The Ombuds Blog: Mississippi State University Names Next Ombuds

January 21, 2025

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.

Breazeale has been a member of the faculty in the MSU College of Business since 2014. In addition, he has been an adjudicator and mediator for Mississippi State’s Title IX Office and vice president of the faculty senate. Breazeale has also taught at Indiana University Southeast and the University of Nebraska. He graduated from Millsaps College and earned his PhD from Mississippi State. (MSU Newsroom.)

1 comment:

Anonymous1/22/2025 9:10 AM
When one reads the official announcement, it seems this position has myriad problems. It appears the incumbent has policy making responsibilities. It also seems to be too closely aligned with HR and investigatory offices. The idea of an ombuds "representing" people is also problematic. [Edited by TAK for guidelines.]
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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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