Alice L. Walton School of Medicine Selects First Ombuds

AWSOM, the five-year-old, private, allopathic medical school in Bentonville, Arkansas, has appointed Kami Gollhofer as its first Ombuds. In this new, part-time role, she will serve a growing student body of almost 400 students and report to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.

International Ombuds Association Seeks New Editor for JIOA

IOA is seeking a new Editor for the Journal of the International Ombuds Association, the profession’s peer-reviewed journal dedicated to scholarship and practice related to Organizational Ombuds. The call follows the decision by Shannon Lynn Burton, the University Ombudsperson at Michigan State University, to step down after a decade leading the publication. The IOA Board is inviting letters of interest from members interested in overseeing the journal’s continued development and supporting research and writing about the field. 

Job Posting: SOS Children's Villages, Somaliland

The Austria-based international development organization for children is hiring National Ombuds in the capital city of Hargeisa. The full-time, 24-month contract position is expected to report to Nandisa Tilayi, the SOS Regional Ombuds for Eastern and Southern Africa.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas Ombuds Releases 2025 Annual Report

David G. Schwartz, CO-OP, the UNLV Ombuds, has published his fifth annual report, summarizing his work during 2025. The office recorded 635 visitors and 952 total contacts, representing a 4.27% increase over 2024 and a 35.61% increase since 2023. Half of all visitors returned for more than one consultation.

American Psychology-Law Society Names First Conference Ombuds

David Carver has been selected to serve as the Conference Ombuds for the professional association also known as Division 41 of the American Psychological Association. He will offer Ombuds services to approximately 900 attendees during the AP-LS meeting in Reno, Nevada, on March 12-14, 2026. While serving on the American Psychological Association Council of Representatives, Carver led the successful effort to create an Ombuds Program for Council members in 2022. 

Save the Dates for Cal Caucus 2026

The California Caucus of College and University Ombuds has announced dates for its 2026 gatherings. The virtual Summer Small Caucus will take place on June 25, 2026, offering members an opportunity to connect informally; details and registration information will be distributed on June 1. The 53rd Annual Cal Caucus take place November 8–11, 2026, at the Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, California. A Request for Presentations will open April 6 and close May 4, and registration for the conference will open July 20.

Podcast: Personal Crisis, Perspective, and Conflict

Kira Nurieli, an Organizational Ombuds and conflict resolution consultant, joined the hosts of the Blessed Be Podcast to discuss how unexpected personal crises can reshape the way people experience and approach conflict. Reflecting on how sudden disruptions challenge assumptions about control and stability, Nurieli discusses how stress can intensify everyday tensions and how stepping away from routine responsibilities can foster greater presence, patience, and compassion in difficult conversations.

Asian Development Bank Announces Next Ombuds

The regional development bank in Metro Manila has selected Anje Schubert as its next Ombudsperson. She follows Wayne Blair, who served in the role for more than eight years. Schubert will lead an IOA-compliant office that provides Ombuds services to all ADB stakeholders and reports to the bank president. The initial appointment will be for three years and may be renewed once.

Job Posting: Harvard University Medical School

The private research university in Cambridge is hiring an Ombuds II to join an office headed by Melissa Brodrick that currently includes Adam Barak Kleinberger, and two consulting Ombuds, Tyler Smith and Howard Gadlin. The search will fill a position held by Lisa Neale, who is retiring.

Prince George's County Public Schools Names Ombuds

Thea Wilson has been appointed the new Ombudsperson for the large school  district in Maryland. She will reopen an office that has been dormant for several years. In the full-time position, Wilson will serve as a neutral intermediary for PGCPS and the broader community, including more than 130,000 students and their families. As the Ombuds, she reports to the District Superintendent's Chief of Staff.

Research Request: Participants for Study on Leadership and Employee Accountability

Bina Patel, an Ombuds, conflict resolution consultant, and IOA Board Member, is recruiting participants for a research study on leadership behaviors and employee accountability. The project is being conducted by graduate researchers in the Industrial & Organizational Psychology program at George Mason University and examines how employees perceive their manager’s leadership behaviors and expectations related to job performance. 

Job Posting: South Dakota State University

The public university in Brookings has opened a search for its next Ombuds. The search will fill a position established in 2016 when Nicole Picconi became the university’s first Ombuds. The part-time (0.45 FTE) position is located within the Office of the President and serves all members of the campus community, including 12,000 students.

Maybe AI Chatbots Won't Replace Ombuds: Part 2

Evidence continues to emerge that indicates artificial intelligence is unlikely to replace Ombuds, at least in the short term: 

ABA Ombuds Committee Signals Pivot to State Legislative Strategy

Following the adoption of Resolution 503 by the American Bar Association House of Delegates endorsing the Organizational Ombuds Practices Act, the ABA’s Ombuds Committee is shifting its focus to state-level strategy. The committee will devote its meeting on March 24, 2026, to a discussion of next steps for advancing the Act through state legislatures, marking the beginning of the effort to translate the ABA endorsement into legislation.

Job Posting: Virginia Health Sciences

Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University is seeking a Senior Training Consultant/Associate Ombudsperson within its Human Resources Organizational Development and Training unit. The full-time role focuses primarily on leadership and workforce development training for faculty and staff while also serving as the Talent Management and Culture Associate Ombudsperson. (It is not clear whether the position reports to Linda R. Archer, the GME Ombudsperson for Virginia Health Sciences.)