University of Kansas Selects First Associate Ombuds

Herschenia Brown will join the Ombuds Office at KU on July 17. She will and report to the University Ombuds, Ada Emmett, and work with Mike Rozinsky, who has served as a part-time Ombuds for the past two years. As the inaugural Associate Ombuds, Brown brings the Ombuds Office up to two-full time Ombuds. KU's Ombuds program was established in 1977 and the first full-time Ombuds was appointed in 2006. It serves all faculty, staff, and students at campuses in Lawrence and Edwards.

Job Posting: University of Kansas

KU is seeking its next University Ombuds. Currently, Ada Emmett is the Acting University Ombuds and Mike Rozinsky serves as the part-time Associate Ombuds. Emmett has been serving as Acting Ombuds since December 2020, following the appointment of then-University Ombuds DA Graham to the role of Interim Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at KU. Prior to that, Ada had been the part-time Faculty Ombuds since the Summer of 2019, and has been a member of the faculty since 2002, achieving full-professor equivalent at KU. The KU Ombuds reports to the provost and practices to IOA standards.

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.

Brandeis University Names Associate Ombuds

Esther Lin has been selected as an Associate Ombuds Officer at Brandeis, joining Don Greenstein and Mike Rozinsky. She comes to the position after working as a mediator and organizational consultant for The Mediation Group (where she completed a year-long fellowship and continues as a panelist) and MWI in Massachusetts.

University of Kansas Adds an Associate Ombuds

Mike Rozinsky has joined the KU Ombuds Office as a Associate Ombuds. In this part-time role, he reports to Acting University Ombuds, Ada Emmett. (The shifts were precipitated by the appointment of University Ombuds, DA Graham, to the role of Interim Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.) Rozinsky, meanwhile, continues as a part-time Ombuds at Brandeis University.

IOA Posts Details of 2021 Virtual Conference

The International Ombudsman Association has announced the agenda for its 16th annual conference. "Bridging the Distance: Paving the Way for Equity and Justice" (#IOA2021). The conference will offer a fully virtual program over three days, March 22-24, 2021. Registration is now open and a discount is available until the early bird deadline on February 22, 2021.

IOA to Hold 2020 Annual Business Meeting Online

Although the International Ombudsman Association has cancelled its conference, it will convene its annual members-only business meeting virtually on April 1, 2020. In addition to the association's business, the meeting will host a open "community dialog" for participants to talk about the future of the profession.

Here is the full announcement: 

Brandeis University Adds an Ombuds

Brandeis University Ombuds Office continues its expansion with the appointment of Mike Rozinsky as a part-time Ombuds Officer. He brings over 20 years of professional experience to the office and is a Master’s Candidate in Conflict Resolution at UMass Boston. Rozinsky is joining Brandeis Ombuds Don Greenstein and (collateral duty) Ombuds Elena Lewis. 

IOA Announces Agenda for 2019 Annual Conference

The International Ombudsman Association convenes its 13th annual conference at the Sheraton Hotel New Orleans on April 1-3, 2019. The three-day event will be familiar to anyone who has attended in recent years: the days start with keynote events from Ombuds and others professionals, plenary and concurrent sessions, and opportunities to hear from association leaders. The full agenda with presenter bios is now available and registration is open.