Canada School of Public Service Appoints Ombuds

Mélodie Morissette has been named the next Ombuds for École de la fonction publique du Canada, the Ottawa-based school that provides educational services for Canadian government workers. She follows Vincent Houle, who served in the role for five years, and will serve about 800 CSP employees. 

Wageningen University & Research Selects Next Ombuds

GJ (Joke) Genee has been named the next Ombudsperson for WUR, the public university in Wageningen, Netherlands. She follows Jacqueline Schoone, who established the position in 2021. As the Ombuds, Genee serves university employees and PhD candidates.

Podcast: Ombuds for Dental Services

Dina Eisenberg was a recent guest on The Raving Patients Podcast. The focus of the podcast is dental practice management and Eisenberg was able to share her expertise working with dentists and dental service organizations. Eisenberg has been working as an Ombuds for decades, serving a wide range of businesses including large corporations, health systems, colleges, and small companies, so she has more than enough wisdom for a half hour show. (Raving Patients.) 

VU Amsterdam Names Next Staff Ombuds

Michiel Geursen will be the Ombuds for Staff at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam beginning next week. He follows Jacqueline Schoone in the role and joins Pelin Zenginoğlu, the Student Ombudsman. In addition, Geursen was appointed as the Ombuds Officer for Employees at Tilburg University about 100 km to the south in November 2024.

University of Western Ontario Confirms Associate Ombuds

Stephanie Bolingbroke, who has been on a contract as the Associate Ombuds at Western since November 2023, has been made a permanent employee. Meanwhile, a search continues to replace the Acting Ombudsperson, Joan Finegan.

Public Safety Canada Names Next Ombuds

Rachel Richardson has been selected as the next Ombuds for Sécurité publique Canada, the department responsible for public safety, emergency management, national security, and emergency preparedness in Canada. She follows Manda Noble-Green, who moved to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at the end of 2024. 

JustEquitable Offers Webinars About Ombuds Case Management

Heather McGhee Peggs, an Ombuds, author, and consultant with JustEquitable, Inc., is presenting three live webinars on effective complaint handling topics on July 9, 16, and 23, 2025. The series aims to offer practical insights for Ombuds and other professionals who handle complaints. 

Resolution Institute Presents Session with Aukland Ombuds

The professional association for dispute resolution practitioners in Australia, New Zealand (Aotearoa), and the Asia Pacific region will offer a presentation by Wayne Marriott on the evening of July 10, 2025. Marriott the inaugural Ombuds for Auckland University of Technology and is the President-Elect of the IOA Board of Directors. The event will be hosted by AUT and is open to the public. 

Via Rail Canada Selects First Ombuds

Anaïs Lacroix has been contracted as the first Ombuds for the Crown corporation that operates intercity passenger rail service in Canada. The contract began in March 2025 is expected to run through February 2030. Lacroix will provide services to about 4,000 people across the country. Lacroix is the Chief Executive Officer at Latitude, a Montreal law firm that focuses on workplace conflict management.

Dissertation Examines Psychological Safety and University Ombuds

Florida Atlantic University has approved the doctoral dissertation of Angella J. Wint, "You Are Safe Here: A Phenomenological Exploration of Psychological Safety and Organizational Ombuds in Higher Education." The dissertation was for Wint's PhD in Higher Education Leadership and Research Methodology. She has also been the Ombuds at FAU since 2019. (FAU Libraries.)

Cal Caucus Announces 2025 Agenda

The agenda has been posted for the 2025 California Caucus of College and University Ombuds. The event, which has already sold out, runs from November 9 through 12 at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove.

Here is the agenda for “Finding Solid Ground in Shifting Sands”:

Maybe AI Chatbots Won't Replace Ombuds

A new Stanford University computer science study critically examined the growing use of artificial intelligence for mental health therapy. (A poll in 2024, for example, found that 55% of young adults are comfortable talking about mental health concerns with a confidential AI chatbot.) The Stanford researchers, however, discovered that AI chatbots displayed dangerous tendencies to express stigma, encourage delusions and respond inappropriately in critical moments. This seems to confirm anecdotal stories about AI chatbots distorting reality. 

Life Planning Workshop for Ombuds

Vik Kapoor, an Ombuds Consultant for UNICEF, UNDP, UNWOMEN, UNFPA and UNOPS, and ICF-certified coach, is hosting another workshop aimed at Ombuds at others. The five-hour session on July 1, 2025, will help participants build their own custom Life Plan.

ETH Zurich Names New Ombuds

Ulrike Schlachter has joined the Ombuds Office at ETH Zürich, replacing Margrit Leuthold, who served since 2018 until last year. Schlachter joins Jonas Nakonz, Annette Spiro, and Kathrin Teuscher and will provide services to over 30,000 members of the leading Swiss engineering and technology university.

Guidance for Trauma-Informed Ombuds Practice

The Pace Institute (founded by Angela Dash, the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine Ombuds Officer and frequent IOA speaker) has posted a free, recorded webinar on trauma-informed practice for Ombuds. The discussion explores why trauma-informed practices are essential, and not optional, for Organizational Ombuds. The video explains how trauma awareness transforms interactions, creates psychological safety, and prevents retraumatization for visitors. 

Ombudsman Wins Prince of Wales's Stakes

On June 18, 2025, Jockey William Buick urged Godolphin’s, Ombudsman, to win the £1 million Prince of Wales’s Stakes on the turf at Royal Ascot in England. The 7-1 colt, a "devastating winner," earned an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup at Del Mar in California in November 2025. (YouTube.) 

European Molecular Biology Laboratory Selects Next Ombuds

Tuba Bilecik has been appointed the Ombudsperson for EMBL, the intergovernmental laboratory for the life sciences in Heidelberg, Germany. She follows Martina Peskoller-Fuchs, who established the program in 2015. As the Ombuds, Bilekic will serve staff, fellows, trainees, and lab visitors at sites across Europe, and will serve an initial five-year term.

IOA Videos Feature Endorsements by Corporate Leaders

The International Ombuds Association has shared three videos that debuted at its annual conference in April 2025. These short videos feature CEOs and other C-suite leaders of three different organizations: Boston Children's Hospital; AllianceBernstein; and Pinterest. The Ombuds are lavished with praise for effective work that improves organizational culture and manages conflict. All three videos are available at the IOA YouTube channel. (YouTube.)

Registration Opens for 2025 Cal Caucus

Registration for the 52nd California Caucus of College and University Ombuds opens this morning at 9:00am PDT and payment is due by August 8, 2025. Set for November 9 through 12 at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, the theme will be “Finding Solid Ground in Shifting Sands.” Unlike most professional conferences, attendees eat meals and participate in all sessions together. The event has sold out quickly in recent years.

Job Posting: Oakland University

The public research university in Oakland County, Michigan, has opened a search for a University Ombudsperson. (In 1970, Kenneth Coffman became the first Ombudsman at OU and served several years in the role; it does not appear that the university has had an Ombuds program for several decades.) The full-time position will establish a program to serve faculty, staff, and 16,000 students across two, suburban campuses. The Ombuds will and report as part of the president's office. 

Job Posting: University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado's flagship public university is hiring an Associate Ombuds. The position will join an office comprised of Director, Kirsi Aulin, Associate Director, Liz Hill, two Faculty Ombuds, Yem Fong and Jerry Hauser, and Ombuds Program Administrator, Maggie Howard. The Associate Ombuds will handle cases from students, staff, faculty, and administrators, and assist with training and outreach efforts.

George Leitmann: University of California's First Ombudsman

George Leitmann, the inaugural Ombudsman for UC Berkeley, passed away on May 19, 2025 just shy of his 100th birthday. Born in Austria, Leitmann lived a rich life. His family fled the Nazi regime and, after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and shipped out to Europe in 1944. His unit was attached to the First French Army and for his reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines, France awarded him the Croix de Guerre. Later, his unit participated in the liberation of the Kaufering concentration camp near Munich. After the end of the war, he became the youngest special agent of the U.S. Army’s Counterintelligence Corps which included service as an interrogator at the Nuremberg War Crime Trials. 

Frances Bauer: Former Ombuds at University of Western Ontario

Frances Bauer, the former Ombudsperson at Western University, passed away on May 15, 2025. She attended McGill University at the age of 15 and went on to earn two masters degrees. Much of her career was spent in higher education, including time at Dawson College and Concordia University. Eventually, she became the University Ombuds at Western, where she served for two decades before retiring in 2005. She briefly unretired in 2008-2009 to be the interim Ombuds at Fanshawe College. 

Training Resolved LLC Offers In-Person Ombuds Course in Nashville

A Tennessee-based company is offering a two-day Ombuds training on July 24-25, 2025, "The Ombuds Advantage: A New Frontier for Lawyers and Mediators." The course aims to introduce "the emerging role of the Ombuds" to lawyers and mediators through lectures, ethical discussions, and hands-on role plays. The trainers are: Kimberly Schreiber, "an experienced attorney and R31 Listed Mediator and Trainer with a background in conflict resolution and organizational dynamics"; and David Adams, "an MBA, coach, leader, and operations strategist." Both have "specialized training in Ombuds practice." 

Job Posting: International Organization for Migration, Egypt

The intergovernmental organization that promotes international cooperation on migration issues is hiring a Conflict Resolution Officer to be based in Cairo. The position is located within the IOM Office of the Ombudsperson and Mediation Services and assists staff members with employment issues following IOA standards. The contract is for nine months.

Registration Opens for 2025 Summer Virtual Small Caucus

The California Caucus of College and University Ombuds has opened registration for its third annual summer meeting. The online only event on June 27, 2024, offers an opportunity to preview the topic for the traditional fall caucus in Pacific Grove.

Here's the full announcement:

John Binder: Former Ombuds at Kent State University

John J Binder, University Ombudsman for Students at Kent State from 1985 to 1996, passed away on February 16, 2025. He served with the Army in Korea before graduating from Duquesne University and earning an MA at Notre Dame and PhD at Kent State. He returned to Kent State in 1964 and stayed until his retirement 32 years later. (Morning Journal; Daily Kent Stater.)

Update: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Reverses Decision to Close Immigration Ombudsman Offices

DHS has announced that it had reversed its decision to close the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Office, and Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman. The move followed lawsuits challenging the administration's authority to close the programs. Last week, USCIS even opened a search for a Deputy Ombuds. (Democracy Forward; Times of India; USA Jobs.)

Lawyer Warns Students About University Ombuds

Joseph D. Lento is an attorney based in New Jersey with a nationwide practice representing students (and others) in disputes with colleges and universities. His website was recently updated with a page about University Ombuds. He fairly describes the Ombuds' role and acknowledges many of the services. However, he also offers some examples of "potential pitfalls and perils" of relying on Ombuds' advice: 

Self-Care Workshop for Ombuds

Vik Kapoor, an Ombuds Consultant for UNICEF, UNDP, UNWOMEN, UNFPA and UNOPS, and ICF-certified coach, is hosting a one-hour public workshop on Thursday, June 19, 2025 (Juneteenth). The workshop, "Build Your Own Self-Care Plan," is intended for professionals who would like additional techniques to support their self-care and the self-care of those they serve.

Podcast: Ombuds and IOA Board Member

Jacqueline Villafañe was a recent guest on the Blessed Be Podcast. She shared her experience and insights on managing conflict drawn from her work as an organizational psychologist and Ombuds. Villafane is a current member of the IOA Board of Directors and also serves as the Ombuds for The MacArthur Foundation and University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, among other clients. (Blessed Be Podcast.)