Wake Tech Opens Campus Ombuds Office

Wake Technical Community College, a community college outside Raleigh, North Carolina has appointed Jerry Nuesell to serve as its first Ombuds. He practices to IOA standards and serves over 70,000 faculty, staff, and students. Nuesell had been the college's Title III Project Director since 2015. 

American Bar Association Ombuds Committee Posts Update

The ABA Section of Dispute Resolution's February newsletter features updates from the Ombuds Committee. Committee member Howard Gadlin introduces four articles on some recent developments in and thoughts about Ombuds programs. The articles include:

IOA Brings Range of Ombuds Training to Minneapolis

As a prelude to its twelfth annual conference, the International Ombudsman Association will offer several training programs in Minneapolis, April 21-23.  The training sessions are open to anyone and are not limited to Ombuds or conference attendees.

Internship: International Organization for Migration

The IOM Office of the Ombudsperson is seeking an intern for a six-month position. Reporting to the Ombudsperson, Rogelio Bernal, the intern will support his teamwork with other colleagues in the Field Missions and IOM Headquarters. The intern will provoide case management and assistance with the intake and follow-up of cases, including the compilation of statistics and the preparation of regular reports.

Huffington Post Blogger: Uber Sexual Harassment Charge Shows Need for Ombuds

In a weekend post, contributor Jeffery Tobias Halter examined the recent claims of sexual harassment and an unrestrained workplace culture against Uber. Halter, a "gender strategist" and diversity executive at Coca-Cola, says there are five lessons companies should learn from the Uber situation. One of these lessons is that HR needs to be supplemented with an effective Ombuds program:

National Capital Commission Seeks Bids for Ombuds Program

The Canadian Crown corporation that administers the federally owned lands and buildings in the National Capital Region is requesting proposals for the provision of Ombudsman related responsibilities in accordance with the Terms of Reference. 

Cornell Medical School Creates Ombuds Program for Students

Weill Cornell Medicine has appointed Henry W. Murray, MD, as its first Ombudsperson. Murray will serve about 800 students from the highly selective medical school and the affiliated Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences. Murray reports to the dean of the Medical College of Cornell University and practices to IOA standards. He has been a faculty member since 1979 is current a professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases. 

International Ombudsman Association Opens Elections for 2017 Board Under New Bylaws

IOA is holding elections for Directors under newly-adopted bylaws that reshaped the membership and board composition.  The election will fill six seats from a slate of seven nominees for three-year terms starting in April 2017.  For the first time, all IOA Members and Retired Members will be eligible to vote.  Also new are board eligibility rules which now required verified Organizational Ombuds experience and IOA membership, and allow for up to two non-Ombuds members. 

Call for Papers: ENOHE 2017 Strasbourg

The European Network of Ombudsmen in Higher Education is seeking proposals for presentations at its 13th Annual Conference set for June 28 - 30, 2017 in Strasbourg, France. The theme will be, "Higher Education Ombudsmen as Beacons -Towards a fair and transparent European Higher Education Area." The conference will be co-hosted by the European Parliament
, European Ombudsman, and the European Ombudsman Institute.

University of Colorado Denver Hires an Experienced Ombuds

The Ombuds Office for the University of Colorado Denver has hired Teresa Ralicki, the former Associate Ombudsman for the American Red Cross.  Ralicki will serve stakeholders at the Auraria campus in downtown Denver and she fills a position vacated by Kathy Greenwood who moved to UC Davis.  

Law Firm of Shipman & Goodwin Appoints First Ombuds

The large, regional law firm based in Connecticut has named Vaughan Finn as its first Ombuds. She also serves as the Pro Bono Coordinator.  Until July 2016, she was a litigation partner handling employment, employee benefits and petroleum franchising cases. The law firm is also home to Charles Howard, author of the ABA book, The Organizational Ombudsman: Origins, Roles and Operations-A Legal Guide.

Call for Proposals: 2017 Summer Academic Ombuds Meeting

The 15th Annual Summer Academic Ombuds Meeting is set for June 26-27 at Michigan State University.  Organizers are inviting abstract from presenters for interactive discussions. Originally a regional event, the conference is growing into an important gathering of Ombuds who seek a focus on academic issues not available at the larger IOA conference.

IOA Seeks Nominations for 2017 Distinguished Emeriti Ombuds

The International Ombudsman Association is seeking nominations for its 2017 Distinguished Emeritus award. IOA has traditionally bestowed the award to retired Ombuds in recognition of their outstanding and dedicated service to the organization and profession.

Fewer Ombuds Offerings at 2017 ABA Dispute Resolution Conference

The American Bar Association, 19th Annual Section of Dispute Resolution Spring Conference will feature fewer sessions about Ombuds that usual.  Rather than three or four programs highlighting the work of Organizational Ombuds, there will be just one.  Not coincidentally, the conference in San Francisco conflicts with the IOA annual meeting.

University of Florida to Expand Ombuds Services to Staff

Florida's "Public Ivy" created an Ombuds program for students in 2010 with the appointment of Ron Anderson.  Then, in 2014 emeritus professor Kenneth J. Gerhardt was named the first Ombuds for Faculty. In an interview this week, Anderson revealed that the university will expand to provide Ombuds services to staff this spring.  (UFL HR News.)

Interview with Binghamton Ombuds

Bathabile Mthombeni, the Binghamton University Ombudsman, is interviewed by Jesan Sorrells for his Human Services Consulting and Training Blog/Podcast.  The conversation ranges into many topics and Mthombeni brings her thoughtful Ombuds insights on the political climate, uncertainty, change, reconciliation, forgiveness, moving on, Game of Thrones, and other topics.

Virginia Tech Fills Ombuds Position with Prominent Mediator

Bryan Hanson has been named the Graduate School Ombudsperson for Virginia Tech. Hanson is president of the Association for Conflict Resolution Board of Directors and has also served as the first president of the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Mediation Association.  In addition, Hanson was the Assistant Director of the Werner Institute for Negotiation & Conflict Resolution at Creighton University where he was instumental in launching ADRhub.

UC Santa Barbara Adds an Assistant Ombuds

Shauna Shea has joined the Ombuds Office at the University of California - Santa Barbara as an Assistant Ombuds. She has worked at UCSB for the past five years, most recently as a Lead Teacher at the campus Children’s Center.

Job Posting: National Institutes of Health

The NIH Office of the Ombudsman is hiring a Scientific Dispute Specialist.  The position "will serve as a dispute resolution practitioner for work and lab-related concerns utilizing the principles, techniques and concepts of ombudsman practice including alternative dispute resolution (ADR), facilitation, interest-based negotiation, conflict coaching, and systems change."