Job Posting: United Nations, Vienna

The Office of the UN Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking a Regional Ombudsman. The position heads the Regional Ombudsman’s Office in Austria, which is one of eight regional branches of UNOMS. Gang Li has held the position since 2011. The Regional Ombudsman reports directly to the Chief of Service and works under the general supervision of the UN Ombudsman. The position is expected to start in January 2025.

Eastern Michigan University Appoints New Ombuds

The public university in Ypsilanti has announced the appointment of Kathryn Farkas as its new Ombuds Officer. She follows Julia Heck, who recently moved to an administrative position at Cal State Channel Islands. Farkas will serve a student body of more than 21,000. The office often handles more than 500 cases a year.

ENOHE International Relations Committee Holds Constituting Meeting

The European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education's International Relations Committee has held its very first meeting in mid-April 2024. Established by the ENOHE Board in fall 2023, the IRC is part of the association’s new governance structures. The IRC and other new committees will support ENOHE's efforts to promote the idea and concept of the Ombuds service through a variety of activities.

Cal Caucus Extends Deadline for 2024 Proposals

The California Caucus of College and University Ombuds is extending the deadline to submit a session proposal for this year's Cal Caucus by one week.

Organizers said:

Job Posting: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

The federal department that provides healthcare to military veterans is hiring three Program Specialists in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. The full-time, fully remote positions provide confidential and impartial assistance to VA employees with workplace conficts and concerns. (The positions are within a team directed by Katie Manderson, an experienced Ombuds and longtime IOA volunteer leader.) The positions also provide ADR training and mentor collateral duty conflict resolution practitioners.

Job Posting: U.S. Department of State

The Office of the Ombudsman at the State Department is hiring two Lead Human Resource Specialists (Employee Relations) in Washington, DC. The new positions report to the State Department Ombuds, Jeanne Juliao, and will provide Ombuds services to Department employees with workplace conflicts, including training on the Department Anti-Bullying Policy. (Earlier this year, the Department announced that the Office of the Ombudsman would receive funding to tackle bullying for the first time. It appears this search is part of that initiative.) Occasional travel is required and there is an opportunity for telework.

Job Re-Posting: Providence College

The private Catholic university in Rhode Island has extended the search for its first Faculty Ombuds. The full-time position will create a program to serve over 350 faculty members adhering to IOA standards. Initially, the search was expected to close earlier this year.

Ombuds Offer Guidance for Faculty on Procedural Fairness

Three Ombuds are the authors of an article in Inside Higher Education: "Are Faculty Members Fair?" The trio, Heather McGhee Peggs, Julie Boncompain, and Brent Epperson have all worked as University Ombuds. Drawing on the "fairness triangle," they recommend five things that faculty members can do to enhance procedural fairness in their interactions with graduate students: 

Utah Valley University Selects Next Ombuds

Shawn Nielsen has been hired as UVU's new Assistant Director - Conflict Resolution/Ombudsman. He follows Talatou Abdoulaye, who held the position for the past five years, and will serve a student population of about 37,000. 

University of Iowa Adds an Assistant Ombuds

Last October, Corey P. Pass joined the Ombuds Office at Iowa City as the Assistant Ombudsperson. In this new role, he reports to University Ombudsperson, Chanelle Reese, and works with faculty, staff, and students, including all of UI Healthcare. He also joins Meenakshi Gigi Durham, who has been the half-time Faculty Ombuds since July 2021.

Job Posting: United Nations, Geneva

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking a Senior Conflict Resolution Officer Consultant to be based in Switzerland. The position will provide Ombuds services to employees of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Senior Conflict Resolution Officer reports directly to the Chief of Service, UNOMS and works under the general supervision of the UN Ombudsman.

Kansas State University Seeks Next Faculty Ombuds

K-State is seeking applications for a Faculty Ombudsperson. The university has three Ombuds for employee concerns. The collateral-duty Ombuds serve staggered, three-year terms. The search will replace Tara Coleman and will join Jared Meitler and Alfred Cochran in the role. Meanwhile, Assistant Dean of Diversity, Recruitment, and Retention Kimathi Choma provides Ombuds services to students. The current vacancy is restricted to current, tenured faculty members. (K-State Today.)

Free IOA Webinar Today Explores Ombuds Powers

In a webinar this afternoon, Mary Rowe will discuss Organizational Ombuds sources of power and influence, values, and effectiveness and how the IOA survey has been helpful to individual organizational ombuds and to the profession. The event is free, today, 25 April, at 12:00 PM PT / 3:00 PM ET. (IOA Webinar Info.)

UC Law San Francisco Selects Ombuds

Theodore ("Teddy") Albiniak has been hired as the Ombudsperson for the University of California's law school in San Francisco (formerly known as UC Hastings College of Law). In this new, part-time position, Albiniak will establish a program to serve faculty, staff, and students, practicing to IOA standards. He comes to the position from San Francisco State University, where he currently serves as the Interim Ombuds (since January 2024) and Director of Strategic Initiatives.

David Heaton: Former Ombuds for Ohio University

David Heaton, who served as the University Ombudsman for Ohio from 1982 to 1991, passed away last month at the age of 88. Heaton joined the faculty at OU in 1969 and retired in 2004. In addition to his work in academia, he was a forty year member of Klanwatch and The Southern Poverty Law Center, and served as President of the Southeast Ohio Chapter of the ACLU for over a decade. Heaton was selected as the first recipient of the California Caucus of University and College Ombuds' Pete Small Award. (Ohio News.)