Daemen University Appoint Next Ombuds

The private university in Amherst, New York (known as Daemen College until 2022) appointed Heather Cruz as its Faculty Ombudsperson in late 2023. In this part-time role, Cruz reports to Daemen's Vice President for Academic Affairs and practices to IOA standards. 

American Anthropological Association Names 2024 Conference Ombuds

Bathabile K. S. Mthombeni is serving as the Ombuds for AAA's annual meeting. Although the conference is taking place in Tampa, Florida, this week, Mthombeni is providing of services offsite. She brings considerable experience to the job, having served as the Ombuds for Binghamton University for the past decade and also shorter appointments for Common Cause, Gates Foundation, and Root & Shoot. (AAA Annual Meeting Info.)

Job Posting: SOS Children's Villages, Nepal

The Austria-based international development organization is hiring a National Ombuds to be based in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur. The position will to report to the Regional Ombuds, Harleen Walia. The initial appointment will last one year, with a possible extension.

Retirement Marks End of Ombuds Office at Cal State Long Beach

After eight years as the Ombuds for California State University Long Beach, Keith Freesemann retired at the end of August 2024. The university subsequently "transitioned" the Ombuds Office into the Conflict Resolution process (essentially a unified complaint process recommended by the law firm of Cozen O'Connor). Cal State Long Beach now has no informal conflict management program. (CSULB Office o the President.)

Internship: UN Funds & Programmes

The Office of the Ombudsman for the United Nations Funds and Programmes is seeking a Mediation Intern. The full-time internship will last three months (with a possible three-month extension) and is based in New York City. The intern will support the Mediation Unit of the Ombuds Office with training and project activities, casework, development of the Global Mediation Panel, and other administrative and substantive support.

Call for Papers and Posters: ENOHE 2025 Conference

The European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education seeks presenters for its 20th annual conference at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam on June 4-6, 2025. Proposals are due by January 15, 2025. 

Full details from ENOHE: 

Fairfax County, Virginia, Unveils Ombuds Program for Community Services

The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, a county agency, has created an Office of the Ombuds Advocate to assist individuals and their families in resolving service-related concerns related to mental health, substance use, and developmental disabilities. Jenna Beebe-Aryee is the inaugural Ombuds and Program Manager. According to a new website for the office, the CSB Ombuds Advocate will practice to IOA standards. 

Radboud University Retains Experienced Staff Ombuds

Last month, Job van Luyken was appointed the part-time Staff Ombudsperson for Radboud Universiteit. He follows the inaugural Ombuds, Nancy Viellevoye, who left abruptly and complained that the office had been understaffed and frequently sidelined in favor of external consultants. Van Luyken joins Aukje Verstegen began work as the university's first Student Ombudsperson in January 2024.

Carnegie Mellon University Appoints Inaugural Student & Faculty Ombuds

Monique McKay has been selected as the first Student and Faculty Ombudsperson for the private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She will report to the Provost and is expected to work closely with CMU's Staff Ombudsperson, Jennifer Pablonis.

Queen's University Selects Next Ombuds

Last month, Norma Barrett was named the Ombudsperson for the public research university in Kingston, Ontario. She leads an office which includes Associate Ombuds, Heather Trojek, who served as the Interim University Ombudsperson during the recent search. Together, they provide services to nearly 45,000 students, staff, and faculty. In the role, Barrett reports to the Board of Trustees with oversight by the University Culture Committee and Faculty Senate.

Job Posting: Sacramento City Unified School District

The public school system in California's capital city is hiring on Ombudsperson. As part of the district's Constituent Services Office, the position. "Serve as an informal and confidential conflict management resource for parents, guardians, community members, and district staff; advocate for fair processes and administration of those processes, not for one person or a particular outcome in a conflict." 

Job Re-Posting: Georgia Institute of Technology

The public research university in Atlanta has reopened its search for its next Ombudsperson. The position has been renamed from 'Ombudsman' and the salary range increased. Georgia Tech consolidated its faculty, staff, and graduate student Ombuds programs in 2009, but it appears that all have been defunct since early 2012. The full-time, hybrid position will single-handedly serve a total population of about 38,000, including faculty, staff, and students.

University of Wyoming Selects Next Ombuds

Don Appiarius has been appointed the new Ombudsperson for UW. He follows Nellie Haddad and her interim replacement, Narina Nunez, in the position. Appiarius will report to the University President and provide services to all members of the campus community.

University of Luxembourg Adds an Ombuds

Veronika Lovrits has been selected as a full-time Ombudsperson for Université du Luxembourg. She joins the inaugural (and now part-time) Ombuds, Brent Epperson, and will expand the university's Ombuds Service, which was established by Brent Epperson in February 2021. In this new role, Lovrits will report to the University's Governing Council and provide Ombuds services to staff and students in English and German.

Journal of IOA Article Examines Role of Civility

Julia L. Farmer, the Director of Ombuds Services at the University of West Georgia, is the author of a new article in the peer-reviewed Journal of the International Ombuds Association. In "Navigating Civility’s Baggage: Some Thoughts for Ombuds Practitioners," Farmer offers some important context for Ombuds engage with visitors around the issue of civility. The article is the first in a JIOA Special Issue on Politics and Polarization.