Former UC Ombuds Heads to Iran

Andrea Briggs, who recently concluded a short tenure as interim ombuds at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is flying to Iran as part of a civilian diplomacy delegation organized by the international peace group, Fellowship of Reconciliation. Briggs will bring her considerable experience in intractable conflict to open informal, personal dialog where official communications have broken down. Briggs was the university ombuds at UC Riverside for 25 years and president of UCOA in 2003.

If you are interested in contributing to FOR or defraying the cost of Andrea's $4,000 trip, leave a comment and I will forward information.

ICANN Seeks Input on Ombuds

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is seeking community feedback on how it is meeting its Strategic Plan. Among the issues to be surveyed is the work of the ICANN Ombudsman. (ICANN Blog.)

(Related posts ICANN Ombudsman Releases Report; ICANN Ombuds Responds to Criticism.)

Few of us attain the transparency that Frank Fowlie regularly demonstrates. Kudos to him.

New England ACR Spring Conference and Training

The New England Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution will hold its 2007 Annual Conference and Advanced Training at Boston University May 31 through June 1, 2007. The event is promoted to all ADR practitioners, including ombuds. Register by May 18 to avoid late fees. (Conference Info.)

NE-ACR runs a unique ombuds program for anyone dissatisfied with the services of an ADR practitioner in New England. (NE-ACR Ombuds Program.)

Thanks to John Zinsser for the tip.

Job Posting: NIH

The Center for Cooperative Resolution at the National Institutes of Health is accepting applications for an associate Ombudsman. The Office of the Ombudsman in located in Bethesda, MD, and the position pays $79,397 to $121,967 per year, plus relocation expenses. Applications are due by May 29. (USA Jobs.)

This is a rare opportunity to work with some of the most distinguished organizational ombuds in the field.

Responding to "Mobbing" Tactics

The Chronicle of Higher Education features an insightful article on mobbing ("an impassioned, collective campaign by co-workers to exclude, punish, and humiliate a targeted worker." ) According to sociologist, Kenneth Westhues, mobbing occurs most in institutions where workers have high job security, where there are few objective measures of performance, and where there is frequent tension between loyalty to the institution and loyalty to some higher purpose. Westhues recommends that institutions dismantle quasi-judicial bodies, like ethics committees, that let people play judge. He also says that mobbing can often be stopped simply by a firm request. (Chronicle.) More information about bullying and mobbing in higher education at BulliedAcademics.

(Related posts When the Boss is a Bully or Jerk; Advice for Visitors with Job Stress.)

Thanks to Jim Augustine for the tip.

New Ombuds Journal Calls for Articles

The International Ombudsman Association has announced that its nascent peer-reviewed publication is now accepting submissions. The Journal of the International Ombudsman Association (JIOA), will publish online and include scholarly articles and information relevant to the organizational ombuds. Submitted articles will be considered for the inaugural and subsequent issues. More information, including instructions for authors and a description of the review process, is available from the JIOA homepage.

An Ombuds By Any Other Name

The LA Times has an inspirational story about an unusual hospital employee with important and familiar responsibilities. White Memorial Hospital is located in an East LA neighborhood riven by gang conflict. Unlike other urban hospitals which have installed metal detectors or hired armed guards, White Memorial hired Mike Garcia, a 61 year old former gang member to act as a community mediator. Working in and out of the emergency room, Garcia has broken up fights, counseled gang members, separated them, and also comforted those who have been touched by the gang violence. According to Dr. Brian Johnston, chief of emergency services, "Mike definitely has made us more secure." (LA Times.)

Empathetic, discrete, fearless, credible, neutral, informal, effective... Can we claim him as an honorary ombuds?