The Indian reservation on the south side of Phoenix, Arizona is hiring a its first Ombudsman. The position will "provide services which include being a liaison between Community Members and the Tribal Government, listening to citizens’ complaints when they think the Gila River Indian Community has treated them unfairly, and coaching, assisting, and investigating the complaints received from Community Members."
The Journal of the International Ombudsman Association is pleased to announce a call for papers for a Special Issue on Responses of the Organizational Ombuds to Sexual Harassment. How do ombuds respond to sexual harassment within their organizations? What methods and strategies do they use, why do they use them, and with what outcomes? The JIOA invites papers that will focus on organizational ombuds’ most significant and challenging experiences in responding to and assisting with sexual harassment concerns.
After years of pushing back against university administrators, NIU’s University Ombudsperson Sarah Klaper said that she has been designated as a Clery Reporter. In remarks for the university's Operating Staff Council, Klaper said she is concerned the change will compromise her office’s confidentiality. NIU made the change despite Klaper's explanation that Ombuds does not fit the statutory designation.
The public university in Birmingham is hiring its first University Ombudsperson. The full-time position will serve neutral and impartial dispute resolution practitioner at UAB for faculty and staff, mentored graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. Currently, the university has only a part-time Faculty Ombuds—a position established by Michelle Fanucchi in 2016 and held on an interim basis by J. Michael Wyss since last year.
The Ombudsman for Public Education in Washington, DC—a neutral and independent office that provides conflict resolution services related to public education—is hiring an Assistant Ombudsman. The position responds to complaints and concerns and assists with facilitating or mediating conflicts.
Dolores Gómez-Morán, CO-OP, has been appointed the Ombudsman for the WHO Regional Office in Southeast Asian (WHO SEAR), effective September 2, 2019. This is a new position in the WHO SEAR Region and is based in New Delhi, India. Gómez-Morán practices to IOA standards.
The governing board of the U.S. central bank is hiring an Assistant Ombudsman. The Executive Ombuds position 1) acts as facilitator for the fair and timely resolution of complaints related to the System’s regulatory activities; 2) receives, reviews, and decides claims of retaliatory conduct by System staff; and 3) reports to Board members and senior Board staff on issues that may have a significant impact on the System’s mission, activities, or reputation, including patterns of issues that occur in multiple complaints. In addition, there are collateral administrative duties.
The TSA's Ombudsman Division (part of the Civil Liberties, Ombudsman and Traveler Engagement Office) is hiring an Ombudsman Specialist based in Arlington, VA. The position serves internal and external stakeholders and about 25% travel is required.
The Office of the University Ombudsman at Cornell University is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. The program was established in response to the Willard Straight Hall takeover by students in 1969 as a neutral outlet for Cornellians to express their concerns. It is one of the oldest university Ombuds offices.
The public doctoral-granting university in Carrollton, GA is hiring a Director of Ombuds Services. Reporting directly to the University President, the position will lead UWG’s Ombuds Office, practicing to IOA standards. Until earlier this year, Tahirih Varner, CO-OP, had served in the role. Currently, Julia Farmer is the only person in the office and is serving as the Interim Faculty Ombuds.
A new report (The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM) from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says that U.S. colleges and universities should take a more intentional, inclusive, and evidence-based approach to mentoring students – a shift that could engage and help retain a broader group of students. The report identifies Ombuds as a resource to address negative mentoring experiences.
The United Nations agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger, is hiring an Ombudsman. The five-year position provides confidential, impartial and independent advice on conflicts and problems to FAO staff from the Rome Headquarters and in decentralized offices. In addition, the Ombuds will coordinate and manage FAO’s mediation program.
In May 2019, Karine Gauvreau was named the first Ombudsman for the NRC (Conseil national de recherches Canada), the Government of Canada's largest research and technology organization. In this role, she will provide nearly 5,000 employees with a safe space to discuss concerns about the agency and scientific integrity, research ethics, and harassment.
The private liberal arts college in New London is hiring its first Staff Ombudsperson. The part-time (10 hrs/wk) position reports to the president and will supplement the work of the existing Faculty Ombudsperson Julia Kushigian (Professor of Hispanic Studies and Social Justice Coordinator). The college's current equity and inclusion plan calls for both Ombuds positions to be strengthened.
The Office of the Ombudsman for five UN Funds and Programmes (including UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS, and UN Women) is hiring a Senior Mediation Specialist. Based at the UN Headquarters in New York City, the position is a mediation and workplace conflict resolution expert that will oversee mediation services by a network of mediators and ensure quality standards, and conduct mediations as needed. It reports to the Ombudsman for UN Funds and Programmes, Giuseppe De Palo.
ISU is seeking nominations for staff to join its group of part-time Ombuds. About seven faculty and staff make up the ISU Ombuds Program, which provides services only to university faculty and staff. The program has had a number of incarnations; In 2011, the Faculty Ombudsperson coordinated a faculty no confidence vote in the president and his office was subsequently shuttered for a short time. The current panel configuration has been in place for four years and practices to IOA standards.
Lacy Ward Jr. has been hired as the first Marshall University Ombudsman. In the new full-time position, Ward will also serve as the Civic Engagement Coordinator. Ward will assist only university employees with questions or concerns with the university’s policies and procedures. The joint appointments will run for an initial one-year period.
Tatia Granger has returned to her former post as the Interim Ombuds for the public university in Williamsburg, VA. Granger, a Clinical Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at W&M, had been the Ombuds from 2008 to 2018. Mark Patterson then served in the role for about a year and half and before moving across the country to establish a office at to moving to Cal State University Channel Islands. William & Mary is currently searching for its next permanent Ombuds. (W&M Compliance and Equity.)
Earlier this year, the public medical school in Bryan, Texas appointed its first two Ombuds: Erin Herbrich is the Staff Ombudsman; and Bobbie Ann "BA" Adair White is the Faculty Ombudsman. The College of Medicine is part of the Texas A&M Health Science Center, which has its own Academic Ombuds, Robin Dickey.
Laura Svetkey has joined the Office of the Ombudsperson at the Duke University School of Medicine. She joins Ada Gregory, Ombuds for Undergraduate, Graduate, and Non-School of Medicine Professional Students; Jean Spaulding, Ombuds for School of Medicine Students and Postdoctoral Appointees; and Thomas Metzloff, Ombuds for University Faculty Members.
