IOA Brings Ombuds Training to Minneapolis in July 2019

The International Ombudsman Association will offer two training program in July 2019 at the Loews Minneapolis Hotel. IOA's signature course, "Foundations," provides the primary training for new Organizational Ombuds. A two-day course offers more advanced topics.

Ombuds at Universität Münster Explains His Work with Junior Faculty

Bernd Schlipphak has been the Ombudsman for junior scientists in the Department of Education and Social Sciences at the University of Münster (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster in Northrhine-Westphalia is Germany's fifth largest university) since 2015. He was recently interviewed for the university's news site. He explained that he is the initial resource for problems between junior scientists and their supervisors. He offers informal advice and mediation for the parties. He often refer people directly to other university resources such as the staff council, the equal opportunity officer, and the counseling center.

Title IX Researchers Seek Input from Higher Ed Ombuds

Doug Yarn and Tim Hedeen have forwarded a request for assistance from college and university Ombuds regarding Title IX. Yarn is a Professor of Law and Director of the Consortium on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at Georgia State University College of Law. Hedeen, a frequent IOA speaker, is a Professor of Conflict Management and  University Ombudsman at Kenessaw State University. As laid out in their letter, they are interested to learn how the changing guidance from Dept of Education Office of Civil Rights—from the "Dear Colleague" letter to the proposed revisions—has affected Ombuds work:

Yale Faculty Continue to Press for Ombuds

At its April meeting, the undergraduate faculty at Yale College revived a discussion of an Ombuds office for all university stakeholders. Yale is the only school among its "Ivy Plus" peers without a University Ombuds, though it has been considered for many years. (For many years, Yale Medical School has had an Ombudsperson, Merle Waxman.) A draft proposal for an Ombuds was favorably received by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Senate and may put up for a formal vote later this year or next.

Chevron Promotes Ombuds to Lead Office

Sana Manjeshwar has been tapped as the Principal Ombuds Manager for the multinational energy company's Global Office of Ombuds.  She succeeds Jackie Osborne and will lead a geographically dispersed team of Ombuds Managers. Manjeshwar has been an Ombuds Manager Since August 2014, when she moved from a similar position at AllianceBernstein.

Ozarks Technical Community College Names First Ombuds

The public community college in Springfield, Missouri has appointed Gavin O'Connor as its first Academic Ombudsman. In this new role, O'Connor "assists students and staff in working through and resolving academic related questions, problems and conflicts." The school enrolls over 15,000 students. O'Connor steps into the role after teaching in the Life Science department for the past 17 years.

North American Society for Bat Research Implements Ombuds Program

The professional association dedicated to the promotion and development of the scientific study of bats has named two its first two Ombuds: Matina Kalcounis-Rüppell and Terry Zinn. The society's website recently announced: "As part of an effort to create an environment in which members feel comfortable reporting potential violations of NASBR by-laws or policies, two Ombudsperson positions were approved by the Board in Knoxville last year." The Ombuds will serve an initial three-year term.

Job Posting: U.S. Olympic Committee

The National Olympic Committee for the United States in Colorado Springs is hiring an Associate Athlete Ombudsman. The position provides independent advice to athletes and assists in mediating disputes. The full-time position reports the USOC Athlete Ombudsman, Kacie Wallace, and also assists in promoting the services of the office, implementing data tracking tools, and creating an environment welcoming and accessible to athletes. The work is confidential and independent, but often requires advocacy. Akanni Turner has held the position for almost a year.

Colorado Ombuds Gather in Boulder for Spring 2019 Meeting

On May 24, 2019, the National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesa Laboratory headquarters in Boulder will host the Colorado Ombuds Group Meeting. There will be case consultations and a guest presentation from Mary Conger (former IOA Communications Committee Co-Chair and newly-minted PhD) on relationships between Organizational Ombuds and organizational leaders. In the afternoon, there will be a discussion regarding how Conger’s research and findings relate to Ombuds work.

Amherst College Names Ombuds

Larry Hunt has been hired as the next Ombudsperson for the private, liberal arts college. In the part-time position, he will work with faculty and staff, and report to the college's president. Hunt's career has been in human resources and, most recently, he was Executive Director of HR at Smith College, another of the Five College Consortium. (Amherst Ombuds; LinkedIn.)

Job Posting: Queen's University

The public research university in Kingston, Ontario is hiring its next Ombuds. The University Ombudsperson works with students, staff and faculty across six faculties and numerous departments—a total population of about 35,000. Heather Cole has held the position on an interim basis since September 2018.  The office was renewed after a thorough external review at the end of last year. 

Augusta University Names First Ombuds

In December 2018, the public research university and academic medical center in Georgia appointed Richard Pawl as it first Ombudsman. In this part-time role, Pawl will help resolve "serious concerns of individual faculty members." He will not address any collective faculty concerns. Meanwhile, Pawl continues as an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine with  Augusta University Health System.

UC Davis Adds an Ombuds

The Ombuds Office at the University of California Davis has expanded with the appointment of Jenny Xia in a newly created Assistant Ombuds position. Xia will step into this newly created office management and ombuds hybrid position on May 20. She joins an office that currently includes: Dana Hinojosa, Interim Director; Lindsey Dunning, Associate Ombuds; and Lauren Bloom, Associate Ombuds. There is an on-going search for a permanent director. 

Job Posting: Lesley University

The private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts is hiring an Executive Assistant to the Dean and Ombudsperson for Students. This will the school's first Ombuds. In addition to providing executive administrative support to the Dean of Student Life & Academic Development, the position this incumbent will be the Ombudsperson for over 7,000 students. Many of the duties are in direct conflict with the Ombuds role (i.e., prepare reports, maintain confidential student files, track sanctions and follow-up actions, and track Clery data).

San Diego Collaborative Arts Project Embeds Ombuds for Stakeholders

The nonprofit supporting the San Diego Burning Man community has an Organizational Ombuds program as part of a conflict resolution protocol. The SDCAP protocol incorporates Ombuds as a resource for all types of conflict:

Job Posting: United Nations, Kenya

The United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is hiring a temporary Conflict Resolution Officer in Nairobi.  The position will provide Ombuds and conflict resolution services to UN staff in the region. The position reports to the Regional Ombudsman, currently Youssoupha Niang. The appointment will end March 31, 2020.

Haverford College Unveils Ombuds Program

The private liberal arts college in Pennsylvania has appointed long-time insider Steve Watter as its first Ombuds for all campus constituents. Watter has worked at the college for over three decades, primarily as Dean of Student Life, but also as Title IX Coordinator. He un-retired into the new position at the request of Haverford's current president Kim Benston. 

Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis Names First Ombuds

The graduate training institute for psychoanalysis in Boston has appointed to faculty members to serve as its first Ombuds. Joan Harrison is the Candidate Ombudsperson and Linda Luz-Alterman is the Membership Ombudsperson. The Ombuds "will be available to MIP members to triage and informally consult on, and resolve whenever possible, ethical concerns and complaints that do not require a formal complaint procedure."

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).  Evan Lutz is completing a one-year appointment in June 2019.  The position reports to Director, Sara Thacker, and works with Associate Ombuds, Julia Horvath, to provide conflict resolution and problem-solving services for all non-senate employees.

ABA Webinar: Conflict Management and Legal Risk Mitigation in Healthcare

On May 29, 2019, a webinar by the American Bar Association will explore, "how Ombuds programs can improve compliance, reduce organizational conflict, mitigate risk and foster an ethical culture" in healthcare organizations. The speakers will be Don Greenstein, the Brandeis University Ombuds and an active reservist Ombud with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Natalie Fleury, Ombuds for Medical College of Wisconsin, and Haavi Morreim, Professor of Medicine at the University of Tennessee and mediator.