Texas State University Names Two Faculty Ombuds

Todd Jewell and Colleen Myles-Baltzly have been selected to serve as Faculty Ombuds for Texas State. Meanwhile, the university's pilot Staff Ombuds program concluded in December 2021. Jewell and Myles follow Vincent Luizzi, and take on Ombuds duties in addition to their faculty appointments. They will practice to IOA standards and serve through August 2025. This is the first time that Texas State has had two Ombuds for faculty.

Job Posting: University of Oregon

UO has opened a search for an Interim Director of Student Conflict Resolution Center. This full-time position is responsible for managing and developing a program that provides proactive and reactive resources for university students who are engaged in interpersonal or organizational conflict, or who want to learn how to more effectively manage conflict. This position works under the direction and supervision of the University Ombudsperson, Brett Harris, with dotted line reporting to the Office of the Dean of Students.

Call for Presenters: World Mediators' Conference

The World Mediators' Conference is seeking co-panelists for the event on 13 June 2022 (8pm India time/10:30am EDT/9:30am CDT/8:30amMST/7:30am PST). The theme is Mediation Vision 2026: Evolution of Mediators & Mediation. It's a free and open forum for anyone to join for a conversation. Ken Cloke is the keynote speaker for the conference. The organizer, Vikram Singh, hopes Ombuds can clarify their work for mediators (acknowledging the different types of Ombuds). 

Job Posting: Loudoun County Public Schools

The public school district in northeast Virginia with 84,000 students is hiring its first Ombudsman. The full-time position "serves as a designated neutral resource for families, employees and community members, advocating for fairness, equity and consistency to assist in the resolution of education, student and employee-related concerns, problems, complaints and issues." The LCPS will report to the Chief of Staff. The district considered an Ombuds about 14 years ago and it is not clear what lead to the renewed interest.

Job Posting: United Nations, Kenya

The United Nations is hiring a Regional Ombudsman to head its office in Nairobi, which is one of eight regional branches of the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services (UNOMS). The Regional Ombudsman will report directly to the Chief of Office and will be under the general supervision of the United Nations Ombudsman.

Job Posting: United Nations, New York

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking a Senior Conflict Resolution Officer for its New York headquarters. The position will report directly to the Senior Conflict Resolution Officer under the general supervision of the Chief of Office.

California Bar to Implement External Ombuds Office

The State Bar of California plans to create an Office of the Ombuds to serve members of the public, applicants for admission, legal consumers, attorneys, and other constituents. According to a report in Above the Law, the Ombuds would serve as an “independent, impartial and confidential resource to ensure that complaints about State Bar staff or actions receive full and impartial review.” While initially, the Ombuds office will focus on attorney discipline complaints and admissions, another task will be to develop and oversee a public education plan designed to empower legal consumers and the public with knowledge about their legal rights. 

Ombuds at North Carolina State University Set to Retire

Roy Baroff, CO-OP, NC State's Faculty & Staff Ombuds will retire on June 30, 2022. Baroff established the Faculty Ombuds position in December 2014 and expanded his service to staff in January 2017. “Throughout his service to the university, Roy has been an invaluable resource for our faculty and staff. He has helped to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment at NC State, and we wish him the best in his retirement,” said Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Warwick Arden. 

Job Posting: University of California Berkeley

The Staff Ombuds Office at Berkeley is hiring an Assistant Ombudsperson for a "career" appointment (as opposed to a one-year contract). The search will fill a position recently vacated by Rachel Nicholson, who moved to a similar position at the City of Seattle. The position reports to Director, Sara Thacker, and will work with Associate Ombuds, Julia Horvath, to provide conflict resolution and problem-solving services for all non-senate university employees. The job is eligible for hybrid work arrangements.

Job Posting: Southern Methodist University

The private university in Dallas, Texas is seeking its first University Ombudsperson. The new position will serve faculty, staff, and more than 12,000 students practicing to IOA standards. The Ombuds will report to the Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Advisor to the University President for Cultural Intelligence Initiatives, Maria Dixon Hall, who championed the idea of an Ombuds when she was promoted to the position in August 2020. 

George Washington University Creates Ombuds for Health Sciences Students

The GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC, has appointed Susan Okun as its first Ombudsperson. In this new role, Okun will serve nearly 800 students following IOA standards. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Research and Leadership. It appears that Okun will supplement the ongoing work of GW's Graduate Medical Education Ombuds (who serve medical residents), Susanne Bathgate and Babak Sarani. 

City of Seattle Adds an Ombuds

Rachel Nicholson has joined Seattle's Office of the Employee Ombud as the Assistant Ombud for Capacity Building. She joins Director Amarah Y. Khaan and Assistant Ombud for Case Management Emma Phan, and will serve as the lead facilitator and trainer, and work on establishing standard Ombuds practices, reporting, data analysis, and curriculum development for skill building and support.

Student Ombuds at VU Amsterdam Argues for Legislative Mandate

In a new journal article, Lies Poesiat, the Student Ombudsman at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam addresses the different standards for universities in the Netherlands. Currently, Dutch universities are obligated to provide an Ombuds for staff, but not for students. As a result, there are only seven universities with student Ombuds in the country (including hers, where she has served in the role for 15 years). Poesiat says that needs to change through new legislation.

Job Posting: Bravely

The online company that offers independent and external coaching (and very Ombuds-like) services has an open and on-going posting for Coaches. The position will join a network of other coaches to provide services to Bravely's client employees around the world using their proprietary virtual platform. Many of Bravely's current coaches are experienced Ombuds. A commitment of 12 hours a month is required.

University of Wisconsin–Madison Selects Ombuds

After an internal search, Gloria Hawkins has been named to the Ombuds Office at the UW-Madison for a three-year term. Hawkins worked at the university for over three decades, most recently as Assistant Vice Provost and Director of the Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program within the Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement. She also held administrative and advising positions in the School of Education, School of Human Ecology, College of Letters & Science, and the School of Medicine and Public Health.