YB came to Oberlin in 1978 as a residence hall director. After two decades, she was tapped to establish the Ombuds office in 2000. She quickly added a mediation program and then, in 2006, YB worked with students to create the Social Justice Institute. When she retired in 2015, the college renamed the program in her honor: the Yeworkwha Belachew Center for Dialogue at Oberlin College. A staff award bearing her name also was created, and it is given annually to an employee who has gone above and beyond in service to Oberlin College. (Oberlin News.)
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This is very sad news. The impact YB had on her community was profound and will be remembered for many, many years. YB wasn't well known among the wider ombuds community because she did not like to travel. Nonetheless, she willingly gave her time to any and all ombuds and aspiring ombuds. I had many thoughtful conversations with her over the years and never met her in person. Thank you, YB.
ReplyDelete-Angry Ombuds