The Ombuds Blog: Villanova University Appoints First Ombuds

August 06, 2019

Villanova University Appoints First Ombuds

Meg Willoughby has been selected as the first Faculty Ombudsperson for the private Catholic university in southeast Pennsylvania. This is a part-time position and Willoughby is concurrently employed as Senior Attorney and Subject Matter Expert (investigator) in the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, where she has practiced since 2005.

Willoughby graduated from Boston College, and earned a Masters of Public Affairs and Politics and JD from Rutgers University. She is a member of IOA. (Rutgers Ombuds.)

Related post: Job Posting.

Also related: Harvard Law Case Study Focuses on Ombuds and the 'Dear Colleague Letter'; IOA Takes a Stand on Title IX Issues; Watch Senator Question White House Title IX Expert on Role of Campus Ombuds; IOA Releases Memo Providing Legal Grounds for Ombuds Confidentiality in Title IX Matters; IOA Compiles Title IX Resources; IOA Surveys Higher Education Ombuds Confidentiality for Clery Act & Title IX Matters; U.S. Department of Education Suggests Mediation an Option for Title IX Complaints; IOA Posts First Press Release; International Ombudsman Association Comments on Proposed Title IX Changes.

2 comments:

Mark P.8/09/2019 5:18 PM
Isn't there a potential conflict of interest with her OCR responsibilities and ombuds informality/neutrality?
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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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