Article Examines Structural Vulnerability of Campus Ombuds

Paul J. Caffera, the University Ombuds at the University of Mississippi, is the author of a forthcoming article in Negotiation Journal, “The Ombuds in American Higher Education: A Distinct Dispute Resolution Role Built on a Flawed Foundation.” In his article, Caffera argues that a structural weakness embedded in the campus Ombuds model from its inception has left the role vulnerable to marginalization, closure, and outsourcing. 

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.)

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. 

Jefferson Lab Selects External Ombuds Provider

The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, the DOE lab in Newport News, Virginia, has launched an Ombuds program, nearly a year after issuing a request for proposals seeking an external provider. The new program will be provided by Bultman Wilson Consulting, a Maryland-based human resources consulting firm led by Wiltina Wilson. The new Ombuds program will provide IOA-compliant services to about 700 lab employees and other scientific users for an initial initial contract term of five years. 

SAFE Dialogue Coach Launches AI Platform for Organizational Ombuds

A new AI-powered conflict coaching platform developed by a longtime Ombuds is being promoted as a resource that Ombuds can recommend to visitors preparing for difficult conversations. SAFE Dialogue Coach, created by Diedrick (D.A.) Graham, draws on draws on established conflict resolution and coaching frameworks to help visitors analyze conflicts, prepare for conversations, and practice communication strategies. According to Graham, the platform is intended to help individuals prepare for conflict resolution and, when appropriate, seek assistance from an Ombuds, serving "not as a replacement for the practitioner" but as a supplement to human guidance. SAFE Dialogue Coach joins a growing number of AI-based products and services being developed specifically for the Ombuds profession. 

University of South Florida Establishes Ombuds Continuity Plan

USF Faculty Staff Ombuds Steve Prevaux has established a continuity-of-operations plan for his office by engaging MWI as a backup service provider. The arrangement is intended to ensure uninterrupted Ombuds services for more than 15,000 faculty and staff across three campuses in the event of an unexpected absence, addressing a vulnerability for solo Ombuds offices. 

Job Posting: tEQuitable

The Oakland-based startup that provides external Ombuds services through a technology-enabled platform, is hiring a part-time contract Organizational Ombuds. The fully remote position will provide assistance to employees of client organizations, offering conflict coaching and consultation while identifying systemic workplace issues and trends. Off-hours work is permitted. 

JAMS Pathways Adds Ombuds Services

JAMS Pathways, a division of the large ADR provider JAMS that launched in 2023, has added Ombuds services to its portfolio. JAMS Pathways now offers outsourced Ombuds services alongside workplace assessments, conflict coaching, mediation, facilitation, and training. According to the company, its Ombuds provide confidential, independent, impartial, and informal assistance to employees and other stakeholders while helping organizations identify systemic issues and emerging trends. JAMS does not explicitly reference IOA standards in its materials.

National Planning Conference Renews Ombuds Services with MWI

MWI will provide conference Ombuds services for the American Planning Association’s 2026 National Planning Conference, April 25–28, 2026, in Detroit, which is expected to draw more than 5,000 attendees. Nnena Odim returns for a fourth year as Conference Ombuds

Partners in the Outdoors Conference Renews with MWI

For the third consecutive year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has partnered with MWI to provide Ombuds services for its Partners in the Outdoors Conference, taking place April 27–29, 2026, at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs. Jai Calloway will return as Conference Ombuds for the event, which convenes leaders from across sectors to explore the evolving relationship between conservation and outdoor recreation in Colorado.

Water Environment Federation Retains MWI for Conference Ombuds Services

WEF, an international professional association for water quality professionals, has expanded its partnership with MWI, entering into a two-year agreement for conference Ombuds services at WEF Events through 2027. Caitlan Hendrickson has been the conference Ombuds for WEF's Technical Exhibition and Conference since 2022 and will be joined by Jai Calloway and Josh Hoch. MWI provides services in alignment with IOA standards, supporting WEF’s efforts to foster respectful and inclusive professional environments at its conferences.

DAVIS Construction Implements an Ombuds Program

James G. Davis Construction, a privately-held, general contractor based in Rockville, MD, and Philadelphia, selected MWI in February 2025 to create an IOA-compliant Ombuds program. MWI panelists Nnena Odim and Josh Hoch serve as the Ombuds for DAVIS’s 500+ employees across the Mid-Atlantic region. Odim and Hoch have worked together on various clients for the past 25 years, including providing ombuds services for JMA Construction. (DAVIS Ombuds.)

DIII-D National Fusion Program Creates Ombuds Program

Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy magnetic fusion lab in San Diego operated by General Atomics unveiled an Ombuds program. The new service is available to lab employees and others working on DIII-D projects. MWI has been contracted for the program. Alnoor Maherali and Lexi Wolfe are designated as the Ombuds. 

Podcast: Ombuds and MWI Founder

Chuck Doran is the most recent guest on the Blessed Be Podcast. (He is the third Ombuds to be featured on the pod. Hosts Robert Polanco and Dawn Sander say that, "This episode is especially valuable if you’re early in your career or if you’re mentoring others and want to pass on wisdom that goes beyond technique."

National Capital Commission Announces New Ombuds Team

Brent Epperson, Julie Boncompain, and Heather McGhee Peggs, have been appointed the Ombuds for Commission de la capitale nationale, the Canadian Crown corporation that administers the federally properties in the National Capital Region. Their services will be provided under contract with their consulting company, JustEquitable Inc.

World Wide Web Consortium Outsources its Ombuds Program

W3C, has contracted with tEQuitable, a consultancy headed by Lisa Gelobter, for its Ombuds program. The nonprofit internet standards organization had appointed a group of Ombuds after launching an Ombuds program in 2014 to assist internal and external stakeholders. During this time, however, the role of the W3C Ombuds was never been explicitly defined, despite a working group that considered IOA standards in 2019. Wc3's recently updated Code of Conduct for Incident Resolution and Ombuds does not specify IOA standards, but tEQuitable follows Organizational Ombuds tenets. (W3C Code of Conduct.)

Chevron's Ombuds Goes Independent

Sana Manjeshwar, Chevron's Global Principal Ombuds Manager, has left the company and formed her own Ombuds consulting firm. She was with Chevron's Ombuds program for a dozen years, with six years as the leader. Prior to that, Manjeshwar was the Ombuds for AllianceBernstein. She is a frequent speaker and advocate for Ombuds, and served on the IOA Board of Directors. (LinkedIn.)

ABA Ombuds Committee Posts September 2025 Newsletter

The Ombuds Committee of the American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section has published a newsletter with several articles by and about Organizational Ombuds.

These include:

Pacific University Establishes Ombuds Office

The private, religious university in Forest Grove, Oregon, has unveiled an Ombuds program to serve its faculty, staff, and administrators. The Pacific Ombuds Team is provided by MWI with Derrick Johnson and Birthe Reimers serving as the Ombuds. The new program reports to Pacific University's president operates under charter that adopts IOA standards. 

International Franchise Association to Launch a Franchise Ombuds Pilot

IFA, the nonprofit trade group focused on government and public relations efforts for the franchise industry, has contracted with MWI to launch an Ombuds pilot for franchised businesses in the fall of 2025. The goal of this IOA standards-compliant Ombuds pilot is to help franchisors and franchisees build trust, working relationships, and resolve concerns early before they escalate into time-consuming grievances and lawsuits. This program will be similar to the global franchise Ombuds program that McDonald's Corporation launched in 1974. Individual Ombuds for the IFA program have not yet been identified.