The Ombuds Blog: 2026

October 22, 2026

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

University of West Bohemia Expands Student Ombuds Program

UWB (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni) in Pilsen, Czech Republic, has expanded its student Ombuds program, adding teams at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and the Faculty of Design and Art Ladislav Sutnar. The university now has Student Ombuds at five of its faculties, alongside university-wide Ombuds Petr Šimon. The student Ombuds provide independent and confidential assistance to students dealing with academic and personal problems, including inappropriate behavior, discrimination, harassment, and conflicts with lecturers or classmates.

Jorge A. Ribeiro-Pereira, the former Student Ombudsman at the Universidade da Beira Interior in Portugal, is one of three authors of a new study examining Ombuds institutions in European higher education. The chapter, “Conceptualizing Ombudsman Institutions in European Higher Education Area: Analytical Models from a Systematic Literature Review,” appears in Openness: A Mission Challenged published by Brill last month. Ribeiro-Pereira, Ana I. Melo, and Teresa Carvalho reviewed the scholarly literature on higher-education Ombuds in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), examining how different institutional models relate to the governance and autonomy of higher-education institutions.

The state research university in Southeast North Carolina is again offering a graduate-level course on Organizational Ombuds. CMR 523 is a three-credit course in UNCW's Master of Arts in Conflict Management and Resolution program. The course provides foundational training for the Organizational Ombuds role and is intended for practicing Ombuds, people interested in becoming Ombuds, and administrators considering establishing an Organizational Ombuds function. The course is also available through UNCW's post-baccalaureate certificate in Conflict Management and Resolution. Kimrey Rhinehardt, a faculty member in the program, teaches the course.

Cascadia College Launches Ombuds Pilot

The public community college in Bothell, Washington, has launched a pilot Ombuds program for faculty and students. Ana Nina, Director of Inclusion, Advocacy, and Community Programs for the past three years, has adding the Ombuds role to her existing position. The college describes the Ombuds as an impartial, informal, independent, and confidential resource for addressing conflicts and identifying systemic issues. The pilot is intended to run through the 2026–27 academic year, after which the college will evaluate the program and make adjustments as necessary.

A recent article in Nature examines how PhD students can change laboratories or advisers when their research interests, working styles, or mentoring relationships are no longer a good fit. The article, “How do I change labs gracefully during my PhD?”, draws on advice from graduate students, academic leaders, a career counsellor, and two Ombuds: Ellen Goldstein, at the University of California San Francisco, and Shirley Nakata, Ombudsperson for Students at the University of British Columbia.

IOA Opens Nominations for 2027 Distinguished Emeriti Ombuds.

The International Ombuds Association is soliciting nominations for its annual Distinguished Emeritus Award. Each year, the IOA Board of Directors recognizes a small number of retired Ombuds for their outstanding and dedicated service to the organization and the Ombuds profession more broadly.

The European Ombuds and Mediators Group, IOA's Regional Advancement Community, met September 16–17 in Salzburg, Austria, hosted by Salzburg Global. Ombuds participants included: Jan Galkowski, Ombuds with MWI and former Ombuds at Uniwersytet Rzeszowski; Tuba Bilecik, Ombudsperson at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory; Carsten Pöschl, Global Corporate Ombudsperson at SAP; Spyridon (“Spyros”) Antonelos, Head of the Mediation & Ombuds Function at the European Central Bank; and Ion (“Ninel”) Anghel, Director of the PetrOmbudsman Department at OMV Petrom. The meeting provided an opportunity for European Organizational Ombuds to exchange experiences and discuss developments in the profession. (LinkedIn Galkowski, Poschl, Antonelos.)

New York University Names First Administrator Ombuds

NYU has appointed Seamus Mullin as its first Administrator Ombudsperson. In this new role, he will provide services for administrators to discuss workplace concerns off the record, explore options, receive coaching and referrals, and raise systemic concerns. The office follows IOA standards and starts operations on October 1, 2026.

An article in the Journal of Education Human Resources examines the lived experiences of Organizational Ombuds and their relationship to psychological safety in higher education. In “You Are Safe Here: The Lived Experiences of Organizational Ombuds and Psychological Safety in Higher Education,” Angella J. Wint, Cristobal Salinas, Jr., and Deborah L. Floyd use a phenomenological study to explore how Ombuds understand psychological safety and how those experiences inform their work with university constituents. Wint has been the Ombuds for Florida Atlantic University since 2019.

Association des ombudsmans en enseignement supérieur du Québec (Quebec Higher Education Ombuds Association) will host a free webinar on October 8, 2026, as part of Ombuds Day. Anaïs Lacroix, Ombuds at VIA Rail, will discuss how an Ombuds function can evolve to build trust and increase its organizational impact while preserving independence. The program will be moderated by Annick Dallaire, Commissioner for Complaints and Service Quality and Vice President of ARGP, and Caroline Roy, Ombuds at the Université de Montréal and President of AOESQ.

Colorado Springs Schools Ombuds Sues After Administrators Seize Files

Colorado Springs School District 11, the central public school system in Colorado’s second-largest city, has been sued by its Ombuds, Natasha Bullard Ka’onohi. Her complaint alleges that Deputy Superintendent Brandan Comfort entered her office and removed confidential files, including a file containing informal employee complaints and concerns about Superintendent Michael Gaal. Ka’onohi, who has served as District 11’s Director of Equal Opportunity Programs & Ombudservice since 2023, filed the lawsuit against Comfort and Gaal on September 8. According to the district's website, the Ombudservice is an independent and confidential resource for students, parents, and staff, and does not keep written records.

JHU is seeking an Associate Ombudsperson to join its Ombuds Office. The full-time, remote position will report to University Ombudsperson Annalisa Peterson and serve staff, graduate and postdoctoral students, fellows, and programs following IOA standards. The position requires some travel to JHU campuses.

IOM is hiring a Conflict Resolution Officer to be based in Nairobi. Reporting to the Deputy Ombudsperson, the P-3 position provides case management, research, trend analysis, reporting, outreach, and training following IOA standards. The search will fill the role most recently held by Hans Kohler.

Utrecht University Offers Masterclass on Ombuds Practice

Universiteit Utrecht in the Netherlands will offer a five-day training Ombudsfunctionaris in breed perspectief (“Ombudsfunctionaris in Broad Perspective”) on November 23–27, 2026. The program is intended for Ombuds and related professionals, including Classical Ombudsmen, working in areas such as complaints handling, mediation, HR, legal assistance, governance, compliance, and policy advising.

ECADRN, the Early Career Alternative Dispute Resolution Network, will host a Virtual ADR Fair on November 12, 2026, in collaboration with the Ray Corollary Initiative, the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution at Cornell ILR School, and the American Arbitration Association. The event aims to introduce students, early-career professionals, career changers, and others to career pathways in ADR. The two-and-a-half-hour webinar will feature ADR organizations, academic programs, training providers, and professional associations. The International Ombuds Association is a Supporting Sponsor and will introduce attendees to Organizational Ombuds practice as one of the career paths within ADR.

COFO Announces 2026 Annual Conference

The Coalition of Federal Ombuds will hold its 2026 Annual Conference on Friday, September 25, 2026, with both in-person and virtual attendance options. The in-person conference will be held at the Clara Barton Auditorium at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia. Registration is free and required, and will close at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, September 24.

National University to Celebrate Ombuds Day 2026

National University will celebrate Ombuds Day on Thursday, October 8, with a 90-minute virtual/hybrid program hosted by its Ombuds, LaCrisia “Cris” Gilbert. This year’s event, “Ombuds: The Office of Options,” will highlight the Ombuds Office as a resource for exploring possibilities, navigating challenges, and making informed choices. The program will feature remarks from National University leadership and a keynote address by Reese Ramos, University Ombuds at Virginia Tech, along with mindfulness and reflection activities, a spoken word performance, interactive audience engagement, and practical tools for navigating conversations and conflict.

IT:U Establishes Two Ombuds Offices

Austria's newest university, the Interdisciplinary Transformation University in Linz, has established two Ombuds offices. Nata Sturua was named Student Ombudsperson in Fall 2025 (coinciding with the matriculation of the first cohort of graduate students). The Students Ombuds Office serves all IT:U students with mediation and dialogue, guidance on university rules and procedures, and assistance with informal resolution of concerns. The university is expected to eventually enroll 5,000 students, including undergraduates, in the next decade. Sturua is a lawyer and Associate Professor with experience in international business law, mediation, conflict resolution, and legal research, most recently serving as Head of the International Business Law Program at the University of Georgia in Tbilisi. (IT:U Student Ombuds.)

Cal Poly Humboldt Names New Ombuds

Jayne McGuire has joined the Ombuds Office at Cal Poly Humboldt, where she serves alongside University Ombudsperson John Meyer. McGuire succeeds Suzanne Pasztor, who served for three years in the role. The two Ombuds provide services to the entire campus, with a primary focus on student concerns.

Michigan State University Expands Ombuds Services to All

Michigan State University has expanded the scope of its Office of the University Ombudsperson to formally include all members of the university community. Historically, the country's longest continuously operating university Ombuds office has served only students. The office, led by University Ombuds Shannon Lynn Burton, now provides services to the entire university community, including students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and families of students. The expansion is reflected in the office’s revised charter. (LinkedIn; MSU Ombuds Charter.)

Dante Jaime Haro Reyes, University Ombuds (Defensor de los Derechos Universitarios) at Universidad de Guadalajara, has assumed the presidency of the Ibero-American Network of University Ombuds (Red Iberoamericana de Defensorías Universitarias, RIdDU) for a two-year term. The network includes more than 100 universities in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal and promotes the exchange of experiences and practices among university Ombuds offices. The appointment marks the first time a Mexican university has held the network’s presidency.

Job Posting: Boston University

The private research university in Boston is seeking a University Ombuds to lead its Office of the Ombuds, which serves faculty, students, and staff on the university’s campuses and satellite facilities. (Francine Montemurro, was appointed BU’s inaugural University Ombuds in 2009 and currently leads the office.) The full-time position reports to the Senior Vice President for People, Belonging, and Culture and supervises two Associate Ombuds, Samantha Levine-Finley and Lailul Ikram.

ISU has reopened its search for a University Ombuds after not filling the position following last year's search. The full-time, in-person position, based in Pocatello and reporting to the President, will provide services to faculty and staff. It appears that the position will collaborate with the university's existing Faculty/Staff Ombuds.

VCU's Ombudsperson, William King, has announced details for his 13h annual National Conflict Resolution Day program on October 15, 2026. The keynoter for the program this year will be Linda Brothers, Georgetown University Staff Ombuds. The theme for the one-day conference is "Managing Conflict in a Changing Environment." The rest of the day includes panel discussions and group work, with several other Ombuds from the Mid Atlantic region will serve as facilitators. As usual, the event is free and open to the public.

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