Longtime Ombuds at University of Colorado Denver|Anschutz Retires

According to a campus press release, Melissa Connell, CO-OP, the director of the Ombuds Office for CU Anschutz and CU Denver retired in December 2025. She had served in the role since August 1997. The university said that her "institutional knowledge and ability to adapt to the evolving needs of the campuses made her a valuable resource to staff, faculty, students and administrators." In the wake of her departure, CU Denver and CU Anschutz will separate their Ombuds offices, with the Anschutz Ombuds office merging with the Office of Adaptive Resolution. 

Connell has been a longtime leader in the Ombuds field, locally and nationally. She volunteered with the IOA Mentoring Committee and was a frequent speaker at annual conferences. She also convened meetings of the Colorado Ombuds Group. Connell was in the first cohort of Ombuds to earn the CO-OP designation. (CU Anschutz News.) 

Related posts: CO-OP Board Announces First Class of Certified Ombuds; Ombuds Appreciate Support Following Aurora Shooting; Journal of IOA Spotlights Solo Practice; IOA Posts Agenda for 2014 Conference in Denver; Colorado Ombuzz Post Looks at Intent of Questions; IOA Announces Agenda for 2020 Conference in Portland; Colorado Ombuds Resume In-Person Meetings; University of Colorado Denver Names Associate Ombuds.