Wake Forest University Debuts Ombuds Program

Jill Crainshaw has been named the first Campus Ombudsperson for the private university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Crainshaw will serve faculty and staff on the main campus at Wake Forest (excluding the medical school, which has its own Ombuds). Crainshaw, a Professor of Worship and Liturgical Theology in the divinity school, has taught at Wake Forest for more than two decades. Pursuant to a charter for the office, she will report to the Provost and practice to IOA standards.

Last March, Wake Forest approved a plan to hire at least two Ombuds, "one person internal to the institution and one external to it, to be selected by a broad group of stakeholders." Due to Covid-related budget cuts, only one Ombuds has been appointed. Crainshaw graduated from Wake Forest and earned an MDiv at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and PhD at Union Theological Seminary. (Inside WFU; Ombuds Charter; Senate Resolution; Faculty Profile.)