Job Posting: Central State University

The public land-grant university in Wilberforce, Ohio (the state's only HBCU), is has reopened its search for a 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 February, CSU announced that Jonathan Hairston had been hired for the position. An updated website for the office no longer includes his name.

Call for Participants: Ombuds in Higher Education

The European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education is updating a landmark survey. In 2017, ENOHE published a monograph by Rob Behrens, "Being an Ombudsman in Higher Education." The document has been cited many times by ENOHE and elsewhere, and it is now due for an update. ENOHE is inviting participants to complete a questionnaire to map the strength and diversity of Ombuds in higher education in Europe and beyond.

Meet the Ombuds for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas

In November 2021, Lori LaBrie was appointed the inaugural Ombuds for TRS of Texas, the sixth largest public pension fund in the U.S. She provides services to TRS members and retirees with benefits issues and practices to IOA standards. 

Minnesota Legislature Proposes Ombuds for Homeowners Associations

The Minnesota House of Representatives approved an omnibus budget bill that includes language to create a new Ombuds to facilitate disputes between residents and homeowner associations. Unlike HOA Ombuds in other states, the Minnesota proposal does not grant the Ombuds investigatory powers. Other features echo standards used by Organizational Ombuds, including independence, informality, trend reporting, and dispute resolution expertise.

Job Posting: University of Western Ontario

The public research university in London, Ontario, is hiring an Associate Ombudsperson. In addition to Ombuds work the position will also be responsible for "key operational functions" (e.g. coordinating financial processes, managing appointment scheduling, and overseeing front-line communications). The position will report to the the Acting Ombudsperson, Joan Finegan. and and join Associate Ombuds, Stephanie Bolingbroke.

IOA Announces Bestows 2025 President's Awards

Last week, the International Ombuds Association Board President, Sarah Klaper, announced the 2025 President’s Award. The recipients were:

IOA Publishes Long-Awaited Ombuds Book

The International Ombuds Association has published its first book: The Organizational Ombuds: Foundations, Fundamentals & The Future. Written by practicing Ombuds, the book offers a thorough and current overview of the profession. Edited by Shannon L. Burton (Ombuds at Michigan State University) and Loraleigh Keashly (Professor of Communication at Wayne State University), the book is a comprehensive compilation of the interdisciplinary and nuanced history, theory and practices found within the field.

American Educational Research Association Adds a Conference Ombuds

Kamaria B. Porter will join Shannon Lynn Burton as Ombuds for AERA's annual conference, April 23-27, 2025. The professional association for academic researchers implemented an Ombuds program for conference attendees, staff, exhibitors, vendors, and others in 2019. Porter is Porter is the Associate Ombuds at Northwestern University and a long-time AERA annual meeting attendee. Burton is the University Ombudsperson at Michigan State University and was one of two inaugural Ombuds for AERA. (AERA Newsroom.)

IOA Elects 2025 Board of Directors

At its annual conference last week, the International Ombuds Association announced the results of its latest election for the Board of Directors. One new board member was voted onto the board after an unprecedented run-off election in early April. The new board member and four reelected incumbents for three-year terms starting after following the IOA Annual Meeting on 16 April 2025.

University of California Santa Barbara Selects an Associate Ombuds

In September 2025, Pati Montojo was joined the Ombuds team at UCSB as an Associate Ombuds. The filled a position vacated by Don Lubach and reports to the Campus Ombuds, Caroline Adams. Montojo will work with faculty, staff, and student visitors.

University of Utah Names Four Ombuds

The U of U has reopened its Office of the Ombuds with four collateral duty Ombuds: Karen M. Gunning, Clinical Professor of Pharmacotherapy and Associate Dean of Community Engagement; Patricia K. Kerig, Professor of Clinical Psychology; Maureen Murtaugh, Professor of Internal Medicine; and Trina G. Rich, Director of University & Academic Affairs Policy Administration. Together, they provide Ombuds services to students, trainees, faculty, post-doctoral fellows, staff, and other employees, including University of Utah Health,l (Utah Ombuds.)

World Bank Retains a Consultant Ombuds

Diana Vermeul has been hired as an Ombuds Consultant with the World Bank Group. She joins four other Ombuds: Caroline Nekesa Wanyonyi in Bangkok, Thailand; Doris Cecilia Campos-Infantino in Washington, DC; Axel R. Peuker in Washington, DC; and Jules Baughns in Nairobi; Kenya. Vermeul moves into the position from the World Bank Respectful Workplace Advisors Program, where she has worked for the past two years. She received the IOA President's Award in 2024.

ABA Panel Aims to Inform Corporate Counsel About Ombuds

On May 14, 2025, the American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section will offer a webinar on "The Organizational Ombuds – Why Your Company Needs One and What Counsel Should Know." The panel will feature Sana Manjeshwar, Global leader of Chevron´s Office of Ombuds, Steven Prevaux, Faculty Staff Ombuds at the University of South Florida, Mark C. Fava, Vice President and Ombudsman for The Boeing Company, and Chuck Doran, Executive Director of MWI.

SUNY Oneonta Debuts Ombuds Program

The State University of New York at Oneonta has unveiled an Office of the Ombudsman to serve faculty, staff, and students. Michael Kush, the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students has been named the inaugural Ombuds. The new program explicitly practices to IOA standards. 

University of Houston Names Next Staff/Faculty Ombuds

Arturo E. Hernandez has been appointed the next Ombudsperson for faculty and staff at the public research university in Texas. He follows Richard Bond, who served in the role since 2006 and supplements the work of& Funda Sahin, the Ombuds for graduate and professional students at the public research university in Texas.