University of the Pacific Appoints Ombuds

Brooke Wichmann, CO-OP has been hired to reestablish the Ombuds Office for the private Methodist-affiliated university in Stockton, California. As the full-time University Ombuds, she will reopen a program that closed in 2022 when the inaugural Ombuds, Hector Escalante Meza, moved to the University of California, Merced. Wichmann will serve about 10,000 faculty, staff, and students across three campuses. 

IOA Announces Agenda for 2026 Virtual Conference

The International Ombuds Association has posted details for its next annual conference. The online only event is set for April 13-15, 2026. The conference will be highlighted by keynote addresses by Paul Sotoudeh and M. Gerard (Jerry) Fromm. The conference starts each day at 8:00am Pacific. 

Here is the tentative conference agenda: 

Job Posting: University of the Pacific

The private Methodist-affiliated university with its main campus in Stockton, California, has opened a search for an Ombuds. The full-time position will reestablish an office that closed in 2022 when the inaugural Ombuds, Hector Escalante Meza, moved to the University of California Merced following substantial changes to the program. The current job posting indicates that UoP intends to return to an IOA-compliant program. An unsuccessful search in 2022 sought a collateral-duty Ombuds that was embedded within the Office Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Travel to campuses in Sacramento and San Francisco is required.

IOA Announces 2025 September Symposium Speakers

The International Ombuds Association has announced the speaker lineup for its 2025 September Symposium, "Advocating for Your Office and the Ombuds Role." The virtual event will take place on September 30, 2025, from 11:00am to 7:00pm Eastern time.

Here are the scheduled speakers:

Hollywood Commission's Ombuds Program Now Available to Entire Motion Picture Industry

For the past year, MyConnext, has provided Ombuds services to a limited group of union members and production companies around Los Angeles with Lillian Rivera as the inaugural Ombuds. Today, the program is available to anyone in the motion picture industry, regardless of union status, from production assistants to producers. To manage the workload, Rivera is being joined by a consulting Ombuds, Hector Escalante Meza. (H'wood Reporter.)

IOA Publishes Long-Awaited Ombuds Book

The International Ombuds Association has published its first book: The Organizational Ombuds: Foundations, Fundamentals & The Future. Written by practicing Ombuds, the book offers a thorough and current overview of the profession. Edited by Shannon L. Burton (Ombuds at Michigan State University) and Loraleigh Keashly (Professor of Communication at Wayne State University), the book is a comprehensive compilation of the interdisciplinary and nuanced history, theory and practices found within the field.

Working Papers from 2024 IOA Practice Survey Illustrate Ombuds Work

The research team behind the International Ombuds Association's biennial practice survey (Jennifer Schneider, Timothy Hedeen, Mary Rowe, and Hector Escalante Meza) has written a series of papers that provide further insights on the work of Organizational Ombuds. Four working look at some self-reported IOA qualitative data from practitioners. Three additional papers by Mary Rowe individually are about visitor stories. All are open for comment:

IOA Publishes Summary of 2024 Practice Survey

The International Ombuds Association has completed its biennial survey of Organizational Ombuds about the qualitative aspects of their work. Respondents around the world provided data for the 2023 calendar year. The research team of Jennifer Schneider, Timothy Hedeen, Mary Rowe, and Hector Escalante Meza compiled a top ten list of interesting findings from the study:

US News & World Report: "What Students Should Know About College Ombuds"

The media company known for its influential ranking of colleges and graduate schools, has published an article explaining the role of campus Ombuds. The piece includes sections on: History of Ombuds Offices; What an Ombuds Does; How an Ombuds Helps; When To Use Ombuds; When Not to Use Ombuds; Issues Brought to Ombuds; and Resolution That Can Be Expected.

IOA Posts Agenda for 2024 Annual Conference in Indianapolis

The International Ombuds Association has opened registration for its 19th annual conference. Traditionally, the event takes place in April. This year, the event is set for March 18-20, 2024 at the Marriott Indy Place in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. 

IOA has also published details for the conference:

IOA Announces 2023 Board of Directors Election Result

The International Ombuds Association has announced the results of its latest Board of Directors election. Ten nominees were on the ballot, the largest group in several years. Five newly elected directors will take office at the Annual Meeting on April 11, 2023, for a three-year term. IOA Directors will convene shortly thereafter to elect new officers.

IOA Opens Election for 2023 Board of Directors

Members are now voting for the next slate of IOA's Board of Directors. Ten candidates are running for five open seats with three-year terms starting in April 2023. The nomination process was revamped last year when IOA members approved a package of bylaws revisions. Among other changes, IOA members are no longer allowed to nominate colleagues. Now, only self nominations are accepted.

IOA Posts Agenda and Opens Registration for 2023 Conference

Organizational Ombuds will gather in Seattle for the International Ombuds Association 18th Annual Conference on April 3-5, 2023. This the first in-person conference since 2019. IOA cancelled the event in 2020 shortly after the outbreak of COVID and held virtual conferences in 2021 and 2022. The theme considers the role of Ombuds and also hints at the changes in Ombuds practice: "Ombuds as Change Agent? ReEngaging and Transforming Conflict." Registration is now open and now the detailed agenda is available.

IOA Seeks Nominations for 2023 Board

The International Ombuds Association is accepting nominations for its Board of Directors. Five member-elected directors will serve a three-year term starting in April 2023. The five directors with terms expiring in 2023 are: Lee Twyman (current Treasurer); Hector Escalante; Sarah Klaper; Marcia Gee Riley CO-OP; and Diana Mosonyi. (IOA's Board President, Ronnie Thomson, will complete her elected board term in 2023, but will stay on another year as Immediate Past President.)

University of California Merced Names Associate Ombuds

Jim Rudd Levy has been selected as the Associate Ombuds for the UC campus in Central California. He joins UC Merced's Campus Ombuds, Hector Escalante, and provides services to students, staff, and faculty at a rapidly-growing university.

Job Re-Posting: University of the Pacific

The private Methodist-affiliated university with its main campus in Stockton, California, has reopened its search for a Senior Director of Community, Culture & Belonging/Ombuds. The full-time, collateral duty position reports to the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and "provides early detection for arising issues and is a source of suggestions for systemic change to improve existing university culture and processes." The position was last held by Hector Escalante, who left to become the Campus Ombuds for the University of California Merced.

Job Posting: University of California Merced

The UC campus in Central California is hiring an Associate Ombudsperson. The search will fill a position vacated by Chanelle Reese, who was recently named the Ombuds and Directors at the University of Iowa. The full-time position reports to UC Merced's Campus Ombuds, Hector Escalante, and provides services to students, staff, and faculty at a rapidly-growing university.

Job Posting: University of the Pacific

The private Methodist-affiliated university with its main campus in Stockton, California, is hiring a Senior Director of Community, Culture & Belonging/Ombuds. The full-time position reports to the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and "provides early detection for arising issues and is a source of suggestions for systemic change to improve existing university culture and processes." The position was last held by Hector Escalante, who left to become the Campus Ombuds for the University of California Merced.

IOA Seeks Data for 2022 Practice Survey

The International Ombuds Association survey team is encouraging all IOA members to participate in the 2022 Practice Survey. This biennial survey provides important insights on contemporary practices and trends for the Organizational Ombuds profession. Nearly 200 Ombuds have completed it so far, averaging just twenty-six minutes to do so. (For the 2020 survey, 235 out of 780 eligible IOA members participated.)

IOA Releases Detailed Agenda for 2022 Virtual Conference

For the second year in a row, the International Ombudsman Association will hold its annual conference virtually. IOA's 17th annual meeting will take place April 4 through 6, 2022. Social events will use Gather.town, a virtual world with video features. Registration has been open for a few weeks and now the detailed agenda has been posted.