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.

Occhialini comes from Holyoke Community College, where she established and led the Office of the Ombudsperson and served as the college’s chief culture officer. Previously, she worked as Ombuds at Hampshire College and as a mediator/trainer in the Office of Equity and Inclusion at Smith College. She graduated from Smith College and earned a JD at American University Washington College of Law. (UMass News.)

Related posts: Holyoke Community College Names First Ombuds; Ombuds Cases Rise Slightly at University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2022; Job Posting (Associate Ombuds); University of Massachusetts Boston Selects Inaugural Ombuds.