University of California's Office of the President Unveils Ombuds Office

The headquarters of the sprawling UC system has finally created an Ombuds Office and named Interim Ombudsperson Bodi Regan to a six month contract. Rachel Nicholson is providing additional support during this initial period as Assistant Ombudsperson on loan from the Staff Ombuds Office at UC Berkeley. Regan will establish an Ombuds program for about 3,000 UC Office of the President staff members in Oakland and other locations across California. UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D., sees this office as a high priority and an important part of the ongoing anti-racism initiatives, which were announced last summer as part of UCOP’s strategic framework. 

Regan previously served as the Associate Ombudsperson at UC Berkeley. In addition, he is a faculty member in the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Master of Science Program and the Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution at Columbia University. Prior to joining the team at Berkeley as an Assistant Ombuds, Nicholson was a case assistant at the University of Oregon Ombuds Program. (UCOP Link.)

Updated 1/28/21: Role of Nicholson was clarified.

Related posts: University of California Ombuds Update Statement of Best Practices; University of California Adopts Anti-Bullying Guidelines; Ombuds to Highlight University of California Management Conference; Job Posting; University of California Berkeley Hires an Ombuds; University of California Berkeley Hires Assistant Ombuds.