VU Amsterdam Interviews Both Ombuds

This week, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam published interviews with Jacqueline Schoone, the Staff Ombudsperson, and Pelin Zenginoğlu, the Student Ombudsman. Both shared information about how they work with visitors and offered some personal insights on the value of their work. Schoone, who was appointed in April 2024 talked about what makes the job meaningful to her:

Syracuse Ombuds Solicits Feedback from Campus

Syracuse University Ombuds Neal Powless is inviting feedback via on online survey. The survey "seeks to gather input from individuals who have utilized the office’s services as well as those who have not." Login credentials are not required to complete the Qualtrix survey and responses will be anonymous and confidential. (Syracuse News.)

Executive Order Slashes Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

An Executive Order signed by the President on Friday, "eliminates non-statutory functions and reduces statutory functions of unnecessary governmental entities to what is required by law," applying to FMCS and several other entities. FMCS is a small federal agency that provides mediation and other conflict resolution services, including Ombuds services, to prevent work stoppages and labor disputes.

Pinterest Adds an Ombuds

Awab Al-Rawe became the newest Ombuds at Pinterest in August 2024. He reports to Donna Douglass Williams, CO-OP, Head of Ombuds, and joins Teresa Ralicki, Ombuds Analyst, and Shawday Berstler, Senior Ombuds Specialist. (Berstler was promoted from Ombuds Program Manager in June 2023.)

Meet the Ombuds for Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Louisa Tsang was named the Senior Ombuds Services Officer for the multilateral development bank in November 2021. The news comes from the University of Hong Kong, which is hosting a seminar on "Infrastructure, Wellbeing and Conflict Prevention" featuring Tseng as a speaker. 

ENOHE Announces Agenda for 20th Annual Conference

The European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education has announced details for its 20th annual conference at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam on June 4-6, 2025. The theme is "Building Bridges: Equity, Responsibility, and the Ombuds’ Vision for the Future, Inspired by 750 Years of Amsterdam." Three dozen speakers from 13 different countries will offer insights based on professional experiences building and running Ombuds programs for universities and countries.

Job Posting: Boston University

The private university in Boston is hiring an Associate Ombuds. The position will report to University Ombuds, Francine Montemurro, and join Associate Ombuds, Erin Wright. The search will fill a position previously held by Riley Barrar. The office serves BU faculty, staff, and students on the Charles River and Medical Campuses. 

American Physical Society Names First Ombuds

Elisa Enriquez, CO-OP, has been announced as the inaugural Ombuds for the professional association for physicists. Practicing to IOA standards, Enriquez will provide services to 50,000 APS members. She will report to the Head of Ethics under authority of the APS Board of Directors. 

UNESCO Completes Feasibility Study for First Ombuds

A new report for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recommends the establishment of an Ombuds office to strengthen the organization's internal justice system and improve conflict resolution. The feasibility study, commissioned by UNESCO's Executive Board, found strong support for the initiative across the organization. The report's findings were based on best practices, including IOA standards.

University of Pennsylvania's Ombuds Reports that Cases Ticked Up Again in 2023-24

UPenns’s Office of the Ombuds saw a 6% increase in visitors during the 2023–24 academic year, with staff making up the largest group of visitors (42%), followed by faculty, graduate students, postdocs, and undergraduates. Employment-related concerns dominated with academic-related issues as the second-largest group according to Deputy Ombuds Waged Jafer and University Ombuds Jennifer A. Pinto-Martin.

JIOA Writing Club Aims to Foster Ombuds Authors

The Journal of the International Ombuds Association has launched a program to support aspiring Ombuds writers. The Ombuds Conflict to Composition Writing Club will begin in April 2025 and is now accepting applications. The club create a collaborative and supportive virtual environment where participants can develop their writing skills through mentoring and guidance on the publishing process. Applications are due by March 28, 2025.

Gallaudet University Suspends Ombuds Office

Gallaudet University has suspended the work of its Ombuds Office, with a promise to restore the service in the fall of 2026. The move was apparently promoted by a budget crises as the new presidential administration slashed spending on the federally chartered university. (Federal funding makes up nearly two-thirds of Gallaudet operating budget.) Here is the text of an announcement from Gallaudet's President to the campus:

Ombuds for ISED Canada Shares 2023 Annual Report, Announces Successor

The Office of the Ombud for Mental Health and Employee Well-Being for Innovation, Science and Economic Development has released its 2022–2023 Annual Report. Acting Ombuds Eve Nadeau reported that 56 visitors came to the office over the year and virtually all reported high levels of satisfaction with the services in follow-up surveys. In her summary, Nadeau emphasized the importance of fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace, particularly as employees navigated the transition to hybrid work. 

ADR.gov Website Vanishes Along with All COFO Content

The website for the Interagency ADR Working Group was taken offline around midnight on February 21, 2025. A presidential memorandum in 1988 established the multiagency organization to assist federal agencies develop and implement ADR programs. Among other things, the site hosted information for the Coalition of Federal Ombuds. Fortunately, the entire ADR.gov site, including COFO materials, are preserved the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. (ADR.gov via Internet Archive.) 

Job Posting: University of California Davis

The UC Davis Ombuds Office is hiring an Associate Ombuds based at UC Davis Health in Sacramento with some hybrid, from-home possibilities. The position reports to Director, Lauren Bloom, CO-OP, and joins Lindsey Ensor, Senior Associate Ombuds, CO-OP, Jenny Vaccari, Associate Ombuds, CO-OP, and Katie Ranney, Assistant Ombuds.