Leiden University Names New Student Ombuds

In May 2024, Lonneke Hulst was hired as a Student Ombudsperson at Universiteit Leiden. She joins Eugène van der Heijden, who has served as Student Ombuds since 2015. Together, they serve 33,000 enrolled students at the oldest university in the Netherlands.

Introducing the Student Ombuds at the University of Zagreb Law School

In May 2023, Roko Roglić was appointed the Student Ombudsman for Pravnog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, the oldest continually-operating law school in Croatia. Roglic serves about 7,000 students at the school in Zagreb and was elected by the Student Union. He recently was renewed for a second, one-year term and is assisted by three deputies: Nika Bakula, Dora Bogdanović, Dora Dabac and Paola Jurković. Recently, his office adopted IOA standards of practice. (PFZG Studentski pravobranitelj.)

Job Re-Posting: Howard University

The private university in Washington, D.C. has reposted its opening for an inaugural Faculty Ombudsperson, a full-time position. Howard conducted similar searches in 2016, 2018, and earlier this year, but did not result in an appointment. The faculty handbook has included reference to a Faculty Ombuds Office since 2019 and stipulates that the position will be located within the Office of the President. 

Meet the Ombuds for the University of Rzeszów

In the last two years, Uniwersytet Rzeszowski in Poland has created two Ombuds programs. Jan Gałkowski was appointed the Academic Ombudsperson in June 2022. He serves all members of the community with conflicts related to academic work and practices to IOA standards. In June 2023, Wiktoria Bednarz was named the first Student Ombudsperson. She serves as a resource and advocate for about 20,000 students. (UR Academic Ombuds; Student Ombuds.) 

Canadian Military Names Interim Ombuds

Robyn Hynes has been appointed the Interim Ombuds for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. She follows Gregory Lick, who served in the positon since November 2018. Hynes will serve a one-year term through June 2025. Hynes has worked for the government for over 16 years in a variety of roles related to national defense. 

Journal of IOA Article Urges Ombuds to Employ Positive Psychology Tools

The latest peer-reviewed article in the Journal of the International Ombuds Association proposes that Ombuds integrate aspects of positive psychology in their case work. Author Julie A. Muroff, CO-OP, holds a Master's degree in Applied Positive Psychology. She is the inaugural Ombuds Director at Janelia Research Campus/Howard Hughes Medical Institute and previously was the Acting Ombudsman/Director of the Center for Cooperative Resolution at the National Institutes of Health. She was also recently elected to the IOA Board of Directors.

Leiden University Medical Center Appoints First Ombuds

In January 2024, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, the teaching hospital affiliated with Leiden University in the Netherlands, named Margot Snelders-Pouw as its first Ombudsfunctionaris. As the LUMC Ombuds, she serves as a confidential, independent, and neutral resource for employees, including PhD students. 

Canadian Government Compiles List of Federal Ombuds Offices

A new entry on GCwiki, a public wiki hosted by the Government of Canada, provides the most comprehensive list of Organizational Ombuds programs in the federal sector. A total of 50 different programs are listed and details include the name of the primary Ombuds and email.

As in the U.S., information about federal Ombuds is often not available to the general public. Moreover, some Ombuds with security clearances are private about their employment details. Therefore, many of these Ombuds and programs have not been mentioned previously in this blog.

Job Posting: University of Washington

The Office of the Ombud at UW has opened a search for a new Associate Ombud. (The office consistently uses "Ombud" rather than "Ombuds.") The university in Seattle includes three academic campuses and two medical centers. With minimal supervision, the position is expected to work with over 300 visitors a year and take a frontline role in the office’s outreach efforts. The Associate Ombud reports to the University Ombud, Chuck Sloan, and is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement.

UN World Food Programme Selects Next Ombuds

Katya Melluish has been appointed the next WFP Ombudsman and Director.  She follows Dolores Gómez-Morán, CO-OP, who served in an interim role and the prior permanent Ombuds, Gabrielle Kluck. From the WFP headquarters in Italy, Melluish will lead a team that provides Ombuds services to employees worldwide. She will serve an initial four-year contract.

Job Re-Posting: World Health Organization, Philippines

WHO has reopened its search for a Regional Ombudsperson to be based in Manila. The full-time position serves WHO personnel in the country and region, and reports directly to WHO's Regional Director. This is a fixed-term appointment for two years.

University of Massachusetts Amherst Hires MWI to Bridge Ombuds Office

Following the departure of Interim University Ombuds, Lea Occhialini, at the end of 2023, UMass Amherst asked MWI to provide Ombuds services to over 38,000 students, faculty, and staff across 12 schools and colleges. The initial six-month contract was renewed July 1, 2024 for an additional six months. The UMass Amherst Ombuds Team of Derrick Johnson, Birthe Reimers, and Larry Hunt work with the existing Ombuds office manager, Kristen Farrell, and reports to the Chancellor. As with all of their clients, MWI's Ombuds Team practices to IOA Standards as specified in a written agreement.

Update on Ombuds Transitions at Washington State University

There have been recent changes in the WSU Ombuds Office. Last month, Sheri Glaesman ended her work as an Ombuds after six years in the position. In May 2023, Debbie (DJ) Lee, completed eight years in the role. The two current part-time University Ombuds are Justin Denney, who started in January 2022, and Karen Sanguinet, who started in August 2022. The office serves nearly 40,000 WSU stakeholders, particularly administrative professionals and classified staff.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science Creates Ombuds Panel

VIMS, the marine research and education center in Gloucester Point, has unveiled a Graduate Program Ombuds. Comprised of faculty Ombuds and student peer advisors, the volunteer Ombuds assist VIMS graduate students. (VIMS' School of Marine Science is one of a graduate school of the College of William & Mary.) "The School of Marine Science Ombuds are trained faculty volunteers. Peer advisors are trained graduate student volunteers who can assist students by providing a peer's perspective and an additional avenue to ombuds resources." 

Podcast: NGO Ombuds on the Impact of Incorrect Assumptions

Brian Bloch, an experienced Ombuds was a guest this week on "Conflict Managed," a podcast hosted by Merry Brown, a workplace conflict restoration consultant and mediator. Bloch has been an Ombuds for over two decades and currently is the OMbuds for the Global Green Growth Institute, the World Central Kitchen, ISKCONResolve, and is co-Ombuds at Ashoka and NASA.