Robinson as Associate Ombuds.

Podcast: Staying Grounded with Heavy Cases

Joe Johnston is the latest guest on Brooke Wichmann's podcast, "Ombuddy." Johnston, the Ombuds at the Rochester Institute of Technology, talks about his three decades of experience in higher education, including roles in residence life, student conduct, and now Ombuds. The thread through all of these jobs: "His commitment to deep listening and, at times, dark humor." 

Job Posting: Western Governors University

The private, nonprofit, online university based in Salt Lake City, Utah is hiring a full-time Associate Student Ombuds. The position is located in the Office of Student Affairs and reports to WGU's inaugural Ombuds, Kevin L. Cummings, who was appointed in June 2019. WGU's Ombuds program provide serves an enrolled student population of about 100,000. 

Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center Appoints First Ombuds

In November 2025, Billie Jo Alexander became the inaugural Ombuds for the not-for-profit, acute care hospital in McComb, Mississippi. She provides providing services to over 1,100 staff, clinicians, and administrators aligned with IOA standards. 

Texas Higher Education Ombudsman Lacks Investigation Standards

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board oversees all public colleges in the state, yet it lacks any written policies to ensure its Ombudsman’s investigations are fair or effective. Created in 2025, the Office of the Ombudsman office is tasked with policing state DEI bans and holds the power to recommend that lawmakers defund schools found in violation.

Job Posting: Santa Fe College

The community college in Gainesville, Florida, is seeking an Ombuds and Senior Director, Student Affairs. The search will fill a position previously held by Bea Awoniyi. Reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs, this full-time leadership role also includes oversight of key student support programs, including the Disabilities Resource Center and Displaced Homemakers. The role includes supervision of staff, budget and grant oversight, and collaboration across campus and community partners. 

Podcast: Ombuds as Chief Vibe Officer

Sana Manjeshwar is the latest guest on Vibecast, a podcast by HR consultant, Kristi Skutvik. Manjeshwar explained how the Ombuds is distinct from HR, EAP, and therapy, and its value in surfacing concerns before they escalate. Majeshwar describes Ombuds as a “canary in the coal mine,” offering real-time cultural insight and a trusted space—often used by leaders themselves—while emphasizing that empathy, conflict awareness, and intentional leadership remain essential in ways AI cannot replicate. (YouTube.)

Job Posting: SOS Children's Villages, Jordan

The Austria-based international development organization for children is hiring National Ombuds in the capital city of Amman. The full-time, six-month contract position is expected to report to Sambieni Bienvenu, the SOS Regional Ombuds for West, Central & North Africa.

ENOHE Announces 2026 Conference Speakers

The European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education has announced speakers and session details for its 21st annual conference at AGH University of Kraków on June 10-12, 2026. This year's theme is "New Developments in a Maturing Profession: Ombuds Skills and AI" will connect emerging issues in artificial intelligence with Ombuds work in higher education.

Job Posting: Pennsylvania State University

The Public Ivy in Central Pennsylvania is seeking an inaugural Director for its University Ombuds Office for its flagship campus at University Park. Reporting to the Provost’s Chief of Staff, this full-time position will establish and lead a new Ombuds function serving faculty, staff, and postdoctoral scholars across a large, multi-campus system. The role reflects a hybrid “hub-and-spoke” model with both direct service and program oversight responsibilities, including developing protocols for unit ombuds and coordinating practices across campuses. 

Glenn Crispell: Inaugural Ombuds for the CIA

Glenn N. Crispell, a pioneer in the federal Ombuds sector, passed away on March 14, 2026. Crispell’s legacy was defined by his 63-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency, where he served as the agency's first-ever Ombudsman. In this role, and as the CIA’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program Manager, he pioneered the use of neutral, confidential conflict resolution within one of the government’s most complex environments. A recipient of the Career Intelligence Medal and a nominee for the Trailblazer Award, Crispell was a trusted advisor to multiple Directors of Central Intelligence (and many others at the CIA, as reflected in comments to his obituary). (Money & King.) 

Job Posting: World Health Organization, Egypt

The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations agency for international public health, is seeking a Regional Ombudsman based in Cairo for its Eastern Mediterranean Region. This senior (P5) role provides informal conflict resolution services for staff, including mediation, trend analysis, and advising leadership on systemic issues. Consistent with WHO’s recent reaffirmation of its Ombuds function, the position operates without decision-making authority and is expected to support organizational learning, improve workplace climate, and promote early identification of concerns. It is not clear whether the position is currently vacant. 

Podcast: Career Pivots and Holding Space

Tom A. Kosakowski, a University Ombuds and author of The Ombuds Blog, joined the Blessed Be Podcast (hosted by Robert Polanco, Dawn Sander, and Jacqueline Villafañe) to discuss career transitions and the skills that support navigating professional uncertainty. Kosakowski reflects on his own path and the broader relevance of Ombuds-informed practices beyond formal roles.