Survey Finds Ombuds Offices at Nearly All Top Universities

A new report by Neil H. Katz, a professor at Nova Southeastern University, and PhD students Kadianne Pinard and Ronda Rascon examines the presence and organizational characteristics of Ombuds programs at the top 80 U.S. universities. The survey, initially conducted by graduate students in Katz’s Fall 2024 Organizational Ombuds course, was updated and expanded in July 2026 using the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The updated survey found that 96% of the 80 universities had established Ombuds offices, with one of the three institutions without an office considering establishing one. 

Journal of IOA: Ombuds in a Complex World

Fred Wright, Fred Wright, Workplace Conciliator (Organizational Ombuds) in the Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning for Victoria, Australia, is the author of the latest article in the Journal of the International Ombuds Association. In "Ombudsing in Complex Environments," Wright argues that Ombuds need an updated role definition and knowledge base to effectively navigate increasingly complex organizational environments rather than relying on outdated professional assumptions and tools. The full article is now available online.

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. 

Ombuds Sought for Interviews About Professional Association Needs

Julie Muroff is seeking Ombuds who have been members of IOA for at least one year to participate in confidential interviews about what Ombuds want and need from a professional association. The interviews will take 60 minutes or less and must be completed by August 14, 2026. 

Here is her full request: 

IOA Announces New Journal Editors

Laura Armstrong and Brent Epperson have been appointed the new editors of the Journal of the International Ombuds Association, the profession’s peer-reviewed journal. They take over from Shannon Lynn Burton, who led the publication for a decade.

International Ombuds Association Seeks New Editor for JIOA

IOA is seeking a new Editor for the Journal of the International Ombuds Association, the profession’s peer-reviewed journal dedicated to scholarship and practice related to Organizational Ombuds. The call follows the decision by Shannon Lynn Burton, the University Ombudsperson at Michigan State University, to step down after a decade leading the publication. The IOA Board is inviting letters of interest from members interested in overseeing the journal’s continued development and supporting research and writing about the field. 

Research Request: Participants for Study on Leadership and Employee Accountability

Bina Patel, an Ombuds, conflict resolution consultant, and IOA Board Member, is recruiting participants for a research study on leadership behaviors and employee accountability. The project is being conducted by graduate researchers in the Industrial & Organizational Psychology program at George Mason University and examines how employees perceive their manager’s leadership behaviors and expectations related to job performance. 

Ombuds Author Examines Generational Conflict at Work

Merry Brown, the inaugural Ombuds at the University of Tennessee at Martin, has published a new book, Winning the Generation Wars at Work: Making (Your) Age an Asset, exploring how colleagues of different ages can collaborate more effectively. Drawing on her experience as a workplace mediator, Ombuds, and host of the podcast "Conflict Managed," Brown examines why generational tensions arise and argues that they are often rooted less in age than in assumptions, communication gaps, and unspoken expectations. 

Article Highlights Role of Ombuds in Building Capacity for Constructive Conflict

An article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review argues that organizations must move beyond compliance-driven grievance systems to build real capacity for constructive conflict. In “Building Organizational Capacity for Constructive Conflict,” Jenny Yang and Rachel Godsil contend that while formal processes are necessary, they are often reactive and adversarial, discouraging early voice and eroding trust. Disagreement, they suggest, can be a source of learning and performance if organizations create safe, credible avenues for raising concerns. 

JIOA Call for Papers: Models for Ombuds Programs

The Journal of the International Ombuds Association is seeking articles for a special issue, "Organizational Ombuds Models: Structures, Strategies, and Implications for Practice." The issue will feature original research articles, case studies, theoretical perspectives, and practice-based insights from scholars and practitioners examining Ombuds program models across industries.

Journal of IOA: Managing Professional Conflicts Between Ombuds

The latest article in the Journal of the International Ombuds Association is "We’re Human, Too: Conflict Among Ombuds." The authors are Tessa Tompkins Byer, the University Ombuds at Clemson University, and Scott B. Cantor, an Ombuds for The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. They explore the underexamined issue of conflict between Ombuds professionals and provide practical strategies to normalize and manage these disputes effectively. The full article is now available online.

AI and the Humanizing Role of the Organizational Ombuds

A new article in Conflict Resolution Quarterly addresses the role of Ombuds and the effects of AI. Brian Green, the Associate Ombuds and Director of Programs at Emory University is the author of "Artificial Intelligence, Bureaucratic Dehumanization, and the Organizational Ombuds." He argues that Ombuds should approach AI cautiously and critically, viewing it through their core function as humanizers within organizational systems. 

White Paper Urges Use of Gender-Neutral 'Ombuds'

A working paper from Dragana Ćorić at the Faculty of Law in Novi Sad (Pravni fakultet Univerziteta u Novom Sadu) in Serbia examines the relevance of naming for the Ombuds profession. Corcic argues that gender-sensitive terminology is a vital mechanism for achieving gender equality by reflecting and driving social change. She asserts that the move to from 'Ombudsman' to 'Ombuds' is a significant of this linguistic shift reflecting broader progress in human rights principles. Although the focus is on Classical Ombuds, Corci cites materials from IOA and the UC Berkely Ombuds Office, and articles by David Rasch and David Schwartz. 

Article Examines Role of Slovenia's Athlete Ombuds

An article in the current issue of the International Sports Law Journal discusses the role of Athlete Rights Ombudsman for the Slovenian Olympic Committee, "The Athletes’ Ombudsman: integrating autonomous and heteronomous regulations for athlete protection." The author, Rožle Prezelj, urges greater emphasis on the Athletes’ Ombudsman as a legally grounded bridge between sports-organization rules and national law, arguing that this role is essential for advancing and safeguarding athletes’ rights.

German Faculty Association Urges Universities to Implement Ombuds Programs

Allgemeiner Fakultätentag, the nationwide umbrella organization for 19 faculty associations and an influential voice on higher education policy in Germany, has issued a position paper addressing power imbalances and misconduct in academic settings, and urging universities to create Ombuds programs. The statement links hierarchical structures and dependency relationships to risks of abuse, including sexual harassment, discrimination, and violations of good scientific practice. AFT calls on universities to promote a culture of openness and accountability and to strengthen preventive measures such as awareness training and responsible leadership development. 

Book Chapter Examines Ombuds Work in Czech Universities

A new book from Springer Nature explores the role of higher education management during crises and analyses the responses and gendered consequences for women in particular. One chapter looks at the work of Ombuds in the Czech Republic, "Ombuds on a Glass Cliff: Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Czech Higher Education." The authors are all sociologists at the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences: Marcela Linková; Zuzana Andreska; and Michaela Fikejzová. 

Dissertation Examines "Ombuds Ideals"

A recent PhD dissertation by John T. Baugus at Fielding Graduate University, is titled, "Living the Ombuds Ideals: Independence, Impartiality, Informality, and Confidentiality in the Practice of the Organizational Ombuds." Baugus is the Associate VP for HR at Azusa Pacific University. Howard Gadlin was a member of the dissertation committee. The full paper is available online. 

Call for Participants: IOA 2025 Compensation Survey

The International Ombuds Association is collecting compensation data for its 2025 Compensation Survey. As the only survey of its kind for Organizational Ombuds, the data is critical in helping practitioners advocate for fair and equitable salaries, as well as supporting those establishing new offices or expanding existing ones. If you were paid as a Ombuds or lead an Ombuds office, whether not you are an IOA member, you should participate.

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:

Article Recaps Work of Root & Shoot Ombuds

An association of plant science societies, Root & Shoot, collaborated on an article in the open-access journal eLife about their new guidelines for making conferences more inclusive for scientists with marginalized identities. As part of this effort, Root & Shoot hired Bathabile K.S. Mthombeni and Laura Minero to provide on-site Ombuds services at three conferences in 2023. Their work is prominently featured in the eLife article, "Making conferences in the plant sciences more inclusive through community recommendations."