New BIPOC Writers Collective Will Start With an Ombuds

PERIPLUS is a mentorship collective for American Black, Indigenous, and People of Color writers that launches in January 2021. As part of its startup activities, PERIPLUS appointed Pia Owens to serve as an "outside ombudsperson who isn’t a member of the collective, who can receive feedback, including confidential complaints, and weigh in on issues where an outside perspective is needed." Owens is a volunteer and the Ombuds work is expected to be part-time.

Owens has been Senior Legal Counsel for The MathWorks in Natick, Massachusetts for the past four and a half years. She graduated from Brown University and earned her MS and JD at Harvard. (PERIPLUS FAQ; Pia Owens Twitter; LinkedIn.)