Job Posting: University of Mississippi Medical Center

UMMC, the health sciences campus of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in Jackson, is seeking its first Ombudsperson. (A search in January 2020 was scuttled by the COVID outbreak.) The full-time position will establish an office following IOA standards and report administratively to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. UMMC comprises seven health science schools (Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Health Related Professions, Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences, Population Health, and Pharmacy) four teaching hospitals, and many other clinics and research facilities.

Hampshire College Debuts Ombuds Program

Larry Hunt has been selected to establish the Office of the Ombudsperson for the private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. As the inaugural Ombuds, Hunt will provide part-time services to about 300 faculty and staff. An Ombuds was proposed by the staff in 1996, but the idea was rejected the the administration at the time. Hunt continues as the Ombuds for faculty and staff for nearby Amherst College, an office he also established in 2019. 

IOA Sponsors Clery Center 2023 Virtual Summit

The International Ombuds Association will be an official session sponsor of the Clery Center's Virtual Summit on September 14, 2023. The Clery Center is a national nonprofit dedicated to helping college and university officials meet the standards of the Jeanne Clery Act. The summit marks the National Campus Safety Awareness Month and will "explore how to rebuild and enhance the feeling of safety on campus in a post-pandemic culture dealing with budget cuts, mental health crises, and divergences between safety practices and public perception." Details about the event, including IOA's session, are forthcoming. (NACMS Summit 2023.)

Texas A&M University Announces Ombuds for Undergraduate Students

Lori Moore has been named the next Ombuds Official for Undergraduate Studies. She follows Valerie Balester, who held the position for the past five years. Moore is an Associate Professor in the Texas A&M University Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications. She will split her time between her faculty appointment and the Ombuds Office. As the Ombuds, Moore will support all undergraduates at TAMU. The university also has several other collateral duty Ombuds, who are delegated to particular programs or groups.

Job Posting: Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI is seeking its next Supervisory Ombudsman. The position provides leadership and oversight of the FBI Ombudsman Office personnel as well as mentors and develops staff. The Bureau conducted a search for this position in February 2022 after the departure of Monique A. Bookstein (who led the office for 12 years and became the Ombuds for the Prince William County Public Schools in 2021), but it is not clear whether a permanent Supervisory Ombudsman was selected.

Job Re-Posting: Kent State University

The public research university in Kent, Ohio has re-opened its search for a Faculty Ombuds. It appears to be a new position for the campus. Kent State has had a Student Ombuds since 2012 and Amy Quillin currently serves in the role. The full-time Faculty Ombuds will report to an associate provost and serve over 2,700 faculty members.

IOA Announces 2024 and 2025 Conferences

The International Ombuds Association announced the dates and locations for its next two annual conferences. The 19th annual conference will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 18-20, 2024; and the 20th annual conference will take place in Miami, Florida, on April 7-9, 2025. 

Job Posting: Rhodes College

The private liberal arts college in Memphis, Tennessee, is hiring its first Ombudsperson. The part-time position (5-10 hours/week) will create a program for faculty and staff following IOA standards. The Ombuds will report to the College President. 

Job Posting: Rock Hill, South Carolina

The City of Rock Hill, a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina, is seeking its first Ombudsman. This is a full-time External Ombuds position that will serve customers, citizens, and developers with concerns about city services. There are some conflicting duties in the job description, including: "serve as an advocate"; "advocate for fair processes"; and "Remains neutral, considers all sides of a question in an objective, impartial manner." The duties also reference confidentiality, independence, and informality. 

California State Monterey Bay Appoints Inaugural Ombuds

Johnny Armijo II has been named the first Ombudsperson for the public university in Central California. He comes from the University of Northern Colorado, where he established an Ombuds Office just last year. In his new role at CSUMB, he will serve faculty, staff, and students at the mid-size university, one of the newest in the Cal State system.

Cal Poly Humboldt Adds an Ombuds

John M. Meyer will join Suzanne Pasztor in the Ombuds Office at the California State Polytechnic University Arcata. Meyer takes over from Scott Paynton, who is ending his current term this summer. As University Ombudspersons, Meyer and Pasztor serve nearly 10,000 faculty, staff, and students following IOA standards.

Job Posting: University of Ottawa

The bilingual public university in Ontario is hiring a full-time Assistant Ombudsperson for a two-year contract. The Office of the Ombudsperson at uOttawa is lead by Martine Conway and serves 50,000 students, faculty, and staff. The position may be eligible for telework arrangements.

Meharry Medical College Names Next Ombuds

Robert Hall has been selected as the next Ombuds for the Methodist-affiliated, medical school in Nashville. He follows Robin Kimbrough, who established the program in 2018. Like his predecessor, Hall also has served as Chaplain and Special Assistant to the President. As the Ombuds, Hall will serve as a resource for over 700 faculty, staff, and students.

International Organization for Migration Shares 2022 Annual Report

IOM Ombudsperson, Rogelio Bernal, has published his report covering the activities of the Office of Ombudsperson and Mediation Services in 2022. Bernal reports that his office assisted 398 visitors in 2022, about 9% less than the prior year. Issues related to evaluative relationships were the top visitor concern. He also reported on a wide range of initiatives designed to strengthen the Ombuds office and improve conflict competence within IOM, including creating a mobile app and launching IOA's School on Negotiation. The full report is available online. (IOA Ombuds Report.)

Job Posting: National Institutes of Health

The NIH Office of the Ombuds is seeking another Associate Ombuds. (This is a new posting that just happens to coincide with a recent separate and unrelated opportunity for a contractor position.) This new posting is for a full-time, permanent, entry-level position with promotion potential. The position will join a highly respected Ombuds team directed by Victor Voloshin. It is not eligible for remote work.

Chevron Selects a Regional Ombuds in London

Derrick Okonji has been hired as an Ombuds Manager in Chevron’s Global Office of Ombuds. Reporting to Sana Manjeshwar, Chevron's Global Principal Ombuds Manager, Okonji will serve employees in Europe, the Middle East, Eurasia, and Africa from his office in London. 

Job Posting: International Monetary Fund

The international financial aid organization based in Washington, DC, is hiring its next Ombudsperson. The search will fill a position held by Thomas Zgambo for the past seven years. The job is planned to start in the Fall of 2023 for an initial three-year period. The appointment may be extended for a second six-year term, for a total maximum of nine years.

Job Posting: UN World Food Programme, Rome

The food assistance branch of the United Nations has opened a search for its next Director, Office of the Ombudsman and Mediation Services. From the WFP headquarters in Italy, the position leads a team that provides Ombuds services to employees worldwide. Gabrielle Kluck has served in the role for the past seven and a half years. The initial contract will last four years and significant travel is required.

U.S. Forest Service Adds Two Associate Ombuds

Jennifer Lopez Johnson and Anthony Jackson have joined the new USFS Ombuds program headed by Mark Lewis. Together, the are building out a program to serve about 30,000 Forest Service employees across the country. Johnson and Jackson are both new to Ombuds work, but bring significant ADR experience.

Root & Shoot to Fund Ombuds for Three Plant Conferences

Root & Shoot is an NSF-funded association of science organzations that is working to eliminate systemic barriers and increase diversity in plant sciences. In response to a recent task force that identified significant concerns about personal safety and harassment and discrimination at conferences, Root & Shoot has arranged for on-site Ombuds services at three conferences in 2023. These will include Plant Biology 2023, Botany 2023, and the IS-MPMI 2023 Congress. The Root & Shoot Ombuds providers will be Bathabile K.S. Mthombeni and Laura Minero. Both will practice to IOA standards. Minero will be on site at IS-MPMI Congress and Mthombeni at Plant Biology and Botany meetings. 

Journal of IOA Seeks Associate Editor

The Journal of the International Ombuds Association is soliciting applications for an Associate Editor. The volunteer editor works directly with authors throughout the peer-review and revision process for the only journal dedicated to the Organizational Ombuds profession. The position is open only to IOA members and the time commitment is at least 1-5 hours per week.

Illinois State Legislator Floats Proposal for College Athlete Ombuds

Reacting to recent controversy in the athletics program at Northwestern University, one state legislator is promising a bill to mandate an Ombuds for college athletes. Kambium "Kam" Buckner (D-26), a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, told the local CBS affiliate that he would be sponsoring legislation to create an athlete bill of rights. According to the report, "the lawmaker wants to mandate an 'ombudsman,' a person who athletes can come to, other than a coach, to whistleblow without fear of retaliation." No further details have been released by Buckner's office. (CBS Chicago.) 

Job Posting: National Institutes of Health

The NIH Office of the Ombuds is seeking an Associate Ombuds for a full-time, one-year contract in the Fall of 2023 (start date is flexible). The contract is potentially renewable by mutual agreement. The remote-work-eligible position will join a highly respected Ombuds team directed by Victor Voloshin. The position will conform to IOA Standards and will focus on scientific and clinical conflicts. 

University of Kansas Selects First Associate Ombuds

Herschenia Brown will join the Ombuds Office at KU on July 17. She will and report to the University Ombuds, Ada Emmett, and work with Mike Rozinsky, who has served as a part-time Ombuds for the past two years. As the inaugural Associate Ombuds, Brown brings the Ombuds Office up to two-full time Ombuds. KU's Ombuds program was established in 1977 and the first full-time Ombuds was appointed in 2006. It serves all faculty, staff, and students at campuses in Lawrence and Edwards.

Society for Historians of the Early American Republic Creates Ombuds Program

A group of volunteers is providing Ombuds services for the annual conference of SHEAR, the professional society of U.S. historians. According to the conference website: "They are the members of SHEAR’s new ombuds committee and their role is to help members and attendees uphold SHEAR’s Statement of Values. They are joined in this work by SHEAR’s new external ombudsperson, Dr. Ashley Valanzola." Members of the committee are all SHEAR members and history professors: Emily Conroy-Krutz (Michigan State University); Gautham Rao (American University); Jackie Beatty (York College of Pennsylvania); Rachel Shelden (Pennsylvania State University); and Kirsten Wood (Florida International University). 

National Institutes of Health Adds Associate Ombuds

In April, Toni Hawkins joined the NIH Office of the Ombuds as a full-time Associate Ombuds. Reporting to Victor Voloshin, Director and NIH Ombuds, Hawkins will provide the NIH community with confidential and informal assistance in resolving scientific, clinical, and work-related conflicts; promote healthy collaboration within NIH; and enhance NIH's ability to accomplish its mission.

Job Posting: University of Colorado Denver

The public research university is looking for two Ombuds to rebuild the office that serves the CU Denver and its Anschutz Medical Campus. The three-person office headed by Melissa Connell recently saw the departures of Teresa Ralicki to Pinterest and Lisa Neale to Harvard. The two Associate Director positions will provide services to faculty, staff, trainees, and students at two campuses in the Denver Metro Area. A hybrid work schedule is available.

Job Posting: UN Funds and Programmes, Panama

The Ombuds Office for the United Nations' global development network (which comprises UNDP / UNFPA / UNICEF/ UNOPS / UN Women) is hiring a Mediation and Conflict Resolution Officer in Panama City. The fixed-term position reports to the Deputy Ombudsman for UN Funds and Programmes, Kentaro Kanyomozi. Some travel will be required.

University of Massachusetts Amherst Appoints Interim Ombuds

Lea Occhialini has been selected to step in as the Interim Ombudsperson at UMass Amherst following the recent departure of Martha Patrick, who is establishing an office at UMass Boston. Occhialini will helm an office that provides services for students, faculty, and staff at the largest public university in New England. She will be assisted by Susan Pearson, who has been a Consulting Ombuds with the office since last year.

DePaul's Ombuds Retires, But University Has No Succession Plan

Craig Mousin, who founded the Ombuds program for faculty and staff at the private university in Chicago in June 2001, has announced his retirement. He was a longtime member of TOA, UCOA, IOA, and the annual Midwest gathering of academic Ombuds. Mousin is also a immigrant and refugee activist and plans to continue teaching at DePaul for at least another year. Meanwhile, the university has paused the Ombuds program and has yet to announce a plan. 

Job Posting: Stockton University

The public university near Atlantic City, New Jersey has reopened its search for a half-time Ombuds Officer. The position serves faculty, staff, and students—a total population of about 11,000. The search will fill a vacancy left by Lisa M. Lyle, who served in the position until last summer. This is an in-person, non-remote position.

Update: Cal Caucus 2023 is Sold Out

Organizers report that the 2023 California Caucus of College and University Ombuds, on November 5-8, is sold out. There is a long waiting list, but only a few are likely to be able to register.

Job Posting: U.S. Department of Energy

The department responsible for U.S. energy and nuclear safety policies is hiring an Associate Ombudsman. The Associate Ombudsman will report to Director Tonya Mackey and join two experienced Ombuds: Lexi Wolfe and Jeff Anderson. The job is remote and may be based anywhere in the U.S. Some travel is required.

Job Posting: Boston University

The private university in Boston is hiring an Associate Ombuds. The position will report to University Ombuds, Francine Montemurro, and join Associate Ombuds, Riley E. Barrar, and Consulting Ombuds, Howard Gadlin. The office serves BU faculty, staff, and students on the Charles River and Medical Campuses.