University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Selects Ombuds

Yesterday, UNC announced the appointment of Dawn Osborne-Adams as its new University Ombuds and Director of the University Ombuds Office. Osborne-Adams comes to UNC from Shell in Houston, where she was a consultant Ombuds. She joins Laurie Mesibov, Associate University Ombuds, and Victoria Dowd, Assistant University Ombuds and Program Specialist, in serving over 40,000 students, staff, faculty, and administrators.

American Statistical Association Implements Ombuds Program for Members

The primary professional organization for statisticians in the U.S. has retained ProActive ReSolutions, to provide Ombuds services during its annual conference later this month in Vancover, BC. The Ombuds service is part of a new conduct policy that promotes, "a welcoming environment free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation."  ProActive ReSolutions is an international consulting company and the Ombuds working for ASA include Richard Hart, Ashley Moore, and Shirley Nakata (also the long-time Ombuds at the University of British Columbia). 

Clemson University Hires Ombuds for Staff

The public university in South Carolina has selected Allison Monyei as its next Ombuds for Staff. She starts August 1 and succeeds Tom Ward , who retired earlier this year. Most recently, she was recently an Associate Ombudsman at the Food and Drug Administration Center for Tobacco Products. Monyei will serve about 4,000 university employees and joins University Ombudsman for Faculty and Students, R. Gordon Halfacre.

Internship: United Nations Santiago

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking a full-time intern to be posted with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean in Chile.  The unpaid internship will last three to six months and offers the opportunity to support outreach and advocacy, prepare data and reports, and conduct research.  The position reports to the Regional Ombudsman, Francisco Espejo Elgueta.

Job Posting: Howard University

The private university in Washington, D.C. has re-opened a search for its first Faculty Ombudsperson.  The full-time position will work with nearly 1,000 faculty and reports to the Faculty Senate and Office the Provost and Chief Academic Officer. It is unclear how the Faculty Ombuds will work with the Student Ombudsman, Calvin Hadley, who was appointed in September 2015 and who appears to have more of an advocate role for student issues.

Rochester Institute of Technology Names Ombuds

Joe Johnston has been appointed the next University Ombudsperson for RIT.  He moves into the position after six years as director of the university's Center for Student Conduct. He succeeds Lee Twyman, who has transitioned into the Associate Ombuds position.

Kellen to End Contract with IOA

The professional management company that provides administrative support to the International Ombudsman Association has announced that it will end its contract this year. An announcement from IOA Board President Marcia Martínez-Helfman indicates that the decision was made by Kellen unilaterally and unexpectedly. Just four months ago, Marla Schrager was announced as the new executive director and it was hoped that she would refocus IOA's strategic efforts.

IOA Offers Range of Ombuds and ADR Training in Philadelphia, October 2018

The International Ombudsman Association will offer three training programs for Organizational Ombuds and other ADR professionals in Philadelphia in mid October 2018. IOA's signature training, "Foundations" provides the primary training for new Organizational Ombuds. The second training covers skills in group facilitations and is open to anyone. The third course is designed for Ombuds who would like to build interviewing skills.

Frederick Community College Weighs Ombuds Program

In response to a leadership crisis, the community college in Maryland is considering the implementation of an Ombuds program. In early May, FCC's faculty voted overwhelmingly that it had 'no-confidence' in the college's president, Elizabeth Burmaster. Following the vote, the faculty association presented a letter to the board of trustees that detailed years of bullying and retaliation by Burmaster. An investigation by the local newspaper, The Frederick News-Post confirmed the allegations.

Job Posting: National Institutes of Health

The NIH Office of the Ombudsman is hiring a Scientific Ombudsman Fellow. Based in Bethesda, MD, the specialized Ombuds position will, "collaborate with scientific staff in the Institutes and Centers to determine the merits of scientific disputes."

Job Posting: University of Victoria

The large research university in British Columbia has opened a search for its next Ombudsperson. The UVic Ombuds serves 22,000 students and other members of the university committee, and practices to ACCUO standards. The position is jointly funded by the university and student society, and operates under the aegis of an Ombudsperson Advisory Committee. The search will fill the position vacated by Martine Conway, who moved to the University of Ottawa earlier this year.

Job Posting: Department of Energy

The department responsible for U.S. energy and nuclear safety policies is hiring an Associate Ombudsman. The position is based in the DOE Office of the Ombudsman in Washington, DC, and serves all DOE federal employees, world-wide. Several nights of travel per month may be required. 

Pullman School Board in Washington Considering Ombuds

The board of the public school district in northeastern Washington has created a committee to consider the implementation of an "Ombuds for conflict resolution" as part of a larger evaluation of district communications. The mostly rural district enrolls about 3,000 students. Applications for the committee are due July 23. No timetable for the committee has been announced. (Pullman Schools News.)

Job Posting: Florida State College at Jacksonville

The public college in northeast Florida is hiring an Ombudsman.  The position will serve a student body of greater than 80,000 across four campuses. The position was established by Maggy Dartiguenave in 2015.

Four Corners Ombuds Retreat Set for October 2018

Ombuds in the U.S. Southwest are invited to a three-day gathering in Santa Fe, New Mexico in late October 2018. Organizers Liz Hill (University of Colorado Boulder) and Jon Lee (University of New Mexico) are shaping up the agenda.

Here are the current details:

University of Louisville Hires an Ombuds

The public university in Kentucky has hired Diane Tobin as its next University Ombuds. Tobin reports to the provost and serves a student population of about 23,000 in addition to faculty and staff.  She succeeds Acting Ombuds, Robert Staat. 

Stockton Unified School District Names First Ombuds

Fhanysha (Clark) Gaddis has been appointed the first District Ombudsperson for the public school system in Central California. Gaddis will be a "designated neutral to facilitate the informal resolution of concerns of employees, managers, [40,000 enrolled] students and the community; with a focus on assisting in the resolutions of parent concerns."

Job Posting: European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere

The multinational intergovernmental research organization for ground-based astronomy is hiring its first Ombuds. The position will provide independent and confidential assistance for anyone working at ESO with work-related inter-personal disputes. The ESO Ombuds will also give upward feedback about systemic issues to the Director General. Although ESO is headquartered near Munich, the position is primarily based in Santiago ("a minimum duration of three months per year is to be spent at the ESO headquarters"). 

Job Posting: Fair Practices Commission, Ontario

The Fair Practices Commission in Ontario, Canada, is hiring an Intake Analyst. (The FPC provides an independent, neutral and confidential service for injured workers, employers and service providers with complaints about the provincial Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.) The position reviews complaints and engages in an early resolution process with complainants. The Intake Analyst will also provide referrals for non-jurisdictional matters, compile relevant information and documentation and summarize complaints in a case management system. 

Job Posting: Michigan State University

The public research university in East Lansing is hiring an Assistant Ombudsperson. The full-time position will report to Shannon Lynn Burton, who was promoted to University Ombudsperson earlier this month. The position practices to IOA standards and helps "resolve disputes and conflicts between Michigan State University students and representatives of the university."

Job Posting: Inter-American Development Bank

The multilateral organization based in Washington, DC is hiring an Associate Ombudsperson for a two-year consultancy. The position reports to the IDB Ombuds, Marta I. Abello, and works with headquarters employees and in 26 country offices throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, and in 2 regional offices in Asia and Europe.

Job Posting: University of Minnesota

The of U of M is hiring a Director for its Office for Conflict Resolution (not the Student Conflict Resolution Center headed by Jan Morse).  The position provides informal dispute resolution services -- including private consultations, facilitated discussions, and mediation -- to non-bargaining unit faculty, staff, student employees, and administrators with employment-related concerns. It also manages a staff of three.

Global Green Growth Institute Names First Ombuds

The international organization the promotes sustainable development has hired Camilo Azcarate to serve as its first Ombuds. Azcarate will also establish a Respectful Workplace Advisors program and provide mediation support services to 260 GGGI staff in two dozen countries. For the past ten years, he has been in an equvalent position with the World Bank Group. This is a part-time, one-year contract. 

Ombuds Speaking at EEOC Training Conference

Today. three Ombuds will be presenting at the EXCEL Training Conference is sponsored by the EEOC's Training Institute. The annual conference is aimed at federal and private sector equal employment opportunity managers, supervisors, practitioners, HR professionals, attorneys and ADR specialists. One session of note focuses on Ombuds as change agents in federal agencies.

Job Posting: Columbia College Chicago

The independent, private, liberal arts college is hiring an Academic Ombudsperson. The part-time position will be available to full-time faculty members with workplace or academic conflicts. The Ombuds will report to the Provost for administrative and budgetary purposes. (Local mediator Connie Meyer briefly held the position in 2017, but left to join the faculty at Northwestern.)

Job Posting: Argonne National Laboratory

The national science and engineering research lab operated by the University of Chicago for the U.S. Department of Energy is hiring its first Ombuds. "The position ... will initiate and lead the newly created Office of the Ombuds reporting to the Laboratory Director (Argonne’s top official). The Ombuds will act as a safe, neutral and independent resource to provide confidential and informal dispute resolution assistance for members of the Argonne community who are seeking assistance to resolve a broad variety of issues."

Job Posting: Rochester City School District

The public school district in western New York is hiring a Chief Ombudsperson. The position is a designated neutral appointed to facilitate the informal resolution of concerns within the RCSD community, which includes 32,000 students and over 6,000 employees. The position reports to the Superintendent's Chief of Staff.

Chapman University Selects Next Faculty Ombuds

Frank Frisch has been tapped as the next Faculty Ombuds for the private university in Orange, California. The Chapman Ombuds practices to IOA standards. He takes over the role from Jim Brown, who served since 2014. Frisch is a Professor of Health and Behavioral Sciences. 

University of Missouri Medical School Names Ombuds

The UM School of Medicine has appointed Mark W. Drymalski as its next Ombudsman. He succeeds Christopher Sampson, who opened the office last year. As the Ombuds, Drymalski provides services to the house staff (doctors working as interns, residents, and fellows) of the University of Missouri Health Care. 

University of Washington Ombud: Cases Level Off in 2017

According to UW Ombud Chuck Sloane's 2017 annual report, cases at the university were about the same as the prior year. Nonetheless, the case load was still up over 80% from 2013. The UW Office of the Ombud serves all campus stakeholders and staff are the predominant visitors (41%), followed by faculty (26%), and students (18%). 

University of Idaho Lands an Ombuds

Laura Smythe has been announced as the next University of Idaho Ombuds, effective October 2. She will report to the U of I President and serve faculty, staff member, administrators, students, and groups. She succeeds Barbara Beatty, who moved to become the Ombuds at Metro State University in Denver. Smythe taught a half-day course on managing conflict during a time of grief before the 2018 IOA conference.

Penn State Names Next Faculty Ombuds

The Faculty Senate at the Pennsylvania State University has elected Mohamad A. Ansari to serve as the Faculty Ombudsperson for the next four years. He takes over from Pamela Hufnagel who served in the role since 2014. As the University Faculty Ombudsperson, Ansari will coordinates and trains of all college and campus Ombuds. He will report periodically to the Senate Council and maintain a liaison with the Provost and HR.

San Diego State University has a New Ombuds

According to a freshly updated website, Julie Logan has been serving as the SDSU Student Ombudsman since September 2017. Marit Bressesen, who served in the role since 2008, has apparently moved to an administrative position at UC San Diego. 

Job Posting: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

Once again, the American Indian tribe in California's Inland Empire, is searching for an Ombudsman. The full-time position is located in Highland and serve the tribe's 3,500 employees, most of whom work in a casino.

Emeritus Faculty Joins University of Colorado Ombuds Office

The Ombuds Office at the University of Colorado Boulder has added Yem Fong as a Faculty Ombuds.  Fong joined the faculty at CU Boulder in 1989 and has served in several capacities including as a library department director and liaison to Ethnic Studies and Women & Gender Studies. She joins two other Faculty Ombuds, Jerry Hauser and Lee Potts, Associate Ombuds, Liz Hill, and Ombuds Director, Kirsi Aulin.

IOA Training Returns to Chile

The International Ombudsman Association will offer its signature training program for Organizational Ombuds in Santiago on October 8-10, 2018. The training is sponsored by the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and its Organizational Ombudsman Office, which was the first such program in Chile. The course will be conducted in English with simultaneous Spanish translation. The course participant guide and materials will be translated into Spanish.