Journal of IOA Article Urges Ombuds to Reflect on How Identities Impact Work

Three Ombuds and a student from the University of Maryland, Karen M. O’Brien, Nazish M. Salahuddin, Mashanda Y. Mosley, and Karoline J. Trovato, are the coauthors of a new article in the peer-reviewed Journal of the International Ombuds Association. In "Doing Our Best Work: Bringing Identity Awareness and Cultural Humility to the Ombuds Role," the authors encourage practicing Ombuds to become more mindful of how their racial and gender identies affect their work. The article is the second JIOA's Special Issue on Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging.
Here is the abstract of the article:

The identities of the ombuds and visitors play a salient role in conflict resolution. However, little attention has focused on how ombuds might reflect on and intervene with regard to their identities and those of their visitors. Considerable research has been conducted on the role of identities in professional relationships in other fields, including psychology. Drawing on constructs studied in the field of psychology regarding the role of identities in service provision, this paper encourages ombuds to reflect on how racial and gender identities play a role in their work, and to identify red flags or warning signs of an underdeveloped understanding of, or overattention to, these intersecting identities. A tool (i.e., the REFLECT strategy) was created to assist ombuds in bringing identity awareness and cultural humility to their work. The paper concludes with a case application and recommendations for future research.

(JIOA 2024.)

Related posts: Meet the Ombuds at the University of Maryland; Journal of IOA Article Offers Ombuds Guidance for Neurodiverse Visitors.