Meet the Ombuds for Amnesty International, Italy

In December 2023, Vittorio Indovina became the Organizational Ombudsperson for Amnesty International Italia. As a contractor for the international non-governmental human rights organization, he developing an Ombuds program and is providing dispute resolution services to staff in discrimination and harassment cases and other interpersonal conflicts. 

Job Posting: Texas Southern University

The public HBCU in Houston has opened a search for a full-time Ombuds Officer. The position will report to the Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and serve faculty, staff, and students, a total population of over 10,000. Previously, TSU had only a Student Ombudsman (and it is not clear who served in the role). The position will practice to IOA standards. 

University of Tennessee Knoxville Ombuds Posts Fifth Annual Report

Cases increased significantly according to the 2023-24 annual report from the Office of Ombuds Services at UT Knoxville. Campus Ombudsperson, Lisa Yamagata-Lynch, said that her office handled 659 contacts with visitors. The office includes Associate Ombudsperson, Brooke Wichmann, Educational Program Coordinator, Duren Thompson, and a graduate research assistant, Mohammad “Shovon” Rahanur Alam.

Duke University Hires Associate Ombuds

Marlo Goldstein Hode has been selected as the Associate Ombuds for the private university in Durham, North Carolina. She joins University Ombuds, Jessica Kuchta-Miller, CO-OP, and serve all faculty, staff, and students. 

Internship: SAP

The Global Ombuds Office for the German multinational software corporation is seeking student for a six-month internship in Prague. The paid, part-time position will focus projects that support the work of the Ombuds Office, including preparing new trainings and promotional materials. After an initial six-month internship, the position may transition to a student employee. Up to 10% travel may be required.

ACCUO Selects Interim Leaders

Following recent changes in its executive executive committee, the Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons (Association des ombudsmans des universités et collèges du Canada) has named interim replacements. Permanent committee members will be appointed at the Annual General Meeting in October 2024.

Job Posting: Central State University

The public land-grant university in Wilberforce, Ohio (the state's only HBCU), is hiring its first Director of the Office of Student Ombuds. Reporting to the President's Chief of Staff, the Ombuds will serve about 5,500 enrolled students. In a State of the University address last week, Central State's President, Morakinyo A.O. Kuti, said, "We will also launch the Office of Students Ombudsman in October to help students navigate their University journey more efficiently." The university's website does not indicate what motivated the creation of an Ombuds program, but one of its accrediting bodies (the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools), endorsed Ombuds in 2015.

Toronto Metropolitan University Adds an Assistant Ombuds

In May 2024, Jemmy Erhiaganoma was selected as the new Assistant Ombudsperson for TMU. She joins Acting Ombudsperson, Gemma Kerr, and Assistant Ombudsperson & Outreach Officer, Edmun Natkunarajah. TMU's Office of the Ombudsperson serves 48,000 enrolled students, plus applicants and former students, and follows ACCUO and FCO standards of practice.

Virginia Commonwealth University Ombuds Announces 2024 Conflict Resolution Day Event

Since 2013, VCU's Ombudsperson, William King, has sponsored a National Conflict Resolution Day program. This year, his signature event on October 17, 2024will feature a keynote by Reese Ramos, University Ombuds for Virginia Tech. The theme for his address is "The Power of the Dark Side – Being Comfortable with the Uncomfortable." The rest of the day includes panel discussions and group work on managing conflict with other campus leaders. As usual, the event is free and open to the public.

US News & World Report: "What Students Should Know About College Ombuds"

The media company known for its influential ranking of colleges and graduate schools, has published an article explaining the role of campus Ombuds. The piece includes sections on: History of Ombuds Offices; What an Ombuds Does; How an Ombuds Helps; When To Use Ombuds; When Not to Use Ombuds; Issues Brought to Ombuds; and Resolution That Can Be Expected.

Job Posting: CVS Health (OhioRISE)

CVS Health is hiring an Ombuds to work in the Ombuds Office for OhioRISE, the statewide, Medicaid behavioral health plan for children and youth. The full-time, remote position will provide services to members and community partners following Organizational Ombuds standards. (The job is not related to the discontinued CVS Ombuds Office that served internal employees.)

New APSA Leader is an Ombuds Advocate

Kimberly A. Mealy has been named the Executive Director of the American Political Science Association, the leading professional association for the study of political science. In addition to her many years of leadership within APSA, Mealy has been an advocate for Organizational Ombuds. In 2017, she advocated for the creation of the APSA Ombuds program. In 2019, she authored an article that highlighted the role of APSA Ombuds as part of a social justice framework. Since then, Mealy has continued to advise associations and academic institutions on resource and policy development, including the role of Ombuds. (Political Science Now.)

University of Southern Mississippi Names First Faculty Ombuds

Earlier this summer, Andrew Haley was appointed the inaugural Faculty Ombud for the a public university in Hattiesburg. He will serve about 1,000 academic staff and report to the USM President. A charter ensures that the Ombuds practices to IOA standards. Haley is an Associate Professor in the School of Humanities and has been a member of the USM faculty since 2005. 

Job Posting: Denver Public Schools

DPS, the second largest public school system in Colorado, is hiring an Associate Ombudsperson. The position will assist in providing Ombuds services for 15,000 employees across more than 200 school sites under the direction of the DPS Ombudsperson, Antoinette Hudson, CO-OP.

Meet the Student Ombuds for Southern Illinois University

In 2023, Lanel Love was named the Student Ombudsperson for SIU Carbondale. She joined Michelle Kibby and Lori Foster , who provide Ombuds services for staff and faculty. Love follows Renada Greer, who was the Ombuds for students since about six years.

University of Wyoming Names Interim Ombuds

Narina Nunez, a professor emeritus of psychology, has been named the Interim University Ombudsperson for UW. Meanwhile, the public land-grant research university in Laramie continues its national search for a permanent Ombuds to serve all campus constituents.

Job Posting: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

The U.S. government corporation that insures bank deposits is hiring an Internal Ombudsman Specialist. The full-time position serves about 6,000 agency employees and reports to the Chairman's office in Washington, DC. There are few public details about the FDIC Internal Ombuds, but it appears that Robert D. Harris heads the office. (The FDIC has a separate external Ombuds Office for the banking industry and general public.) The search may be used to fill other position.

Job Posting: Concordia University

The public university in Montreal is hiring a full-time Associate Ombudsperson for a three-year contract, which will end September 9, 2027. The position will report to Concordia's Ombudsperson, Amy Fish, and serve all members of the Concordia community.

Kansas State University Names New Faculty Ombuds

Barbara Anderson, a Professor of Interior Architecture and Industrial Design at K-State, has been appointed a Faculty Ombuds. As a collateral-duty Obmuds, she will handle employee concerns and serve a three-year term. She joins Jared Meitler and Alfred Cochran in the role. (K-State Ombuds.)

University of Göttingen Debuts Ombuds Office

Silja-Katharina Haufe has been appointed the inaugural Ombudsperson for Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, a prominent public research university in Lower Saxony, Germany. "In this role, she supports students confidentially in difficult study-related situations." Haufe provides services to student applicants, current students, and alums up to one year post graduation. Haufe has worked at the university since 2014.