Joshua Gordon and John Zinsser will speak at the Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists annual conference on May 2, 2014 at the MLB headquarters in New York. Their program, "Evolution of Athlete Development: The Power of Ombuds in Sport" will explain how an Ombuds can help athletes, teams, and organizations.
Elizabeth Hill, an Ombudsman at the Apollo Education Group in Arizona, was recently profiled in Gonzaga School of Law's alumni newsletter. "While at Gonzaga ... Hill discovered the positive impact she could have on the world, a lesson that eventually led her to an unusual career with no official power, but a huge impact on the organizations she works with."
Sudeshna Datta-Cockerill, the recently appointed Ombuds for the European Organization for Nuclear Research, writes about her participation in the International Ombudsman Association's annual conference earlier this month. In the CERN newsletter article, Datta-Cockerill highlighted her connection to other Ombuds around the world and explained the relevance of the IOA Standards to her work. (CERN Bulletin.)
The University of Connecticut has posted a YouTube video to introduce its Ombuds, Jim Wohl. In the two and a half minute video, Wohl explains how his office works and why students may want to consult him. UConn appointed Wohl as its first Ombuds in June 2013. He also established the Ombuds office at Auburn University. (YouTube.)
Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel has created an Ombuds Service to serve nearly 20,000 students at four campuses. The European university which was created in 2007 by the merger of European University College Brussels, Vlekho, HONIM and the Catholic University of Brussels. The HUBrussel Ombuds Service works only with students having issues around final exams and thus is available for three weeks in June.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of California has unveiled an Ombudsperson Program for attorneys to raise issues about the Court or individual judges. Retired Judges Fern M. Smith and James P. Kleinberg have volunteered to serve as the Court’s Ombudspersons. The program will be reviewed after two years.
The academic press has published an online chapter written by Mary Rowe and Howard Gadlin. Rowe is the MIT Ombudsperson and Gadlin is the Ombudsman and Director of the Center for Cooperative Resolution at the National Institutes of Health.
Chris LaHatte, the Ombudsman for the Internet Corporation For Assigned Names and Numbers, posts his thoughts and recollection of the IOA conference in Denver earlier this month. He explains to his constituents that the annual event, “is an important way to ensure that I am kept up-to-date with appropriate standards and new thinking.” LaHatte presented at the conference on: “What Is This Thing Called Fairness, a study of the European test of proportionality for ombudsman.” (ICANN Ombudsman Blog.)
The Department Of Homeland Security agency is
hiring a Program Specialist for its Office of the Ombudsman in
Arlington, VA. Located in the Office of Civil Rights and Liberties,
Ombudsman and Traveler Engagement Office, the position serves as an
Ombuds, providing
confidential, neutral, independent and informal assistance to TSA
employees and the traveling public.
The public university in Indiana is conducting an internal search for its first Faculty Ombuds to report to the Provost and to the Chair of the University Senate. The position half-time will serve a two-year term and assist with "concerns and conflicts related to faculty rights and responsibilities." The job description references the IOA Standards of Practice. (Purdue Position Description.)
An article recently posted on Mediate.com summarizes a research study into the employment opportunities in the conflict resolution field. Maryland-based attorney, mediator, consultant, and trainer, Bob Rhudy based his report on months of interviews with conflict resolution professionals and others across the U.S., and through other research.
The not-for-profit insurance company that serves Wisconsin school districts is hiring an Ombudsman to be based in Madison. The position "acts as a conduit between conflicting parties; provides confidential, neutral assistance to constituents to help resolve formal grievances; advocates for fairness; and serves as a source of information and support."
Columbia Law School has implemented a Partners in Residence program to provide students with one-on-one meetings with experienced attorneys to discuss career strategies, professional life, and related matters. One of the first Partners in Residence is Steve Buchman, Chadbourne & Parke’s Ombudsman and Attorney Advisor. Buchman works with employees around the world, “dealing with issues including civility, harassment and discrimination, new employee evaluation practices, quality of life concerns, and other matters that any employee thinks require attention.”
New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie has named Patrick E. Hobbs,
Dean of Seton Hall University School of Law, as the first Ombudsman for the Office of the Governor. According to the New York Times, Hobbs will be in charge of ensuring that employees receive “robust” training in ethics, and will shape a new office of the chief ethics officer for the governor and create a system for employees to report concerns about wrongdoing. No other details about the Ombuds program have been published. (NY Times.)
The of U of M is hiring a Director for its Office for Conflict Resolution. The position provides informal dispute resolution services -- including private consultations, facilitated discussions, and mediation -- to non-bargaining unit faculty, staff, student employees, and administrators with employment-related concerns. It also manages a staff of three.
