Video: From Decision Scientist to Ombuds

In a video interview conducted at the Society for Medical Decision Making last year, Scott B. Cantor recounts his professional journey from full-time decision scientist to Ombuds. (Cantor has been an Ombuds with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center since 2018.) In the interview, he describes how principles of decision science inform his current practice, including how he assesses options, supports difficult choices, and approaches conflict resolution.

ACCUO Unveils New Website, Branding, Social Media

The Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons (Association des ombudsmans des universités et collèges du Canada) has debuted a revamped website and branding. The updated media and materials are designed to "capture the essence of ACCUO: independent, impartial, and accessible, with a design that is modern, professional, and dynamic." In addition, ACCUO/AOUCC has launched channels on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. (ACCUO: Website, LinkedIn; Instagram; YouTube.)

Video Highlights Work of Ombuds at BarcelonaTech

Anna Serra Tort is the focus of a new video posted by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya). Since late 2022, Serra has served a student population of over 30,000 as the Ombuds Office. She followed Neus París i Domènech in the position and took on the role after over 50 years as a professor of Applied Physics. 

CEO Explains Why He Created an Ombuds Program

The CEO of Cambridge Innovation Center, an American real estate services company, explains why he established an Ombuds office in a video shared by MWI. CIC, an American real estate services company, was founded by Tim Rowe, the son of Mary Rowe, MIT's first Ombuds. In the video, Tim Rowe talks about the desire to create a positive workplace culture and retain employees. (MWI Video.)

New Video from Justice Canada Promotes Ombuds

A new video from Canada's Department of Justice presents "The Organizational Ombuds." Coproduced by the Ombuds and Informal Resolution Services Office and the Department's Communication's Branch, the video aims to showcase the profession in a fresh and engaging way. This video is publicly available and is intended for all Canadian Organizational Ombuds. In many respects it is similar and complimentary to the promotional video produced by IOA in 2019. 

Webinar: Athletes’ Anti-Doping Ombuds Outlines her Role

Last week, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s offered a webinar featuring its inaugural Ombuds, Anna Thorstenson. She outlined her background and general mandate. through the end of 2024. Most of her remarks are about how she works with the unique concerns of athletes within the complex system of international competition and she also fielded questions. (YouTube.)

Webinar Offers Guidance on Becoming an Ombuds

The Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution (formerly known as the School for Conflict Analysis) at George Mason University has been hosting a series of webinars on professional fields in ADR. The latest program attempts to answer the question: "So, You Want to be an Ombuds?" The 76 minute recording was posted to YouTube and is free to view.

Podcast Features Villanova's Ombuds

Last week, Chinwe Egbunike-Umegbolu interviewed Megan P. Willoughby for her vid/podcast show, Expert Views on ADR. Willoughby, who became the the first Faculty Ombudsperson for Villanova University in 2020 and is currently the Co-Chair of the Ombuds Committee for the ABA Dispute Resolution Section, delved into the types of Ombuds and their relationship to the growing ADR field.

University of Colorado Boulder’s Ombuds Office Celebrates 50 years

The Ombuds Office at Colorado's flagship university is celebrating a half century of service on Wednesday, September 27th from 4-7 pm MT. For five decades, the University of Colorado Ombuds Office has served as a resource for campus stakeholders to surface, voice, clarify and discuss university-related issues. The 50th celebration will include remarks from the chancellor, provost, and chief operating officer as well as insights from guest speaker Laura Crawshaw, who will discuss "Managing Abrasive Conduct in the Age of the Unruly: The Power of Intervention." Following the program, guests are invited to enjoy music and dinner in the chancellor's hall as well as beautiful views of the iconic flatirons from the balcony.

Student Affairs Podcast Features Four Ombuds

Four higher education Ombuds were interviewed this week for Student Affairs NOW, a podcast for student affairs professionals. Host Heather Shea spoke with Jessica Kuchta-Miller (University Ombuds at Duke University); Shannon Lynn Burton (University Ombudsperson at Michigan State University and Co-Ombuds for the American Education Research Association); Amanda Dean (Ombuds for Faculty and Staff office at Austin Community College); and Julie Boncompain (Protector of Rights/Ombudsperson at Polytechnique Montréal & Mila – Quebec Institute of Artificial Intelligence). They talked about their Ombuds work and how they found their way to the profession.

ACR Chicago Hosts Three Ombuds

This week, the Chicago chapter of Association for Conflict Resolution hosted a panel of three expert, local Ombuds: Brad Ginn from Argonne National Laboratory; Craig Mousin from DePaul University; and Sarah Klaper from Northwestern University. They talked about the role of the Ombuds, which is especially relevant as ACR is working on a program for its members. The full video is now available. 

Pfizer Ombuds Office Marks 10-Year Anniversary

The Office of the Ombuds at Pfizer is celebrating ten years of service to the American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation. The office has posted a celebratory video that includes thanks and encouragement from five of Pfizer's Executive Leadership Team members including the CEO, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer. Sue Diviney is the Office of the Ombuds Lead and her team includes: Lourdes Delgado-Cheers, Global Ombuds; Tara Hunter, Specialist; Adam Learman, Global Ombuds; Elizabeth Lopez, Ombuds; and Sophia Qiao, Ombuds APAC. (Pfizer Video.)

Association for the Study of Higher Education Selects Two Ombuds

Later this week, Dawn Osborne-Adams (Ombuds at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) and Chuck Sloane (Ombud at the University of Washington) will be serving as Conference Ombuds at the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) annual conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

CPR Institute Interviews Pfizer Ombuds on his Career Path

The latest installment of the CPR Institute's Young-ADR series features an interview with Timothy Shore, VP and Chief Ombudsman at Pfizer, Inc.

Video Introduces Virginia Tech's Grad Student Ombuds

Bryan Hanson, the Graduate School Ombudsperson for Virginia Tech, is featured in a new video posted by the university. His remarks are typical of the introductions many university Ombuds are giving to new students this month. (YouTube.)

Video Introduces Students to Ombuds at University of the Andes

In a new video posted to YouTube, Margarita Gómez Ordoñez, welcomes new students and explains her role as the Ombudsperson for Universidad de los Andes. Gómez Ordoñez established the office seven years ago and works with all members of the university community--students, faculty and staff--about academic, administrative or disciplinary concerns. (YouTube.)

UC Santa Barbara Ombuds Office Goes Big on YouTube

The Ombuds at the University of California Santa Barbara have posted seven videos to YouTube in the past two weeks. The office has been working virtually for the past three weeks. The videos are aimed at the UCSB community, but are available to the public. Most of the short videos are by members of the office, but a couple feature other UCSB experts. Here's a run-down of the current videos available on the UCSB Office of the Ombuds YouTube channel:

NEIU Ombuds Offers Conflict Management Tips for a Pandemic

Tyler Smith, the Northeastern Illinois University Ombuds has posted a video with "basic ideas for conflict prevention and management during a time of remote work/teaching/learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic." In his introduction, Smith predicts that the uncertainty and anxiety that come with the pandemic response may lead to new conflicts. His advice is intended is to help people prevent and manage conflict in a range of settings. (YouTube.)

Ombuds for Frederick County Public Schools Posts Third Video of 2019

It's a video hat trick for Sabrina Nail, who opened the FCPS Ombuds Office in April. In her latest YouTube posting, Nail starts out by confronting employees with the question: "Do you know what an Ombuds is?" (following the humorous strategy of Jerry Nuesell at Wake Tech and Jen Schneider at USF). The second half of the video provides an overview of the Ombuds role. (FCPS YouTube.)

IOA Releases Video to Promote Ombuds Profession

Yesterday, the International Ombudsman Association released a video that explains and promotes the work of professional Ombuds. The two-minute video is posted on YouTube and IOA hopes that Ombuds will repost it with external audiences. The video is an update of an earlier version that was part of IOA's "Modern Ombuds Toolkit" -- a collection of resources for Ombuds to help with outreach to clients, prospects, colleagues, and stakeholders.