University of Cincinnati Selects an Associate Ombuds

Paula Kerezsi has been hired as an Associate Ombuds at UC. Reporting to University Ombuds, Jivanto P. van Hemert, they will join in providing services to about 60,000 students, staff, and faculty.

Kerezsi brings over two decades of higher education experience, including work as the Senior Associate Director of the Academic Advising Center at the University of Iowa and coordinating transfer initiatives at Augustana College.

Journal of IOA: Ombuds as the Helpful Stranger

Craig Mousin, the former Ombuds at DePaul University, is the author of a new article in Journal of the International Ombuds Association. In "Facilitating Belonging: Ombuds as the Helpful Stranger," Mousin offers a new metaphor for Ombuds and draws upon his years of work as an advocate for immigrants and refugees. The article is the first in a series to be published in a special issue on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Job Posting: European Investment Bank

The European Union's investment bank seeks its first Ombuds. Reporting directly to the President of the EIB, the new position will provide services to 5,000 staff members in the bank's Luxembourg HQ, local offices within the EU, and external offices around the world. The position will practice to IOA standards. Panel interviews are anticipated for March 2025. 

Department of the Interior Adds Experienced Ombuds

Jason Karim-Baker has been hired as a Lead Ombuds with the Department of the Interior's Office of Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution. He joins a team of Ombuds, including Sigal Shoham and Mary Chavez Rudolph. Karim-Baker brings nearly eight years of Ombuds experience. Most recently at UC Davis and, prior to that, at the National Institutes of Health. (LinkedIn.)

New Ombuds at Oklahoma State University Reports on Recent Cases

Tom Wikle, an Emeritus Professor of Geography, became the Ombuds for OSU in October 2024. He follows Carol Jones, who held the part-time role for about a year and a half. As the University Ombuds, Wikle serve faculty, staff, and students across three OSU campuses. Wikle recently told the university's faculty council that he had met with 30 people in the first three months on the job. About half of the visitors were faculty and 60% of visitors returned for multiple meetings. (The O'Colly.)

Job Posting: United Nations, Geneva

The Office of the UN Ombudsman and Mediation Services (UNOMS) is seeking an Ombudsperson to be based in Switzerland. (Rahele Malanca has been serving as the WIPO Ombuds since April 2023.) The full-time position will be provide services to two UN organizations: the International Telecommunication Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The appointment will be for an initial period of one year and be based at the headquarters of ITU and WIPO. 

Meet the New Ombuds for Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

In March 2024, Pilar Cox was named the Ombuds for the traditional private university in Santiago. She follows José Ignacio González, who served in the role since August 2020. Cox, a professor of education, is expected to an initial three-year term as Ombuds. The UC Ombuds Office was created ten years ago and was the first university Ombuds office in Chile.

Former Ombuds Returns to San Diego State University

Suzanne Chappellet, who served as SDSU's Student Ombudsman from 1975 until her retirement in 2005, has returned to the role. She follow Darrell Hess, who retired last year, and joins Karla Ramirez, who has been the Assistant Student Ombuds since 2021. (SDSU Ombuds.)

Job Posting: Via Rail Canada

The Crown corporation that operates intercity passenger rail service in Canada is seeking bids for its first Organizational Ombuds. According to the invitation to tender, the job is for "Services of a corporate ombudsman (in a unionized environment) investigating complaints under the code of conduct and ethics." So there is some ambiguity about the role. Via Rail employs about 4,000 people across the country. The contract will run from March 2025 through February 2030. 

The New School Finds Next Ombuds

Saveena Dhall has been appointed the University Ombuds for the private school in New York City. As a full-time Ombuds, Dhall will expand the Ombuds program to serve all members of the campus community: about 15,000 faculty, staff, and students. She follows Ann-Louise Shapiro, who has been the Ombuds for faculty and staff since 2017. Dhall reports to the Senior Vice President for Administration, University Secretary, and Chief of Staff in the Office of the President.

Job Posting: UN Food and Agriculture Organization

The United Nations agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger has opened a search for its next Ombudsperson. Based in Rome, the position reports to the FAO Director General and will lead an office that provides services to FAO employees worldwide. José Martínez-Aragón has served in the role on an interim basis since the departure of Katya Melluish last August. The Ombuds will serve a five-year term, with a possible one-term extension.

Rutgers University Unveils Ombuds Service for Staff

The State University of New Jersey now has an Ombuds program for its staff. Employee Partners for Conflict Transformation (EmPaCT) services are available to any nonunion employee with workplace concerns. The program generally follows IOA standards. Frieda Hoffman is the inaugural Conflict Navigation Specialist. Her work will supplement existing Ombuds programs for students and medical trainees. 

Job Posting: San Francisco Democratic Party

The official organization for Democrats in the City and County of San Francisco is seeking its first Ombudsperson. The volunteer position "serves a critical role in upholding the integrity of the Code of Conduct and Policies [and] is the first point of contact by Complainants, and a source of guidance for Democratic Club leaders." The description seems to anticipate a mix of formal and informal duties. The work may be performed remotely, but applicants must reside in the U.S.

Job Posting: United Nations, Congo

The Office of the UN Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking a Conflict Resolution Officer in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, for a temporary appointment through June 2025. The position will provide services to peacekeeping personnel in the region and reports to the Regional Ombudsman (which is currently being filled by another search).

Mississippi State University Names Next Ombuds

Mike Breazeale has been appointed the University Ombudsperson for MSU, the land-grant research university in Oktibbeha County. He follows R. Hart Bailey, who established the role in 2015. Breazeale serves about 6,000 faculty and staff at four campuses around the state and practices to IOA standards.

Journal of IOA: Ombuds in the Rime

The Ombuds for the University of Los Vegas Nevada, David G Schwartz, is the author of an essay in the current Journal of the International Ombuds Association. In "Mariner, Wedding Guest, or Albatross? Seeking the Ombuds in Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner," Schwartz looks for meaning in the two century old poem. The concept was initially presented at Cal Caucus in 2023.

Job Posting: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The private research university in Cambridge has opened a search for an Ombudsperson. The search will fill a position held by Nick Diehl since 2017. The position works as a team with the other MIT Ombuds, Judi Segall. Reporting to the President, the two MIT Ombuds serve as a resource for all members of the diverse MIT community, including faculty, staff, postdocs, and students — a total population of nearly 35,000.  

Meet the New Ombuds for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

In October, Vassilena (Lena) Gashparova was named the Senior Conflict Resolution Officer and Ombudsman for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Based in Geneva, she reports directly to the Chief of Service, UNOMS and works under the general supervision of the UN Ombudsman. She provides services to OHCHR around the world.

Update: Court Enjoins Latest Title IX Rules, Including Ombuds Confidentiality

A decision last week by a federal district court in Kentucky effectively bars the U.S. Department of Education from implementing its 2024 Title IX rules nationwide. Ruling in Tennessee v. Cardona, the court found the Department's 2024 rules to be unconstitutional and in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. With this ruling, schools are likely to revert to the 2020 regulations, which did not explicitly recognize Ombuds' confidentiality. The decision likely reverses progress made in recognizing Ombuds as a confidential resource for students—a designation IOA had long advocated.

Journal of IOA: Why Ombuds Need a Charter

A new article in the Journal of the International Ombuds Association explains "What an Ombuds Charter is and Why it Matters." The authors are Chuck Howard (attorney and Ombuds consultant; former Executive Director of IOA, and Chuck Doran, CO-OP (outsourced Ombuds and Executive Director/Founder of MWI). They urge Ombuds to have a comprehensive written document that defines the role and relationship between Ombuds and the organization is serves. The article covers the benefits to all parties.

Article Proposes Ombuds for Graduate Medical Education

The current issue of the Journal of Education in Perioperative Medicine includes an article, "The Role of Ombuds in Graduate Medical Education: Fostering Wellness and Psychological Safety." The authors, all faculty members at Harvard or Columbia (including Jennifer Danielsson, Ombuds for anesthesia residents at Columbia), urge the establishment of Education Ombudsperson for medical residents and fellow to foster psychological safety, wellness, and professionalism in training programs. They assert that Ombuds programs that serve university students or faculty are insufficient to address the unique nature of graduate medical education. 

Indiana University Bloomington Selects First Grad Student Ombuds

Carissa Ciampaglia has been hired as first Graduate Ombudsperson (Student Support Specialist) for Indiana's flagship public university. In this new, full-time position, she will establish an Ombuds office to serve about 11,000 graduate students on the Bloomington campus and also work closely with regional graduate programs. Her office will be part of the University Graduate School.

Journal of IOA: Guidance for Ghosts

Heather McGhee Peggs (former Student Ombuds, current Patient Ombudsman, lawyer, and consultant) is the author of a new article in the Journal of the International Ombuds Association: "Ghosted! Why do Complainants Disappear and What Are the Ombuds’ Responsibilities When This Happens?" She provides insights into why visitors might discontinue services and an overview of some common practices of Ombuds offices in reporting on, and responding to, these situations.

Job Posting: Scotiabank

The Canadian multinational banking and financial services company is hiring a Manager for its Staff Ombuds Office. The full-time, fully remote, and bilingual position serves about 95,000 Scotiabank employees worldwide with workplace concerns. This is the third search for this position since December 2021.

Governor's School for the Arts in Virginia Names First Ombuds

Lauren Coble has been appointed the first Administrative Manager and Ombudsperson for the Virginia Governor’s School for the Visual and Performing Arts and Humanities. (The school for regional secondary-school students is sponsored by the state's Department of Education and is affiliated with Radford University.) In this new role, Coble's work will focus on "promoting mutual respect, conflict resolution, and collaboration among the program’s diverse population." 

Journal of IOA Article Offers Insights from Neuroscience

A new article in the Journal of the International Ombuds Association, explains how Ombuds can use research from neuroscience to work with visitors. The authors of "Exploring a Neuroscience-based Model for Ombuds and Mediators" are Francisco Espejo-Elgueta, the Regional Ombudsperson for the World Health Organization European Region Office; Saner Ahmedov, a former UN mediator and conflict resolution specialist; Laure Esteveny, the former CERN Ombuds; and Lee Raymond [bio unavailable].

Job Posting: UN World Food Programme, Panama

The United Nation's food assistance agency is hiring a Consultant Ombudsman for its Office of the Ombudsman and Mediation Services in Panama City. The initial contract is for 11 months and is renewable. Travel within the region is required.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency Appoints First Ombuds

César Kagame has been named the inaugural Ombuds for Agence canadienne d'inspection des aliments, the agency that regulates food, plants, and animals in Canada. Beginning this week, he will establish a program to serve over 7,000 CFIA employees stationed across the country. 

Meet the New Ombuds for Richland School District One

Last July, Basil Harris was named the Ombudsman for the public school district for Columbia, South Carolina. (The website for his office was updated this week.) As the Ombuds, Harris provides services to parents, students, district employees, and community members with school-level issues and concerns that interfere with teaching and learning and a positive school climate. 

IOA Commits to Certification Changes in 2025

The International Ombuds Association will make significant changes to its certification process, introducing a new program accreditation while retooling individual certification. These updates aim to make certification more accessible, inclusive, and reflective of the Ombuds profession's evolving needs. Applications for Program Certification will open in June 2025, focusing on environmental compliance with IOA Standards of Practice. 

Job Posting: Loyola Marymount University

The private Jesuit university in Los Angeles is seeking its first full-time University Ombudsperson for faculty and staff. It appears that the new position will fill a position previously held by Ariane White on a part-time basis for the past two years. Meanwhile, Roy Pereira continues as the first Ombuds for Students. The position is located within the President's Office.

Job Re-Posting: Western University of Health Sciences

The private medical university in Pomona, California, is continuing its search for an inaugural Ombudsperson. The full-time position will established a program to serve the entire campus community, including 3,700 students and over 2,000 employees. The Ombuds will report to the President and practice to IOA standards. Some travel to WesternU's campus in Lebanon, Oregon, is required. 

University of Luxembourg Adds Third Ombuds

Martina Peskoller-Fuchs will join the Ombuds Service at Universitéit Lëtzebuerg in January as the third Ombuds. She will work with the inaugural (and now part-time) Ombuds, Brent Epperson, and full-time Ombuds, Veronika Lovrits. has been selected as a full-time Ombudsperson for Université du Luxembourg. The office reports to the University's Governing Council and provides services to about 10,0000 staff and students.

Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi Selects Next Faculty Ombuds

According to a recently updated webpage, Deborah Siliba was named the new Faculty Ombuds for TAMU-CC earlier this year. She follows Steven D. Seidel , who served in the position since 2022. Siliba serves over 600 members of the faculty, and reports to the Faculty Senate executive committee and the Provost. The office practices to IOA standards with some significant exceptions to confidentiality, including: "allegations of discrimination, sexual harassment, related retaliation, sexual violence, fraud, waste, or abuse."

Job Posting: Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI is seeking an Associate Organizational Ombuds. The position provides services to Bureau employees with workplace issues and concerns, and follows IOA standards.