Holyoke Community College Names First Ombuds

Lea Occhialini has been appointed the first Ombudsperson and Chief Culture Officer for the public community college in Massachusetts. Previously, she was the Ombudsperson for faculty and staff at Hampshire College. In her new role at HCC, Occhialini will work with faculty, staff, and students, and report to the college president.  “I’m excited about this,” said HCC president Christina Royal. “Although it’s very common at four-year institutions, to my understanding, this is the first time a community college in Massachusetts has had an ombudsperson.”


Occhialini has also worked as a mediator and trainer at Smith College and as a mediator for the Massachusetts court system. She graduated from Smith College and earned her law degree at American University. She has also completed IOA’s Foundations. (HCC News.)

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