IOA Webinar: Basics for Ombuds Contracting

A webinar presented by the International Ombuds Association on August 14, 2025, will offer guidance for contractual Ombuds work. The session will be lead by Alicia Booker Cormier, the Principal Ombuds for Baylor College of Medicine and former President of the IOA Board of Directors. The program, "Ombuds Contract Work: Scoping the Work from Intake to Impact," is aimed at practicing Ombuds and other professionals considering a transition. 

Peruse Ombuds Dissertations at Nova Southeastern University

The Department of Conflict Resolution Studies at NSU Florida has been publishing its students' theses and dissertations since 2012. Four dissertations in the past two years have looked at the work of Ombuds and all are available online:

IOA Calls for 2025 IOA Board Nominations

The International Ombuds Association is seeking self-nominations for its Board of Directors. Five member-elected directors will serve a three-year term starting in Spring 2025. Only self-nominations are accepted and must follow a two-step process. The first step, an attestation of eligibility, is due by January 5, 2025. The second step, a statement of candidacy, is due by January 25, 2025.

IOA Announces 2024 Honorees

At its annual conference last month, the International Ombuds Association announced its 2024 Trailblazer and President’s Award recipients. “There are so many talented ombuds serving their communities in so many vital ways,” said Alicia Booker, 2023 IOA President. “We are thrilled to honor them for all that they contribute to our profession, and for their extraordinary leadership,” added Sarah Klaper 2024 IOA President.

IOA Board Selects Officers for 2024 Term

The Board of Directors for the International Ombuds Association has announced the election of its officers for the 2024 term. All are long-time volunteers and professional Ombuds. The IOA Board meets at least monthly, with more meetings for the executive leadership.

Baylor University Names Inaugural Staff Ombuds

Susan Anz has been appointed the first Ombuds to Staff at the private university in Waco, Texas. She will provide services to about 1,000 non-academic employees following IOA standards. In addition to her part-time Ombuds duties, Anz continues as Deputy Chief Business Officer.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Names First Ombuds

Alicia Booker is the inaugural Ombuds for the independent oceanographic research institution in Massachusetts. In this new part-time role, she provides services to about 1,000 WHOI employees following IOA standards. She continues as the Principal Ombuds at Baylor College of Medicine. 

IOA Board Selects 2023 Officers

The Board of Directors for the International Ombuds Association has announced the election of its officers for the 2023 term. All are long-time volunteers and professional Ombuds. The IOA Board meets at least monthly, with more meetings for the executive leadership. 

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.

University of Alabama at Birmingham Selects Ombuds

UAB has named Michelle Horvath as its next University Ombudsperson. She follows Alicia Booker and will provide Ombuds services for nearly 24,000 stakeholders, including faculty, staff, mentored graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows at the public university. The UAB Ombuds program follows IOA standards. Horvath comes from Florida International University, where she had been the Assistant Dean of Students responsible for conduct, academic integrity, and Title IX issues.

ABA Sets 2022 Ombuds Day Panels

The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution (ABA DR) has announced the panelists for Ombuds Day on October 13, 2022. ABA DR will present two sessions featuring a range of Ombuds practitioners: 

Job Posting: University of Alabama at Birmingham

The public university in Birmingham is hiring its next University Ombudsperson. The full-time professional will serve neutral and impartial dispute resolution practitioner at UAB for nearly 24,000 stakeholders, including faculty, staff, mentored graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows (but not the UAB medical campus). The Ombuds reports jointly to the Provost and CHRO. The search will fill a position recently vacated by the first University Ombuds, Alicia Booker.

Baylor College of Medicine Expands Ombuds Program with Experienced Ombuds

Alicia Booker is the new Principal Ombuds for the private health sciences university in Houston, Texas. She joins Director and Ombuds, Melanie Jagneaux. Booker brings significant Ombuds experience: she was the first full-time Ombuds at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for the past two years and, prior to that, was the Associate Ombuds at the University of Cincinnati. Booker is also the President-Elect of the IOA Board of Directors.

IOA Elects 2022 Board Officers

At its annual business meeting last week, the International Ombuds Association Board of Directors elected officers for 2022-2023. Two of the officers are new to the board, three of the officers ending their terms are off the board, and two officer positions are vacant. As a result, only two of six officers have prior Board leadership experience.

IOA Announces Board Election Results; Current President to Leave Board

The International Ombuds Association has announced the results of its board election. Voting was delayed ten months ago while the association reviewed equity concerns, and updated its election process and other provisions of the bylaws. As a result, two cohorts were up for election: a total of ten candidates for nine open board seats. With the unexpected departure of the current board president, Melanie Jagneaux, all of the candidates will become directors.

IOA Opens Election for Two Board Cohorts

After a delay of nearly a year, the International Ombuds Association has re-opened the election for its Board of Directors. Voting was delayed ten months ago while the association reviewed equity concerns, and updated its election process and other provisions of the bylaws. As a result, a third of Directors are serving well past their expected three-year term end date of April 2021. The election will fill nine positions from a field of ten candidates. Only IOA members may vote and the election closes February 25, 2022.

Ombuds at Virginia Commonwealth University Offers Week of Events for 2021 Conflict Resolution Day

Last year, VCU's Ombudsman, William King, expanded his annual event for National Conflict Resolution Day to a week of online sessions. He continues this format for a second year with sessions from October 18 through 22, highlighted by a keynote address on Thursday, October 21. This year's event features four Ombuds and several VCU leaders. As usual, the event is free and open to the public.  

University of Cincinnati Adds an Associate Ombuds

Michael Brochu has joined the UC Ombuds Office. As the Associate Ombuds, he reports to the University Ombuds Kim Fulbright, and follows Alicia Booker. Brochu has over 14 years of experience in higher education and conflict resolution. Most recently, he was an educational consultant in the United Arab Emirates.

Job Posting: University of Cincinnati

The public research university in Ohio is hiring an Associate Ombuds. The position reports to Kim Fulbright, the University Ombuds, and provides services to more than 60,000 faculty, staff, and students. The search will fill a position previously held by Alicia Booker, who moved to the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

University of Alabama at Birmingham Names First Full-Time University Ombuds

Today, Alicia Booker became the first full-time University Ombudsperson for UAB faculty and staff, mentored graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. For the past two years, she has been the Associate Ombuds at the University of Cincinnati. She joins J. Michael Wyss, UAB's part-time Faculty Ombuds.