The Ombuds Blog: 2026

July 28, 2026

Peralta Community College District Names First Ombuds

The Peralta Community College District has established an Office of the Ombuds, with Kohya Lu serving as its first Organizational Ombuds. The full-time position serves approximately 850 employees, including classified professionals, faculty, and administrators, across the District's four colleges in Northern California's East Bay. Until very recently, Lu had served as the inaugural Ombudsperson at College of San Mateo since August 2023. (PCCD Ombuds.)

In September 2024, Jeff Stransky was hired as the Ombudsperson for the polytechnic institute in Calgary, Alberta. He follows Kamini Bernard in the full-time position that provides services to all members of the SAIT campus community. The SAIT Ombuds reports to the Vice President of Student Affairs and External Relations, and receives advice and direction from the Ombudsperson Leadership Committee, which includes student representatives.

Davidson College Debuts Ombuds Office

The private liberal arts college north of Charlotte, North Carolina, has selected its first Ombuds: Jerry Nuesell. As a temporary, part-time consultant, he is launching a program to serve the college's faculty and staff will lead the program's initial setup including the creation of a website, formal policies, and outreach materials. Nuesell continues as the Ombuds for Wake Tech, where he also established the office in 2017. (Davidson Ombuds.)

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services (UNOMS) is seeking a Consultant for Informal Conflict Resolution. The fully-remote position will report to the Regional Ombudsman and/or Chief of Service in New York and provide Ombuds services to UN employees for an expected period of six months.

The small town east of Raleigh is looking at several organizational reforms including an Ombuds for employees, after a new report detailed exorbitant spending by town officials and a toxic workplace culture under former town manager. The business law firm of Womble Bond Dickinson produced a 272 page report that "includes recommendations intended to improve Town operations, the Town’s workplace environment, and the channels through which Town financial information is disseminated to the Town Council and Town residents."

The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution has shared its latest episode of "Idle Chat" and it features Dawn Miller Sander, Assistant Ombuds at the American Red Cross. Miller's chat with host Natalie Armstrong-Motin is casual and relaxed, and eventually delves into the professional significance of their work in conflict resolution. In the final portion of the interview Miller She emphasizes that her "whole job" is listening. She explains that by being a patient, active listener and asking the right probing questions, she empowers people to resolve their own conflicts and find their own way forward. (YouTube.)

July 23, 2026

Ole Miss AAUP Raises Alarm Over Camera Outside Ombuds Office

The University of Mississippi is facing new scrutiny over its Ombuds program after the university's chapter of the American Association of University Professors raised concerns about a facial-recognition camera outside the entrance to the Ombuds Office. The group says employees discovered the camera on July 13 and argues that its presence undermines the confidentiality that is fundamental to the Ombuds function, potentially deterring faculty, staff, and students from seeking assistance.

UW-Madison announced the appointment of Charles Hoslet to the Ombuds Office for a three-year term starting this past June. Hoslet joins six other Ombuds: Jane Dymond, Susan Ellis Weismer, Amy Fruchtman, Robin Kurtz, Regina Murphy, and Don Schutt. He has worked at UW-Madison for nearly three decades in a wide range of administrative roles, most recently as Vice Chancellor for University Relations. (UW-M News.)

Job Posting: VU Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is seeking its next Staff Ombudsman. The full-time position will serve more than 6,000 faculty and staff with workplace concerns. The Ombuds reports administratively to the Executive Board while maintaining an independent role. The search will fill a position held most recently by Michiel Geursen and supplements the work of Pelin Zenginoğlu, the Student Ombudsman.

The agenda has been posted for the 2026 California Caucus of College and University Ombuds. Registration for the event, which regularly sells out, opens today. The caucus takes place at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, November 8-11, 2026.

Here is the full agenda for the caucus, "The Grove & the Understory":

Internship: SAP, Germany

The Global Ombuds Office for the German multinational software corporation is seeking an intern or diploma student. The paid opportunity is focused communications projects, but the tasks will be varied and include independent and collaborative projects. After an initial six-month internship, the position may transition to a student employee. The SAP Ombuds office is based at SAP's headquarters in Walldorf, but the internship alternately could be located could somewhere else in Europe, Middle East, or Africa. Up to 10% travel may be required.

UdeS Student Ombudsman Marie-Claude Laquerre, and Deputy Ombudsman, Stephanie McFarlandhave published the office's annual report for 2025-26. Laquerre reports that the office received 362 new requests and closed 357 files during the reporting period. Although the number of student cases declined by 10% from the prior year, the report attributes much of this decrease to lower international student enrollment associated with recent immigration-related challenges in Canada. At the same time, the office saw substantial increases in matters involving internships and clinical placements, as well as interpersonal conflicts and professionalism concerns.

Another New Ombuds Podcast: Spoken in Confidence

Sana Manjeshwar, who served as the Ombuds at Chevron and AllianceBernstein and now consults as the principal of OmbudSana International, has launched her own podcast: "Spoken in Confidence." Manjeshwar plans a series of monthly interviews with leaders "who chose to handle conflict differently, sharing real-world scenarios, hard conversations, and practical tools. The target audience are executives, compliance leaders, managers, and employees. (YouTube.)

Job Re-Posting: Northeastern Illinois University

The public state university in North Park, Chicago continues to seek its next Ombuds. The goal is to reopen a program that has been dormant since 2022. The current search opened in February. The NEIU Ombuds is a full-time, IOA compliant position that reports to the University President and serves faculty, staff, and 8,000 students.

KU has selected Dorris Mbogo as its Interim University Ombuds. Mbogo will serve in the part-time role while continuing as Director of Informal Resolution in KU's Office of Civil Rights & Title IX. She succeeds Ada Emmett, who retired earlier this year after nearly 25 years of service in the Ombuds Office and KU Libraries. The interim appointment follows a search limited to current university employees and is not expected to become a permanent position.

Hidden Pulse Podcast: Dina Eisenberg on Coaching Executive Teams

Dina Eisenberg is the latest guest on Crissy Mangrum's podcast, "Hidden Pulse." Eisenberg has a wealth of knowledge based on her three decades of work in conflict resolution including stints as the Ombuds for Twitter, Berklee College of Music, Boston Law Collaborative, Bank of America (Fleet Bank), and numerous private clients. In the interview, she discusses how thoughtful preparation, effective communication, and better decision-making can help leaders and individuals navigate conflict, high-stakes choices, and major life transitions with greater clarity and confidence.

Vivian Hsu is the latest guest on Brooke Wichmann's podcast, "Ombuddy." Hsu, the Ombuds for Mount Holyoke since 2017, reflects on the personal and professional experiences that led her to Ombuds work and the skills she carries from her background in law and organizational consulting. Wichmann says that Hsu emphasized knowing what “hat” you are wearing and having the clarity and discipline to stay in the appropriate lane.

Job Posting: La Trobe University

The public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, is seeking its first University Ombudsman. The part-time (0.6 FTE) position will serve about 38,000 staff and students, and is offered as a fixed-term appointment of three to five years. The posting also emphasizes providing "strategic advice" to university leadership and developing annual reports and recommendations.

Framework for Open and Reproducible Research Training Launches Ombuds Program

FORRT, a decentralized, international, volunteer-based community that advances open and reproducible research practices, has established a Confidential Advisor and Ombuds program. The inaugural Confidential Advisor is Ruth Van der Hallen and the inaugural Ombuds is Thomas Rhys Evans. Together, they will provide confidential and informal support for members of the organization and help address concerns affecting the FORRT community. (FORTT Confidential Advisor & Ombuds.)

The State University of New York at Stony Brook has expanded its Ombuds Office with the appointment of Alexis Rodgers as Stony Brook Medicine Ombuds. She joins Donna Buehler, who has served as University Ombuds since 2014, creating a two-person office serving distinct constituencies across the institution. Rodgers will serve Stony Brook Medicine, including hospitals, research facilities, and clinics, while Buehler will continue to serve the main campus and the rest of the university community. The two Ombuds will collaborate on workshops and other educational resources for the university.

Job Posting: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina's flagship public research university has opened a search for its next University Ombuds and Director of the University Ombuds Office. The full-time position reports directly to the Chancellor and serves faculty, staff, students, administrators, and postdoctoral scholars across the university. The position is expected to begin in October 2026 and succeeds Dawn Osborne-Adams, who served as University Ombuds from 2018 until earlier this year. The successful candidate will join Josh Canzona, who is serving as Interim Ombuds, and Victoria Dowd, Assistant University Ombuds and Program Specialist.

A new webpage for Atlanta reveals that the city has appointed two Neighborhood Relations Managers to its Office of Neighborhood Ombuds: Amber Ware and Clyde Mitchell. As Neighborhood Relations Managers, they serve as External Ombuds for residents and neighborhood stakeholders with issues involving city government and programs.

The public university in Lexington has resumed its internal search for an Academic Ombud. The position may be filled by a tenured or emeriti faculty member who provides services to students with academic issues. UK had one of the first university Ombuds in the United States and 29 faculty have served in the position over the last five decades. Alice Turkington, Professor of Geography, has served several terms as the Academic Ombud since she was selected in 2021. The position reports to UK's provost and practices to IOA standards. (UK Provost News.)

Job Posting: Cornell University

The Ivy League university in Ithaca, New York, is hiring an Assistant Ombuds. The new, full-time position will join the University Ombuds, Bruce Lewenstein, and Assistant Ombuds, Maria Zambos. This is a new position and not a direct replacement for the role held by Ati Alipour, who moved recently to Harvard’s Ombuds Office. The Assistant Ombuds is an on-campus position that serves faculty, staff, and students (excluding Weill Cornell Medicine).

Job Posting: Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA's Alternative Dispute Resolution Division in the Office of the Chief Counsel, is hiring for two positions at its headquarters in Washington, DC: an ADR Attorney-Advisor (a temporary CORE appointment) and a Supervisory ADR Attorney-Advisor (a permanent full-time appointment). The positions provide conflict management and organizational development services very similar to Ombuds work across FEMA. The ADR Attorney-Advisor is primarily a practitioner role focused on delivering services directly to clients and conducting legal analysis related to ADR systems and authorities. The Supervisory Attorney-Advisor combines ADR practice with significant management responsibilities, including supervising staff, assigning cases, managing workload, handling personnel matters, overseeing projects and committees, and helping shape division policy and strategy. Telework is available for both positions.

Harvard University Appoints Ombuds

Harvard University has selected Ati Alipour, CO-OP, as an Ombuds in the Harvard Ombuds Office. She joins the office on July 21, 2026, succeeding Lisa Neale, who retired earlier this year. Alipour joins Melissa Brodrick and Adam Barak Kleinberger, along with three consulting Ombuds who support the office.

The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution has issued a call for program proposals for its 2027 Spring Conference, which will be held in Chicago on April 16–17, 2027. The Section is seeking forward-thinking, skills-based presentations that help dispute resolution professionals address today's most pressing challenges. Selected programs will be 60 minutes long and feature two to four presenters. The organizers encourage proposals that bring together diverse perspectives, experiences, practice areas, and backgrounds. Proposals are due July 24, 2026. (ABA DRS.)

Jefferson Lab Selects External Ombuds Provider

The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, the DOE lab in Newport News, Virginia, has launched an Ombuds program, nearly a year after issuing a request for proposals seeking an external provider. The new program will be provided by Bultman Wilson Consulting, a Maryland-based human resources consulting firm led by Wiltina Wilson. The new Ombuds program will provide IOA-compliant services to about 700 lab employees and other scientific users for an initial initial contract term of five years.

Registration is now open for the in-person annual event of the Mid-Atlantic Ombuds Network (MAON). After meeting virtually for several years, the regional group will convene Ombuds and other conflict resolution practitioners in Washington, DC, on October 15, 2026. Registration is $115.06 and includes breakfast, lunch, and a full day of educational programming, networking, and collaborative discussions.

A new AI-powered conflict coaching platform developed by a longtime Ombuds is being promoted as a resource that Ombuds can recommend to visitors preparing for difficult conversations. SAFE Dialogue Coach, created by Diedrick (D.A.) Graham, draws on draws on established conflict resolution and coaching frameworks to help visitors analyze conflicts, prepare for conversations, and practice communication strategies. According to Graham, the platform is intended to help individuals prepare for conflict resolution and, when appropriate, seek assistance from an Ombuds, serving "not as a replacement for the practitioner" but as a supplement to human guidance. SAFE Dialogue Coach joins a growing number of AI-based products and services being developed specifically for the Ombuds profession.

ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Annual Membership Meeting

The ABA Section of Dispute Resolution will hold its Annual Membership Meeting on Friday, July 31, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Outgoing Section Chair Liz Hill will reflect on the Section's work over the past year and share a few thoughts as leadership transitions to a new team for the coming year. As the Section partners with IOA to implement a Model Ombuds Act, this promises to be an exciting year.

International Ombudsman Institute Adopts Ethical Principles Guide

IOI, the international association for more than 200 public-sector (Classical) Ombudsman programs in 100 countries, has adopted a new Guide to the Ethical Principles of Ombudspersons and their Staff Members. The document was unanimously approved by the IOI World Board at its May 2026 meeting in Curaçao and is intended to provide a common ethical framework for Ombudsman institutions worldwide. The guide identifies seven core principles that apply to Ombudsman programs regardless of their legal mandate or jurisdiction. It also addresses emerging issues such as accessibility, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence, emphasizing that technology should support, but not replace, human judgment.

Job Posting: United Nations, Chile

The UN is hiring a Regional Ombudsman for its Office of the Ombudsman and Mediation Services in Santiago. The P-5 position manages a team of conflict resolution professionals and support staff serving the Latin American and Caribbean region. The appointment is for an initial one-year term and may be subject to extension.

Brooke Wichmann, CO-OP has been hired to reestablish the Ombuds Office for the private Methodist-affiliated university in Stockton, California. As the full-time University Ombuds, she will reopen a program that closed in 2022 when the inaugural Ombuds, Hector Escalante Meza, moved to the University of California, Merced. Wichmann will serve about 10,000 faculty, staff, and students across three campuses.

USF Faculty Staff Ombuds Steve Prevaux has established a continuity-of-operations plan for his office by engaging MWI as a backup service provider. The arrangement is intended to ensure uninterrupted Ombuds services for more than 15,000 faculty and staff across three campuses in the event of an unexpected absence, addressing a vulnerability for solo Ombuds offices.

University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras Names Interim Ombuds

Ángel M. Burgos Rivera has been promoted to Interim Student Ombudsman for Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras, the public land-grant university in San Juan. He follows Coralie Pacheco Valcárcel, who served in the role since late 2021. Burgos Rivera will head an office that serves about 19,000 students. The university will open a search for the next permanent Student Ombuds.

Job Posting: Charles University

Univerzita Karlova, the large and historic university in Prague, is seeking its next University Ombuds. The search will fill a position held by the inaugural Ombuds, Kateřina Šámalová, who is completing a three-year term (and who has been a leader in promoting the role of Ombuds in Eastern Europe). The half-time position serves students, employees, and others connected to the university, and coordinates the work of nearly two dozen Ombuds embedded with faculties and other campus units. The appointment is expected to begin in October 2026 following consultation with the faculty's Academic Senate.

The Oakland-based startup that provides external Ombuds services through a technology-enabled platform, is hiring a part-time contract Organizational Ombuds. The fully remote position will provide assistance to employees of client organizations, offering conflict coaching and consultation while identifying systemic workplace issues and trends. Off-hours work is permitted.

Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada has appointed Jessica Norup as its new Workplace Wellness Ombuds. She succeeds Elianne Hall and joins Associate Ombuds Mireille Aubrey in the office, which provides services to employees of the federal agency that regulates agriculture in Canada.

Hans Kohler and Mary Rowe are among the speakers for Seminário Internacional de Ouvidorias - 2026 taking place next week. The online event is aimed at Classical Ombuds and features 14 senior public servants, Ombuds, and auditors from Brazilian federal and local ministries. Kohler, a Regional Ombuds with the International Organization for Migration in Kenya and Associate Editor of the Journal of IOA, and Rowe, the former inaugural Ombuds for MIT, will join a panel on the topic of "Effective Ombudsman Offices: Challenges and Pathways to Strengthen Structure, Processes, and Culture."

IOA Seeks Feedback on Final Draft of Standards of Practice

The International Ombuds Association has released the final draft of its revised Standards of Practice and a new accompanying Compendium for member review and comment by July 16, 2026. The revisions conclude a clarification review that began in 2025 and included recommendations from a Board-appointed task force, guided review sessions, and extensive member feedback. According to the IOA, the new Compendium is intended to provide additional guidance on interpreting and applying the Standards (meanwhile, while the review of the Code of Ethics has been paused until the Standards are finalized). This is likely to be the final opportunity for members to comment before the revised Standards are presented to the Board for adoption.

IOA and ABA Form Joint Taskforce for Ombuds Model Act

The International Ombuds Association and the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution's Ombuds Committee have created a joint taskforce to coordinate future work on the proposed Organizational Ombuds Practices Act. The model legislation is intended to serve as a template that individual states may adopt, establishing a statutory framework for Ombuds offices and, if enacted by state legislatures, providing legal protections consistent with the IOA's Standards of Practice. The new taskforce will develop recommendations regarding next steps for advancing the proposal.

The Office of the Ombudsman for the Pan American Health Organization is accepting applications for a part-time internship based in Washington, DC. The intern will assist the PAHO Ombuds, Fernando Navarro Sánchez, with communications, research, training materials, surveys, and other office projects. The position is intended for students interested in multilateral organizations, organizational culture, learning design, and workplace well-being.

Isabel Brooke has launched Insight Ombuds Analytics, a niche service that provides data management and reporting support for university Ombuds offices. The venture offers assistance with case tracking, data analysis, and annual reporting, with the goal of reducing administrative burdens and allowing Ombuds to devote more time to assisting visitors.

Job Posting: Harvard University

The private research university in Cambridge is hiring an Ombuds I to join an office headed by Melissa Brodrick that currently includes Adam Barak Kleinberger, and three consulting Ombuds. The full-time, hybrid eligible position is based in Cambridge.

University of California Ombuds Update Systemwide Statement of Best Practices

The University of California Ombuds Offices have released a revised Declaration of Best Practices, replacing the prior version adopted in 2017. The updated guidance applies to Ombuds Offices at all UC campuses and the UC Office of the President. While reaffirming the core principles of independence, confidentiality, impartiality, and informality, the revision adds extensive guidance on Ombuds office structure, reporting relationships, staffing, selection of Ombuds, and conflicts of interest. The document also updates terminology to align with current IOA standards, replacing references to “neutrality” with “impartiality” and reflecting the association's current name.

Marcia Gee Riley, who has served as Student Ombuds for the University of California, Berkeley since August 2008, retires this month. Current Assistant Ombuds, Zackary Hull, will step up as Interim Student Ombuds while the campus makes plans for a search.

ENOHE Elects 2026 Board

The European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education has announced its new leadership elected during its its 21st annual conference at AGH University of Kraków this week.

The new officers and board members are:

JAMS Pathways Adds Ombuds Services

JAMS Pathways, a division of the large ADR provider JAMS that launched in 2023, has added Ombuds services to its portfolio. JAMS Pathways now offers outsourced Ombuds services alongside workplace assessments, conflict coaching, mediation, facilitation, and training. According to the company, its Ombuds provide confidential, independent, impartial, and informal assistance to employees and other stakeholders while helping organizations identify systemic issues and emerging trends. JAMS does not explicitly reference IOA standards in its materials.

Job Posting: University of California, Davis

The public research university near Sacramento is hiring an Associate Ombuds. The position will join an office led by Director Lauren Bloom and including Associate Ombuds Jenny Vaccari and Casey Woods and Assistant Ombuds Katie Ranney, that serves about 75,000 faculty, staff, and students. The hybrid position, based in Davis with some work in Sacramento, will fill a vacancy left by Lindsey Ensor.

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