Job Re-Posting: Oregon Health & Science University

The academic medical center in Portland has reopened its search for its next Ombudsman. Merle Graybill established the program in 2015 as a part-time position and the job now is full-time. Reporting to the provost, the OHSU Ombuds works with employees, students, and trainees.  

Northwestern University Promises an Ombuds Program Next Year

After at least 15 years of requests by various stakeholder groups seeking an Ombuds, Northwestern's Provost Jonathan Holloway announced that the university will appoint an Ombuds in the 2020-21 academic year. The decision follows a recommendation from an Ombuds Program Task Force that had sought “extensive stakeholder input.” The University will hire a trained Ombuds to head the office according to the Provost's email announcement. (Daily Northwestern.)

The Power of Speaking Up: Thoughts On Ombuds Day (Guest Post)

Submitted by Reese Ramos, CO-OP, Director and University Ombuds at Virginia Tech.

My heart, and spirits, sank a bit as I sat down at my typewriter laptop to draft a little something to commemorate the second ever Ombuds Day*. Why? Because, in preparing to write this article, I looked at what I wrote last year; I spoke then about how there is much in the world that divides us.  And it struck me that the events I alluded in last year’s article are still headline news – every single one. I guess that sometimes, not much changes in a span of a year. 

U.S. Census Bureau Selects First Ombuds

Bill Maurer, CO-OP, has been named the first Ombudsman for the U.S. Census, the Department of Commerce agency that produces data about American people and economy. Maurer moves to the position from the Office of the Ombudsman at the Department of Energy. He has also served as the Vice-Chair of the Coalition of Federal Ombudsman.

Mars, Inc. Highlights Work of Global Ombuds Team

Publicity for Ombuds in the private sector is often relegated to internal publications or firewalled websites available only to insiders. So it's noteworthy when a corporation touts the work of its Ombuds program. This week, Mars, Inc., the global foods conglomerate promoted the work of its Ombudsman Program on a public news site. The article highlighted five attributes of the Ombuds:

Cases Tick Up for University of Pennsylvania Ombuds in 2018-19

In their latest annual report, UPenn Ombuds Lynn Hollen Lees and Associate Ombuds Marcia Martínez-Helfman, said their Office of Ombuds handled 5.5% more cases in 2018-19 compared to the prior year. University staff accounted for the largest proportion of visitors (43%), followed by faculty (24%) and graduate and professional students (19%)—proportions have remained roughly stable for the last several years.

UConn Health Recruits Experienced Ombuds

Donna Douglass Williams has been selected as the first Ombuds for the University of Connecticut health system. She will provide services to faculty, students, trainees, and staff affiliated with a teaching hospital, the UConn School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, and Graduate School. Williams will be based in Farmington and coordinate with the UConn Ombuds in Storrs, Jim Wohl.

Internship: United Nations, Kenya

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking a full-time intern to be posted in Nairobi, the UN headquarters in Africa. The unpaid internship will last six months and offers the opportunity to support outreach and advocacy, prepare data and reports, and conduct research. The position reports to the Regional Ombudsman, Nicholas Theotocatos.

Participation Surges for Second Annual Ombuds Day

The number of organizations participating in the second annual celebration will at least double the number last year. The celebration of the Ombuds profession (and all its variants) on October 10, 2019 is organized by the American Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Section Ombuds Committee. 

FEMA Ombuds Moves to UN Funds and Programmes

Vik Kapoor, Ombuds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and chair of the Department of Homeland Security's Ombuds Forum, has taken a contract position with the UNDP.  In this consulting role, Kapoor will report to the Ombudsman for UN Funds and Programmes, Giuseppe De Palo, and will select, train, support, and guide Respectful Workplace Facilitators, who provide peer coaching, referral resources, and other dispute resolution services to staff members and non-staff personnel within the UN's global development network.  Rea Wynder continues as FEMA Ombuds.

University of Twente Appoints First Ombuds

Han Warmelink has been named the Ombuds Officer for the public research university (Universiteit Twente) in Enschede, Netherlands. His appointment will run for a two-year pilot period until October 15, 2021. The pilot is working on introducing its first Ombudsperson. He will work with students and employees with concerns related to studying or working at UTwente.

Job Posting: University of Washington

The Office of the Ombud at UW has opened up a search for a new Associate Ombud. The university in Seattle is the second largest research institution in the country and includes three academic campuses and two medical centers. The office serves 125 stakeholders and the position works directly with “300+ clients per year.” The Associate Ombud reports to the University Ombud, Chuck Sloan, and is also expected to provide outreach, mediation and conflict resolution training. The search will fill a position held by Emma Phan for the past six years.

UW Ombud Moves to New Office at City of Seattle

Emma Phan (née Williams) has moved from the Office of the Ombud at the University of Washington to Seattle's new Office of the Employee Ombud. She joins Director Amarah Y. Khaan, and will serve as the lead facilitator and operations manager, ensuring the operational efficiency of the office. 

University of Amsterdam Appoints Interim Ombuds

Jacqueline Schoone has been named the Interim Ombuds for Universiteit van Amsterdam. According to an announcement from the university, "She will do the preparative work needed so that a permanent ombudsperson can be appointed by 1 September 2020 at the latest."

Job Posting: Chevron, Angola

AirSwift, a multinational staffing company, is hiring an Ombuds to work with Chevron's Angola-based employees, retirees, and contractors with workplace questions and concerns. The job requires travel to and within Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo on a 28x28 schedule (28 days on, 28 days off).

UC Davis Names Ombuds Office Director

Lauren Bloom has been promoted to Director of the Ombuds Office at the University of California Davis. Bloom had been an Associate Ombuds for the past two years. She will oversee and office that includes two Associate Ombuds, Dana Hinojosa (who served as the Interim Director during the search) and Lindsey Dunning, and an Assistant Ombuds, Jenny Xia.

Journal of IOA Seeks Book Reviewers

The Journal for the International Ombudsman Association has a new initiative to spur interest from book and media reviewers. The Journal recently obtained publishers' copies of books relevant to the Ombuds community.

USPTO to Host 2019 COFO Conference

The Coalition of Federal Ombudsman has announced details of its next annual meeting. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will host the day-long conference on October 18, 2019. An agenda is being finalized, but the event is free and will be webcast. 

Ombuds Committee Curates ABA Dispute Resolution Newsletter

The September 2019 issue of the American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section's newsletter, "Just Resolutions," was compiled by Editor Shannon Burton, Ombuds at Michigan State University. (The committee Co-Chairs are Elizabeth Hill and Jon Lee.) Content is behind ABA's paywall this time.

Job Posting: Society for American Archaeology

The professional association for the archaeology of the Americas is seeking its first Ombuds. The contract Ombuds will provide services for SAA's 85th Annual Meeting in Austin, TX, April 22-26, 2020. As part of the services, the Ombuds will produce "an aggregate and anonymous report submitted to the Executive Director within three weeks after the meeting conclusion quantifying types of concerns and organizational recommendations." SAA seeks to have the Ombuds selected by November 2019. (IOA Job Board.)