Seattle Names First Ombuds for City Employees

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that Amarah Y. Khan will serve as the first-ever Director of the City’s newly created Office of the Employee Ombud. “I join City of Seattle employees in welcoming Dr. Amarah Khan to our incredible workforce. Dr. Khan is an inspirational woman who is deeply dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive work environment that gives City employees the support they need,” said Mayor Durkan. According to the mayor's announcement, Khan will be holding a series of listening sessions with City employees to further shape the mission and work plan of the office. 


Khan currently serves as the Director of Equity and Inclusive Practices at the Renton School District. Prior to that, she served as the Associate Director for Global Diversity Initiatives at Oregon State University (where she also earned her PhD). At OSU, she worked to advance cultural competence on campus through shared learning and trainings. Khan spent her early career working as a humanitarian aid worker across South Asia and the United States. She is an international development scholar with extensive background in conflict management and peace studies. (Seattle Press Release.)

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