Job Posting: Society for American Archaeology

The professional association for the archaeology of the Americas is seeking its first Ombuds. The contract Ombuds will provide services for SAA's 85th Annual Meeting in Austin, TX, April 22-26, 2020. As part of the services, the Ombuds will produce "an aggregate and anonymous report submitted to the Executive Director within three weeks after the meeting conclusion quantifying types of concerns and organizational recommendations." SAA seeks to have the Ombuds selected by November 2019. (IOA Job Board.)

IOA Relaunches Job Board

The International Ombudsman Association has relaunched its job board. IOA began a job listing service in 2016, but it was difficult and time consuming to maintain, and was abandoned when the website. IOA cites many requests from members for a job service and increasing inquiries "from professional associations looking to post contract opportunities for ombuds at their conferences."

Emory Names First University Ombuds

Lynell Cadray has been appointed the inaugural Emory University Ombudsperson and Senior Adviser to the President. Although the university previously had a Student Ombudsperson, Cadray will join the presidential leadership team as an Ombuds for faculty, staff, administrators, and students ("when appropriate").  Dona Yarbrough continues as Emory's part-time Campus Life Ombudsperson. 

IOA Board Appoints New Director to Open Seat

The Board of Directors of the International Ombudsman Association Board has appointed Sue Diviney to fill a one of the seats recently vacated by Ruthy Kohorn Rosenberg and Elaine Shaw, who stepped off for personal and professional commitments. Diviney is a Vice President and Lead Ombuds at Pfizer. She has worked in the Ombuds Office at Pfizer since 2011. (IOA Board; LinkedIn.)

Simon Fraser University to Study Higher Ed Ombuds

The SFU Office of the Ombudsperson will be hiring a graduate student for a unique, semester-long research project under the direction of Student Ombuds Laura Reid. According the the job description: "The Special Projects Assistant will complete an environmental scan of North American postsecondary ombuds and indigenous ombuds offices and the resources and supports provided, identify gaps in the SFU Ombuds Office’s offerings and develop SFU-relevant resources."

New Research Explores Ombuds' Relationships with Senior Leaders

Mary Conger, the active IOA volunteer leader, has published her recent thesis on, "The Relationship of Ombudship & Leadership in Complex Organizations." The paper examines the importance of Ombuds' organizational placement—as high as possible under IOA standards—and the impact on Ombuds' effectiveness. Conger's qualitative research confirms what many Ombuds experience first-hand. The full dissertation is now available online.

2020 World Science Fiction Convention Planning for First Ombuds

The 78th World Science Fiction Convention being held in Wellington ("CoNZealand") will have its first Ombuds when it convenes in the summer of 2020. Chris LaHatte, the former Ombudsman for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, tweeted that he will be up the new program to IOA standards as "a safe and confidential place for complaints and issues." (CoNZealand Leadership; LaHatte Twitter.)

Momentum for Academic Ombuds in Polish Universities Worries Some Unions

Several leading universities in Poland are considering the appointment of Academic Ombuds following the lead of U.S. universities. Currently only the University of Warsaw has an Ombuds, Anna Cybulko, but the University of Silesia expects to appoint its first Ombuds by the end of the year. Ombuds are also under review at Jagiellonian University, the University of Rzeszów, and the University of Bialystok. Polish union leaders, who have traditionally negotiated issues involving university employees, are growing concerned about the new Ombuds.

IOA Signs on as ACR 2019 Conference Sponsor

The International Ombudsman Association is a sponsor of the Association for Conflict Resolution's annual conference currently underway in Tucson, Arizona (September 18-21, 2019). IOA joins Mediate.com and National Association for Community Mediation as "Organizational Sponsors." 

Job Posting: University of Minnesota

The U of M is hiring a part-time Outreach Ombuds. The position is located in the Student Conflict Resolution Center headed by Jan Morse. The primary job duty is providing Ombuds services to all members of the campus community. A significant secondary duty is directing the center’s communications, training, and outreach program to the University community.

Job Posting: Lund University

Lunds universitet, the prestigious Swedish university founded in 1666, is hiring a Doctoral Ombudsman. The position works with all doctoral students enrolled in Lund University's eight faculties. The Ombuds is employed by the Lund Doctoral Student Union and this is independent of the university. The full-time position will start with a six-month probationary period. 

Thomas Scott: Former Cornell University Ombuds

Thomas W. Scott, an Emeritus Professor of Agronomy and former University Ombudsman, passed away on August 22, 2019 at the age of 89. At Cornell, Scott served as University Ombuds from 1992 to 1994, and he retired from the faculty in 1995. Ralph Obendorf, a fellow professor recalled a constant stream of students coming to see Scott. “He fought hard for the underdogs,” Obendorf said. “The typical aggie student that was going back to the farm, he could relate to them. [...] He had a really good rapport with them.” (Cornell News; Ombuds.)

Job Posting: Colorado State University

The public land-grant university in Ft. Collins has opened a search for a full-time Ombuds. This signals CSU's continued commitment to the Ombuds program that was in doubt after the resignation of the former Ombuds, Lanai Greenhalgh, in April 2018. The position oversees the CSU Ombuds Office Ombuds, which serves university employees and includes a quarter-time Faculty Ombuds, half-time EAP Counselor/ Coordinator and shared Community Resources Coordinator. The University Ombuds Office reports functionally to the Offices of the President and Provost, and administratively to the Associate Vice President for Human Capital.

Job Posting: Carleton University

The public university in Ottawa, Ontario has opened a search for its next University Ombudsperson. The position is, "Responsible for conducting investigations and making recommendations to resolve complaints, from any university community member, exclusive on union employment and labour relations." These duties are not unusual for Ombuds in Canada.* The Carleton Ombuds reports to a Committee comprised of members of the campus community. 

Summer 2019 Meeting of Colorado Ombuds Includes Swag

On Friday, September 13th the Colorado Ombuds Group gathered for an all-day retreat hosted by the CU Denver|Anschutz Ombuds Office team (Melissa Connell, Lisa Neale, and Teresa Ralicki). Participants received "Om-mugs."

Queen's University Selects Ombuds

Lavonne Hood has been appointed the next University Ombuds for the public research university in Kingston, Ontario. She succeeds  Heather Cole, who served as Ombuds on an interim basis for the past year. Hood will work with students, staff and faculty across six faculties and numerous departments—a total population of about 35,000. Previously, Hood was the Senior Legal Counsel in the office of the University Secretariat & Legal Counsel. (Queen's Ombuds.)

León Declaration Joins Five Ombuds Networks in Collaboration

At the European Network of Ombudsmen in Higher Education's 15th annual meeting in June 2019, representatives from five networks of Ombuds in higher education in Spain, Portugal, Canada, Latin America, and Europe agreed to increase joint cooperation. 

Texas Tech Selects Next Faculty Ombuds

Tara Stevens has been named the Faculty Ombudsperson for the public research university in Lubbock, Texas. She succeeds Jean Pearson Scott, who established the position in 2015. Stevens is a Professor of Educational Psychology. 

Job Posting: Inkomoko

Inkomoko is hiring a Director of People (HR Director) for its headquarters in Kigali, Rwanda. The position has significant, but not exclusively, Organizational Ombuds duties. The company is the Rwandan affiliate of African Entrepreneur Collective, a US-based network of accelerators that offer business education, consulting, and access to affordable capital to help entrepreneurs create jobs.

Job Posting: National Institutes of Health

The NIH Office of the Ombudsman is seeking an Associate Ombudsman for an initial, one-year contract appointment. The search will fill a position recently vacated by Tyler Smith. The position will join a highly respected team in the NIH Center for Cooperative Resolution and report to the Director, Kathleen Moore.

Elon University Appoints a Faculty Ombuds

Jeff Clark has been named the next Faculty Ombuds for the private university in North Carolina, effective July 1, 2019. He succeeds Mat Gendle. Clark completed IOA training in July.

Marquette University Shuts Down Ombuds Office

The Office of the Ombuds at Marquette University closed last Friday, September 6, 2019.  The office, which opened in 2002, served faculty and staff.  The closing affects Kerry Egdorf, who served as the Ombuds for 12 years.  No explanation was given for the closing; however, the position was one of 24 jobs eliminated last week. 

VCU's 2019 National Conflict Resolution Day Program to Feature New USC Ombuds

The National Conflict Resolution Day celebration at Virginia Commonwealth University will include a keynote by Tom Kosakowski, the new Ombuds for the Health Sciences Campus at the University of Southern California. This is the seventh annual event hosted by VCU University Ombudsman William King and will take place on October 17, 2019. As usual, the event is free and open to the public.  

East Carolina University Moves to Make Staff Ombuds Permanent

ECU, the public research university in Greenville, North Carolina, as opened an internal search for an Ombuds. The half-time position has been held on an interim basis by Mickey A. Herrin Sr., a local mediator and arbitrator, since April 2019. The University Ombuds will provide services to ECU faculty, staff, and administrators and report administratively to the Chancellor's chief of staff.

Athletes Continue to Press WADA for Ombuds

At its meeting last month in Peru, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Athlete Committee continued its work on a number of issues including an Ombudsperson proposal. The WADA Athlete Committee continues to advocate for an Ombuds Office at WADA for the purposes of "supporting athletes with a channel through which to report issues, seek advice, ensure rules are applied as they should be and assist with navigating the increasingly complex world of anti-doping." This would be very similar to some of the work of the U.S. Olympic Committee's Athlete Ombudsman.

Bastyr University Shutters Ombuds Office

Leslie (Nelson) Kellogg, the first Ombudsperson for Bastyr University, the alternative medicine university near Seattle, has departed, and the President has decided to close the office. The Ombuds Office was created January 2018 as an IOA-compliant resource for all staff, students, and faculty on both campuses and for two medical clinics.

Job Posting: USC Gould School of Law

The law school at the University of Southern California is hiring a part-time lecturer to teach a new two-unit course about Organizational Ombuds. Here's the full job posting:

Global Game Jam has an Ombuds

The world's largest game creation event has an Ombuds for participants with concerns about unacceptable behaviors. GGJ involves thousands of participants worldwide: In January 2019, there were teams at 860 sites in 113 countries, who over the course of one weekend created 9,010 games. The next GGJ is set for January 31 - February 2, 2020. It appears that the Ombuds was established earlier this year.

University of Amsterdam Plans Ombuds Program

The leading Dutch public university, Universiteit van Amsterdam, will appoint its first Ombudsperson as part of a push to embrace the increasing levels of diversity in the student body and staff. The UvA employs 8,000 members of staff and has a student population of 40,000, figures that include over 120 different nationalities. This week, the university's Executive Board adopted the recommendations of a Diversity Committee’s report, which included a first-ever Ombuds.

Stockton Unified School District Loses its First Ombuds

The first District Ombudsperson for the public school system in Central California, Fhanysha (Clark) Gaddis, has departed, leaving the program in question. The SUSD Ombuds was implemented in July 2018 as a resource for employees, managers, [40,000 enrolled] students and the community. Gaddis has taken a position as Deputy City Attorney for the City of Sacramento. SUSD has not announced a plan for the Ombuds Office. (LinkedIn; SUSD Ombuds.)

Richland Two in South Carolina Appoints First District Ombuds

Kelli Johnson has been named the new Ombuds for Richland County School District Two, a fast-growing public school district in Columbia, South Carolina. Johnson will respond to inquiries and provides coordination of district services and report to the superintendent. “The ombudsman serves as a liaison between the community, schools and district administrative functions,” explained Superintendent Dr. Baron R. Davis.

Archaeological Institute of America to Appoint Ombuds for 2020 Conference

The professional association with over 200,000 members has promised an Ombudsperson will be in place for its next annual conference. The decision was made by AIA and the Society for Classical Studies, which co-sponsors the annual conference set for Washington, D.C. on January 2-5, 2020. The two organizations have also adopted a Harassment Policy to ensure that conference attendees are "free from harassment, as well as any kind of bullying or intimidation." AIA and SCS have not yet identified the Ombudsperson or specified the applicable standards for the position.