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.) 

Canada's Auditor General Selects Next Ombuds

Alexandre St-Jean has been appointed the next Ombuds for Bureau du vérificateur général du Canada. He follows the inaugural Ombuds, Janet Campbell, who retired after six years in the role, and provides services to the department's 800 employees. 

Houston City College Adds an Ombuds

Lisa Crawford has joined the Office of the Ombudsman at HCC (previously known as Houston Community College). She joins Michael Edwards, who restarted the HCC Ombuds Office in early 2025. Together, they serve all constituents across multiple campuses, including over 52,000 students.

(Problematic) Job Posting: York County, VA

The county government in eastern Virginia is hiring a full-time “Assistant County Administrator/Organizational Ombuds.” Although the posting references the International Ombuds Association, the role combines Ombuds duties with senior executive responsibilities that appear incompatible with core Organizational Ombuds standards. The position leads the County’s business engagement and economic development efforts, including coordinating across departments, advising leadership on policy and strategy, guiding businesses through regulatory processes, and resolving stakeholder concerns. These responsibilities involve operational decision-making and advocacy for organizational interests, which conflict with the independence, neutrality, and informality expected of an Organizational Ombuds—even if the function were intended to be part-time.

Job Posting: Ombpoint

Australia’s "first independent workplace resolution service" (providing outsourced Ombuds services) is hiring an Indigenous Adviser for a part-time or casual engagement. The role is flexible in location, with a preference for Sydney. The position emphasizes applying commercial problem-solving skills to employee relations and human resources matters, supporting organizations in managing workplace issues and improving people practices. 

IOA 2026 Trailblazer Award: Mary Rowe

At the conclusion of its annual conference today, the International Ombuds Association presented its Trailblazer Award to Mary Rowe. The IOA Board of Directors created the award in 2022 "for individuals who have devoted significant contributions to the organizational ombuds field over an extended period of time." Rowe was recognize for her work as a pioneer and one of the most influential Ombuds in the profession. Although she retired as an Ombuds in 2014, she continues to be active as a thought leader and the award was presented during her plenary remarks. (IOA Trailblazer.)

Job Posting: Frederick County Public Schools

The public K–12 system in Maryland with more than 47,000 students, is seeking its next Ombudsman. The Office of the Ombuds was established in 2019 by Sabrina Nail and provides confidential, independent, and informal assistance to students, families, employees, and community members. The position is expected to be filled by July 1, 2026.

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.