The Ombuds Blog: New APSA Leader is an Ombuds Advocate

September 03, 2024

New APSA Leader is an Ombuds Advocate

Kimberly A. Mealy has been named the Executive Director of the American Political Science Association, the leading professional association for the study of political science. In addition to her many years of leadership within APSA, Mealy has been an advocate for Organizational Ombuds. In 2017, she advocated for the creation of the APSA Ombuds program. In 2019, she authored an article that highlighted the role of APSA Ombuds as part of a social justice framework. Since then, Mealy has continued to advise associations and academic institutions on resource and policy development, including the role of Ombuds. (Political Science Now.)
Related posts: American Political Science Association Launches Ombuds Program; Ombuds as Part of a Social Justice Framework for Associations.

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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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