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.)

Job Posting: United Nations

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.

Cary, North Carolina, to Consider Ombuds for City Employees

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." 

ABA DRS Idle Chat: Red Cross Ombuds on the Importance of Listening

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.)

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.

University of Wisconsin–Madison Enlists Another Ombuds

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.

Registration Opens for 2026 California Caucus

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.

Université de Sherbrooke Ombuds Posts 2026 Annual Report

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. 

University of Kansas Names Interim Ombuds

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. 

Ombuddy Podcast Interviews Mount Holyoke College Ombuds

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.) 

Stony Brook University Adds Second 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.

Meet Atlanta's Neighborhood Ombuds

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. 

University of Kentucky Reopens Search for Next Academic Ombuds

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.