IOA Opens Election for 2027 Board of Directors

On Monday, members of the International Ombuds Association begin voting for five open seats on the IOA Board of Directors. Sixteen candidates are running (the largest slate ever), with two current directors seeking a second term and fourteen new candidates seeking election for their first term. The Ombuds Blog does not endorse candidates; information is provided only for reference. Candidate statements and biographies are available to members on the IOA website. 

University of California, Davis Hires New Associate Ombuds

The Ombuds Office at UC Davis has hired Emily Fine as an Associate Ombuds. Fine joined the office in October 2026 and reports to Ombuds and Director Lauren Bloom. She is expected to split her time between campuses in Davis and Sacramento.

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 provide confidential informal dispute resolution services, including mediation, to UN personnel from January through June 2027. The consultant will report to the Regional Ombudsman and/or Chief of Service and will also assist with outreach and skill-building activities to promote conflict competence among staff. 

"Philly at Work" Spotlights Employee Ombuds

The City of Philadelphia has released a video featuring Employee Ombudsperson Shakeya Foreman as part of its “Philly at Work: Looking Out for Each Other” series. With warmth and humor, Foreman discusses how her office provides City employees with a neutral space to discuss workplace concerns, explore options, and consider possible next steps outside formal workplace processes. (YouTube.)

Cathy Jones: Former University of Georgia Faculty Ombuds

Catherine M. Jones, a longtime professor and former Faculty Ombudsperson at the University of Georgia passed on October 24, 2026, at the age 70. Jones joined UGA in 1987 and served as Faculty Ombudsperson from 2011 until 2017. 

Job Posting: San Diego State University

SDSU is seeking a Student Ombudsman Case Coordinator to support its Office of the Student Ombuds. The full-time position will report to Karla Ramirez, who has worked in the office since 2001 and has served as Student Ombuds since September 2025. The coordinator will assist students with academic, administrative, financial, enrollment, and housing concerns through individualized guidance, case coordination, conflict coaching, referrals, and support for informal resolution. The appointment is temporary, anticipated to end June 30, 2027, with the possibility of reappointment. 

Central State University Names next Ombuds

Rayshawn L. Eastman has been selected to head the Office of Student Experience and Resolution at Central State University. He succeeds the inaugural Ombuds, Marc DeWitt, who held the position until his passing earlier this year. The office describes its work in terms consistent with the Organizational Ombuds model, including providing students with a neutral, confidential, and independent resource for addressing concerns and navigating university processes.

Job Posting: Lakewood University

The private, non-profit university based in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, is seeking its first full-time Student Success Ombudsman. Reporting to the Vice President of Administrations and located within the Student Services department, the Ombuds will help students navigate university processes, address complaints and grievances, and resolve concerns through communication and mediation. The full-time, in-person position emphasizes student support, complaint management, and assistance navigating institutional processes. 

CPR: UN Guide Offers Lessons for Ombuds and Dispute System Designers

In an article for the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution, Giuseppe De Palo, former Ombudsman for United Nations Funds and Programmes, examines the implications of a new UN publication, An Anti-Corruption Ethics and Compliance Programme for Business: A Practical Guide. De Palo discusses its relevance for dispute system designers, including how accessible, informal conflict resolution channels can help organizations address corruption and unethical behavior before it escalates. 

Austria Publishes Updated Directory of Higher Education Ombuds Offices

The Austrian Agency for Research Integrity (ÖAWI) has published the seventh edition of Ombudsstellen und ähnliche Einrichtungen im österreichischen Hochschul- und Forschungsraum (Ombuds Offices and Similar Institutions in Austrian Higher Education and Research). Published earlier this year, the 231-page directory catalogs Ombuds offices and related services across Austria’s higher education and research sectors, documenting their institutional settings and areas of responsibility. 

IOA Opens Scholarship Applications for 2027 Annual Conference

The International Ombuds Association is offering scholarships to its 2027 Annual Conference, which will take place in person in Vancouver, British Columbia, on March 15–17, 2027. The initiative supports new and aspiring Ombuds who lack organizational or institutional funding to attend. Applicants must be IOA members with less than one year of Organizational Ombuds practice. The scholarship covers full conference registration and a $500 stipend for travel expenses. 

Job Posting: Kent State University

The public university in Northeast Ohio, is seeking a Student Ombudsperson to succeed Amy Quillin. Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Student Life, the Ombuds assists current, former, and prospective students with university-related concerns and grievances through policy interpretation, consultation, mediation, and informal and formal resolution strategies. The position also advises faculty, staff, and administrators on student-related conflicts, recommends policy and procedural changes, and participates in university committees. 

IAIABC Offers Ombuds Training

The International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions will offer a virtual Ombuds Training on October 27, 2026. The program includes sessions sessions designed for worker’s compensation Ombuds (cross-jurisdictional issues and protecting injured workers from scams), while other sessions are relevant to all Ombuds (artificial intelligence in Ombuds work, and compassion fatigue and self-regulation).

Norman Altman: Former University of Miami Ombuds

Norman H. Altman, a longtime faculty member and former Ombuds for the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, passed on October 12, 2026, at the age of 88. Altman joined the medical school in 1974 as an associate professor of pathology and spent 44 years at the institution. He founded the Division of Comparative Pathology in 1981 and held numerous leadership positions, including director of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, senior associate dean for research, and vice provost for research. 

Job Posting: Harvard University

The private research university in Cambridge is hiring an Ombuds I to join its Cambridge team. The full-time, hybrid position is a benefits-eligible term appointment through June 2028, with the possibility of extension, and requires 35 hours per week and at least two to three days on campus. 

Call for Session Proposals: ENOHE 2027 Conference

The European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education will hold its 22nd annual conference at the University for Continuing Education Krems in Austria, on June 2–4, 2027. The theme is “Where Does the Ombuds Stand? Position, Independence and Governance in Higher Education.” The conference will explore the Ombuds’ place within higher education institutions, including relationships with institutional leadership, staff and students, and other offices involved in conflict management and institutional development. 

Job Posting: Department of War Education Activity

DoWEA, the federal prekindergarten–12th grade school system serving military-connected families, is hiring an Associate Ombudsman. The full-time, permanent position is within the Office of the Chief of Staff Ombuds and Resolution Services Branch in Alexandria, Virginia, and is eligible for telework. Responsibilities include coordinating consultations to resolve complex conflicts, conducting informal dispute resolution, analyzing stakeholder concerns and systemic issues, advising leadership, and developing conflict management training and outreach. Travel is not required. 

Job Posting: Université de Montréal

UdeM, the French-language public research university in Quebec, is seeking an Assistant Ombuds for a full-time, temporary three-month appointment. The position works with the University Ombudsman, Caroline Roy, to address complaints of injustice or discrimination from members of the university community who have exhausted internal remedies. Responsibilities include investigating cases when warranted, assessing complaints, making recommendations to university authorities, advising senior administrators, and monitoring emerging regulatory issues. The position offers a hybrid work arrangement. 

Ohio State University Seeks Next Faculty Ombuds

Ohio State is seeking its next Faculty Ombuds following Mollie Blackburn’s transition to associate chair in the Department of Teaching and Learning. Blackburn has served in the role since 2021, providing advice and support to faculty colleagues. Eligible professors and tenured associate professors are invited to apply for a position with a target start date of December 2026 or January 2027. Rebeka Campos-Astorkiza continues as the Ombuds for Graduate and Professional Student. (Office of Academic Affairs.)

Job Posting: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee

USOPC is seeking an Assistant Athlete Ombuds to join its Office of the Athlete Ombuds, which provides dispute-resolution services to Team USA athletes. The full-time, remote position reports to Kacie Wallace, the Team USA Athlete Ombuds, and is designed for an early-career attorney. Responsibilities include advising athletes about their rights and options under applicable laws and sports regulations, conflict coaching, facilitated communication, mediation, and other dispute-resolution processes. Additional duties include case management, trend analysis, reporting, technology and AI initiatives, and support for athletes at major competitions. The position may require nontraditional hours and domestic and international travel. 

Spoken in Confidence Podcast: Chuck Howard Talks About Ombuds Confidentiality

Sana Manjeshwar’s Spoken in Confidence podcast released a new episode on Ombuds Day, featuring Chuck Howard, widely recognized as a leading legal authority on Ombuds confidentiality in the United States. Howard’s introduction to the profession came in 1990, when he successfully defended an Organizational Ombuds office in a federal court case, asserting a confidentiality privilege grounded in Federal Rule of Evidence 501 and an implied contract of confidentiality. 

University of Tennessee, Knoxville Ombuds Reports on FY2026

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT), Office of Ombuds Services, led by University Ombudsperson and Director Lisa C. Yamagata-Lynch, served 363 individuals and conducted 622 consultations during FY2026, according to its annual report. Of the 137 respondents to its visitor satisfaction survey, 136 (99.3%) expressed overall satisfaction with their consultations. In May 2026, IOA recognized the office as one of the inaugural Certified Ombuds Offices. 

Job Posting: North Carolina A&T State University

NCAT, the public research university and nation's largest HBCU, is seeking its first Ombudsperson to establish and lead a new Ombuds Office to serve faculty and staff. The permanent, full-time position reports to the Chancellor through the Chief of Staff and operates in accordance with IOA standards. The position is hybrid, with part-time work on campus, although employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina within a two-hour commuting distance of the campus in Greensboro. 

Job Posting: University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado's flagship public university is seeking an Associate Ombuds to join its Ombuds Office. The search will fill the position held by Jason Q. Sinocruz for the past year. The office is led by Director Kirsi Aulin and includes Associate Ombuds Detric Robinson, and two Faculty Ombuds, Keith Maskus and JoAnn Silverstein. The full-time position is based in Boulder and offers a hybrid work arrangement. 

Asian Development Bank Ombuds Reports Continued Workplace Strain

ADB’s Office of the Ombudsperson handled 417 cases involving 2,160 issues in 2025, according to its latest annual report, jointly prepared by Ombuds Anje Schubert and Wayne Blair. Group climate and supervision were the largest areas of concern, each accounting for 25% of issues, followed by peer and colleague relationships at 19%. The Ombuds reported continued concerns about team dynamics, workload, trust, communication, and workplace relationships, with concerns related to supervision increasing notably. 

Happy Ombuds Day 2026

The ninth annual Ombuds Day takes place today, October 8, 2026. This year’s theme is “Ombuds: Office of Options,” highlighting the role of Ombuds in helping people navigate conflict, develop options, and address concerns informally. Head over to the Ombuds Day website for information about events, proclamations, and other ways to recognize the day. (Ombuds Day Blog.)

University of Massachusetts Amherst Expands Ombuds Office

UMass Amherst has added Liza Joy Marcato as an Assistant Ombudsperson, expanding the Ombuds Office led by Colette Carmouche and Associate Ombuds Kenneth Russell. Marcato was appointed in May 2026 and works with students, staff, and faculty. She previously served for 18 years as an ordained priest, leading congregations in the United States, Canada, and Germany, and also worked as a department administrator at Harvard Divinity School and as a residential counselor at a Vermont boarding school. 

Mount St. Mary's University Adds Ombuds

The private university in Maryland has added Christina Green as an Ombuds, filling a position established by Love Sechrest. Green is an Associate Professor in the school of business and joined the university in 2016. She previously spent 12 years in the banking industry in management, training, and development. Green joins Jack Trammell, who has served as the university’s lead Ombuds since the office was established in 2023.

Erasmus University Ombuds Reports Lack of Confidence in Social Safety Systems

An Ombuds Officer for Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, Wico Verbaan, reports that employees and students have limited confidence in the university’s systems for reporting and addressing concerns about social safety. In his 2025 annual report, Verbaan notes that many people choose confidential reporting because they do not trust that existing procedures will adequately protect them if they come forward. In 2025, he received 140 cases, including 65 involving psychosocially inappropriate behavior, compared with 38 such cases in each of the previous two years. 

Ombuds Academy to Discuss Cases That Haunt Practitioners

Ombuds Academy will host The Haunted Ombuds Office: 7 Things That Linger After the Visitor Leaves, a discussion of the experiences that can stay with Ombuds after a case ends. Tom Kosakowski, a University Ombuds at the University of Southern California, will join Ombuds Academy founder Reese Ramos for the first of two sessions on October 9. The program is intended for practicing Ombuds. The free session will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. ET on October 9, with a second session to follow. (Ombuds Academy.)

Massachusetts Bar Association to Present Program on Ombuds

Mass Bar’s Dispute Resolution Section will present a program on Ombuds on October 15. The virtual program, “Lawyers and Ombuds: Exploring the Organizational Ombuds Role,” will feature Israela Brill-Cass, Ombud for Wesleyan University, Clark University, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Kenneth Russell, Associate Ombudsperson at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Job Posting: Seminole Tribe of Florida

The federally recognized tribal government in Broward County, is seeking a Director for its Office for Tribal Member Support and Information. The full-time position, based in Hollywood, Florida, will establish and lead an office that assists Tribal Members in navigating Tribal Government services and community resources. The Director reports regularly to the Tribal Council and will provide guidance, manage informal investigations, facilitate resolutions, and recommend systemic improvements.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Announces Next Ombuds

UTC has named Caitlan Hendrickson as its new University Ombudsperson. She started on October 1 and succeeds Anovia Slaughter, UTC’s inaugural Ombuds. Hendrickson brings more than 20 years of Ombuds and conflict resolution experience. She previously served as an Ombuds at the University of Arizona, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the United Nations Funds and Programmes, and as a contract Ombuds through MWI. (UTC Blog.)

Berea College Appoints First Ombuds

Anovia Slaughter has been selected as the inaugural Ombuds for the highly ranked, private liberal arts college in Kentucky. Slaughter, who previously served as the inaugural University Ombuds at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, began her new position in August 2026. The full-time position serves Berea faculty and staff and follows IOA standards. It reports to the college president and does not serve Berea's approximately 1,500 students.

University of Idaho Adds a Student Ombuds

The University of Idaho has named Mario Pile as its new Student Ombuds. Pile joins David Talbot in the Ombuds Office and brings more than 20 years of experience in youth development, education, student advocacy, and public service. His appointment returns the Student Ombuds position to the university.