Michigan State University Expands Ombuds Services to All

Michigan State University has expanded the scope of its Office of the University Ombudsperson to formally include all members of the university community. Historically, the country's longest continuously operating university Ombuds office has served only students. The office, led by University Ombuds Shannon Lynn Burton, now provides services to the entire university community, including students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and families of students. The expansion is reflected in the office’s revised charter. (LinkedIn; MSU Ombuds Charter.)

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. 

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: 

Michigan State University Adds an Assistant Ombuds

Stefanie Janes has joined the Ombuds Office at MSU. As the second, full-time Assistant Ombuds, her appointment marks the expansion of a program that serves all members of a large, public university. Janes reports to the University Ombudsperson, Shannon Lynn Burton, and join Assistant Ombudsperson, Ryan T. Smith. 

IOA Forms Roundtable for Ombuds Leaders

The International Ombuds Association has launched a group for Ombuds leaders. Organized by Shannon Lynn Burton, the Ombuds Administrator Roundtable is "a casual, peer-led bi-monthly space for ombuds leaders who supervise staff and lead ombuds programs." Interested Ombuds should submit a short interest form. 

Job Posting: Michigan State University

The public research university in East Lansing will expand its Ombuds Office with the hiring a second Assistant Ombudsperson. The full-time position will report to the University Ombudsperson, Shannon Lynn Burton, and join Assistant Ombudsperson, Ryan T. Smith. The full-time position will assist in providing services to faculty, staff, and students, following IOA standards.

NASEM White Paper Highlights Benefits of Ombuds for Postdocs

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has published an issue paper exploring practices and key considerations related to supporting postdoctoral fellows who experience sexual harassment. Shannon Burton, Ombuds at Michigan State University, is one of the coauthors (and also coeditor of the new IOA book). The work of University Ombuds is featured prominently throughout the paper. 

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.

American Educational Research Association Adds a Conference Ombuds

Kamaria B. Porter will join Shannon Lynn Burton as Ombuds for AERA's annual conference, April 23-27, 2025. The professional association for academic researchers implemented an Ombuds program for conference attendees, staff, exhibitors, vendors, and others in 2019. Porter is Porter is the Associate Ombuds at Northwestern University and a long-time AERA annual meeting attendee. Burton is the University Ombudsperson at Michigan State University and was one of two inaugural Ombuds for AERA. (AERA Newsroom.)

IOA Posts Agenda for 2025 Annual Conference in Florida

The International Ombuds Association has opened registration for its 20th annual conference. The event is set for April 7-9, 2025 in Miami, Florida at the Hilton Miami Downtown. The conference is preceded by three days of training session. Registration is now open and IO has published the tentative conference agenda:

NACUA Hosts Ombuds Session at 2024 Conference

Shannon Burton will speak at the 2024 conference of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, the influential professional association of attorneys working in higher education. This is just the third time that NACUA has heard from a University Ombuds and the first conference session. (In May 2023, Jessica Kuchta-Miller, Ellen Miller, and Steve Prevaux gave a webinar, and in June 2023, Sarah Klaper and Chinyere Ukabiala represented IOA at NACUA's annual meeting.) Burton, the University Ombudsperson at Michigan State University, will speak at the conference in Columbus, Ohio later this month.

Centre for Informal Dispute Resolution Opens Registration for First Ombuds Conference

CIDR at Saint Paul University in Ottawa has announced details for its first Ombuds-focused conference on May 6-7, 2024. The hybrid event, "The Ombuds: Foundations, Best Practices, and Development," will bring together practitioners and researchers in conflict resolution and the Ombuds field to discuss the evolution of Ombuds practice. The organizers, Brent Epperson and Jean-François Rioux, have released the full agenda:

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:

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.

American Educational Research Association Continues its Conference Ombuds Program

The professional association for academic researchers announced that Shannon Lynn Burton and Carol Mershon will return as Ombuds for its 2023 annual meeting. AERA’s Ombuds are available to all attendees, staff, exhibitors, vendors, and any others at the conference, which will take place in in Chicago, April 13–16, 2023, and virtually May 4–5. Burton is the University Ombudsperson at Michigan State University and Mershon has been the Ombuds for the American Political Science Association. Together, the co-founded the program for AERA in 2019. (AERA News.)

IOA Seeks Authors for First Book

The International Ombuds Association is calling for authors for its first book. Led by Shannon L. Burton (Ombuds at Michigan State University) and Loraleigh Keashly (Professor of Communication at Wayne State University), the book aims "to be a comprehensive handbook that addresses the interdisciplinary and nuanced history, theory and practices found within the field."

Journal of IOA Call for Papers: Ombuds and DEI

The Journal of the International Ombuds Association has issued a call for submissions for a special issue on: "The Ombud’s Office and Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging." Papers should be submitted by May 1, 2023. Here are more details from the editors, Jennifer Swann (Ombuds at Lehigh University) and Shannon Lynn Burton (Ombuds at Michigan State University):

Cal Caucus Posts 2022 Agenda, Opens Registration

Registration is now open for the 2022 California Caucus of College and University Ombuds. Set for November 6-9 at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, the theme will be “Lessons from Tidal Pools.” A defining characteristic of Asilomar is tidal pools. What can Ombuds learn from these diverse and lively communities? Recent challenges have required Ombuds to be adaptive and creative in our response. As Ombuds, how do we build strong, diverse, and resilient work environments? How do we strengthen our individual Ombuds role and create a thriving Ombuds community?

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.