Hope College Names Inaugural Ombuds

Sonja Trent-Brown has been appointed the first Ombudsperson for the private Christian liberal arts college in Holland, Michigan. She provides services to faculty, staff, and students—a total population of nearly 5,000—and practices to IOA standards. Trent-Brown has worked at the college since 2005 in a variety of faculty and administrative roles. Most recently, she has been Professor of Psychology and Vice President for Culture and Inclusive Excellence.

Trent-Brown graduated from Harvard University and earned an MS and PhD from the University of South Florida. As an experimental psychologist, her research focuses on psycholinguistics, psychoacoustics, and child development. She is actively serving on IOA's Professional Development and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging Committee Committee. (Hope Ombuds; LinkedIn; IOA Committees.)