JAN. 26, 2023 This has been a busy season at the Ombuds Office. I had originally planned to publish a post discussing the release of our 2022 annual report (indeed, it is mostly written), but due to a high level of volume of visitors and other work over the past week, the report isn’t ready
Involvement Fair: Outreach with an Unexpected Benefit | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsJAN. 10, 2023 Over the past few weeks, I have been prepping a new Honors seminar about jazz history, which has let me become more acquainted with music that I have long adored. It also offered me some insights that I can deploy in my day job as Ombuds, via the opportunity to critically consider
Leading by Listening: A Big Band Jazz Odyssey | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsDEC. 22, 2022 The semester is over. All of the students who were going to walk across the stage at Winter 2022 Commencement have done it and started their next chapter. The days are short, but just getting longer. All this means one thing: We are about to say goodbye to 2022. In the past
Reviewing Your Year: Wrapping Up, Looking Ahead | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsDEC. 12, 2022 As we hurtle toward the end of the semester, people are busy, but I would like to take a moment to share something that should be timely. My most recent post, on how Mary Rowe’s concept of microaffirmations might have a place in shifting culture, generated more interest than anything I have written
Why, What, How: Three Questions We Need to Answer about Culture Change | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsNOV. 28, 2022 Lately, I have been speaking with many folks on campus about our culture and how to change it for the better. I alluded to this in my last post, which posited that the grass isn’t necessarily greener anywhere else. Wherever you might end up, you will likely face obstacles to your happiness. And here,
Changing Our Culture, One Step at a Time | From the Ombuds Read More »
authorNOV. 15, 2022 As part of my drive to be the best ombuds for UNLV that I can (and, I won’t deny it, because they are extremely interesting people), I’ve cultivated as many opportunities as I can to speak with ombuds at other colleges, laboratories, and universities. I’m writing about this today because I spent time
Is the Grass Really Greener? | From the Ombuds Read More »
author, From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsOCT. 31, 2022 Last week, the Ombuds Office released its third quarterly report, which contains a wealth of information about the work the office has been doing in recent months. The most basic question the report answers is, “Is the office getting used?” The response is a definitive “yes.” From July 1 to September 30, 2022,
Just Released! Ombuds Office 2022 Third Quarterly Report | From the Ombuds Read More »
author, From the Ombuds ArchiveOCT. 24, 2022 Ombuds Week, which UNLV celebrated two weeks ago, provided many opportunities for members of the campus community to engage with the Ombuds Office. Whether it was at our Difficult Conversations roleplay workshop or with our Escape Room, students, faculty, and staff got to learn more about healthy ways to resolve conflict. They
Why Not the Visit the Ombuds? | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsI’ve got another post up on From the Ombuds. This one is about the exciting week of activities our office has planned from October 10-14: Each year, the ombuds profession celebrates Ombuds Day on the second Thursday of October. Intended to educate and raise awareness about the nature ombuds work, the day is commonly marked
Ombuds Week is Nearly Here | From the Ombuds Read More »
ombudsI have a post up on From the Ombuds today about an ongoing professional development series that I am leading at UNLV: This fall, UNLV is offering a large number of professional development workshops for employees, and the Ombuds Office is happy to take part in the Human Resources Professional Development program (HRPD). Our six-part
The Working Better Together Series Is Happening This Fall | From the Ombuds Read More »
authorSEP. 12, 2022 I’m not going to lie to you. It feels great to have an advocate. Someone standing tall, standing strong, with a loud, clear voice fighting for you and only you. Determined to make sure you get what you have earned. Someone eloquent, sure, and fierce. Or at the very least, someone who
Finding Your Strongest Advocate | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsSEP. 5, 2022 With the start of the semester, I am getting to know many new faculty, staff, and students. One of the biggest questions I get (after my new acquaintance struggles over the word “ombuds”) is, “What does an ombuds do, anyway?” First things first: how do you say it? This is one that
What Does an Ombuds Do (And How Do You Say It)? | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsThere are a ton of interesting programs being sponsored by the Ombuds Office this fall. In my latest From the Ombuds post, I share some news about them: Last Monday, I was privileged to take part in this year’s New Faculty Orientation. The event, organized by the Faculty Center, welcomed well over one hundred new
New Semester, New Programs at the Ombuds Office | From the Ombuds Read More »
ombudsAUG. 11, 2022 I recently participated in a three-day virtual International Ombuds Association core course on effective communication. While I have many, many takeaways from it, there is one that I want to share right away: Marshall Goldsmith’s concept of feedforward. When workshop leader Vikram Kapoor introduced it to the group, I saw immediately the potential of feedforward
A New Way to Grow: Feedforward | New From the Ombuds Read More »
author, From the Ombuds ArchiveJUL. 21, 2022 The Ombuds Office has just released its Quarterly Summary covering the second quarter of 2022. This brief report reviews the work that was done in the office from April to June, 2022. I will summarize a few main observations here, and I encourage you to read the report if you would like to learn
Ombuds Office Quarterly Summary: April to June, 2022 Released | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsAs Ombuds, I spend much of my time working with people one-on-one, whether it is in consultations or conflict coaching. I also dedicate a good part of my time to developing and presenting workshops to campus groups. I would like to tell you why I offer workshops, and explain what they entail. My overarching goal
Learn About Ombuds Interactive Workshops | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsJUN. 30, 2022 The International Ombuds Association outlines four fundamental principles that buttress the practice of organizational ombuds. They include independence, impartiality, informality, and confidentiality. I would like to talk a little about what confidentiality is and why it is such an important part of any ombuds office. According to the IOA’s Code of Ethics, confidentiality “is the defining characteristic of
Confidentiality and the Ombuds Office | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsJUN. 24, 2022 As June 1, the first anniversary of my assuming the Ombuds role, approached, I wanted to take a few minutes to share some reflections on my first year in the position. That I’m finally writing this more than three weeks later is evidence that I have been, and continue to be, busy
Thoughts on My First Year as Ombuds | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombuds, writingThe Ombuds Office has just released its Quarterly Summary covering the first quarter of 2022. This brief report, true to its title, summarizes the work that was done in the office from January to March, 2022. I’d like to share a few of the most salient points with you here, and encourage you to read the
Ombuds Office Quarterly Summary: January to March, 2022 Released | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsMAY. 10, 2022 It’s understandable. Maybe you started your new job with a feeling of hope, looking forward to making new friends. Maybe you thought your new boss was going to be better than your old one. Maybe you knew, for sure, your supervisor—who has had nothing but praise for you since you started—would be
When Should I See the Ombuds? (And Who Can Stop Me?) | From the Ombuds Read More »
author, From the Ombuds Archive, ombuds