Thank you for attending IOA’s inaugural virtual September Symposium – Ombuds as Change Agents: Ombuds Intersections in the Modern World. This program invited ombuds to explore topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and trauma, and how those intersect in practice. This event will took place over two half-days to better meet the needs of our international and busy practitioner communities.    

Topics Included:  

• Intergenerational diversity 

• Indigenous practices 

• Neurodivergence

• Incorporating DEIB into workshop design 

• DEIB in the international context

• Trauma-Informed Ombuds Practice

• Facilitated small group case study work tying in the learning from the day (organized by level of practice: advanced, intermediate, newer, new,  and aspiring)  

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 Keynote Speaker: Sunn m'Cheaux (pronounced sʌn mɪˈʃoʊ | sən məˈshō | sun mi-show)

Gullah/Geechee linguist, activist, and instructor at Harvard University.  

Sunn m’Cheaux is a native South Carolinian whose work as an academic, artist, advocate, social media creative, and influencer is rooted in life lessons learned from his traditional Gullah/Geechee upbringing. He is Harvard University’s first and only instructor of his native language, Gullah, teaching a course curriculum that he founded. Sunn is an in-demand social commentator, cultural competency consultant, and public speaker whose media credits include HBO Vice, Al Jazeera Plus, CBS International, BBC, WIRED Magazine, Discovery Channel, Netflix, and he is a published columnist for The Root Magazine.

Pre-work: The symposium will also include pre-work to allow attendees to have a shared, baseline of knowledge.  Pre-work and attending this symposium will provide professional development hours (PDHs) that can be applied toward the new IOA micro-credential in DEIB that is currently being developed, and also CO-OP recertification.   

A note about creating a safe learning environment for all participants:  IOA has created this learning experience as an opportunity for ombuds to advance their understanding of these issues and apply them to practice.  And we also recognize that DEIB learning benefits from individualized work and personal reflection that takes place outside the confines of formal education and group work.  As Resmaa Menakem reminded us at the 2022 Annual Conference, there are no shortcuts or workarounds; we all need to move through clean pain and healing.  

Course Access

You must be registered for the event for access. Login to access pre-work, Zoom links, recordings, and handouts.  

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 All Times Are in Pacific Time

Speakers

Tuba Bilecik

Tuba is a highly accomplished mediator, outsourced ombuds, conflict management consultant, and trainer based in Washington, DC. With a wealth of experience in mediating civil, commercial, employment, and workplace disputes, she collaborates closely with organizations providing expert advice on effective conflict management and fostering a positive and respectful workplace environment. Tuba has successfully set up outsourced ombuds programs for various private companies, effectively providing impartial and confidential dispute resolution services. She serves as a mediator for the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman of the World Bank Group, Global Mediation Panel member at the Office of the Ombudsman for United Nations Funds and Programmes, and an ADR consultant for the Council of Europe.
Having started her ADR career as a mediation pioneer in Turkey, Tuba has worked with diverse clients worldwide, including international organizations, private companies, NGOs, government agencies, and individuals. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and was awarded the prestigious Weinstein JAMS International Fellowship in 2017. Tuba holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Marmara University and an LL.M. in ADR degree from the University of Southern California.

Amanda Dean

Amanda is Ombuds for Faculty and Staff at Austin Community College. Originally from Atlanta, Amanda attended Kennesaw State University's Master's in Conflict Management program, graduating in 2015. During her MSCM Amanda learned about the work of an Ombuds and immediately felt a calling. In 2017 she co-founded the Emerging Ombuds Network and in 2022 joined the IOA Board of Directors.  Amanda plays Ultimate Frisbee, has a dog named Navia, and was diagnosed with learning disorders at the age of 15. 

Twillea Evans-Carthen

Twillea is University Ombuds Officer, Director of Ombuds Services for California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) has been Director of Ombuds for over six (6) years, as a College Administrator at CSUSB for over 35 years, and over 25 years as a Professor/Lecturer. Evans-Carthen has a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, San Bernardino and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach.

Evans-Carthen is an active member of the International Ombuds Association (IOA), California Caucus of College and University Ombuds (CCCUO), CSU Systemwide Ombuds, Southern California Ombuds Association, Inland Empire American Society for Public Administration (IE ASPA), and Society in Human Resources Management (SHRM).  Evans-Carthen serves on the board for The Inland Ivy Foundation and League of Women Voters San Bernardino Area, active member of American Association of University Women, and Life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Evans-Carthen was the recipient of the 2023 CSUSB Black Faculty, Student Staff Association Pioneer Alumni Legacy of Excellence Award, 2022 Community Service Award from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Pi Rho Chapter and 2022 Educational Leadership and Community Service Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Eta Nu Omega Chapter and The Inland Ivy Foundation. Also, she is the recipient of the Citizen of Achievement Award from League of Women Voters San Bernardino Area, CSUSB Distinguish Alumna Award.

Aaron Footman

Aaron Footman III is the Supervisory Conflict Prevention and Resolution Specialist at the FDA. He has thirteen years of professional experience in conflict management and resolution in the federal, non-profit, and private sectors.

Before coming to the FDA, Aaron served as a Senior Associate Ombudsman for nearly three years at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. At USPTO, Aaron was a confidential resource who advocated for fair process and equitable outcomes. As an Ombuds, Aaron created an emotionally safe and brave space where ALL employees felt seen, valued, and understood. Through psychoeducation and coaching, he helped employees normalize, engage in, and manage conflict through conversations and connections. As a change management leader, he focused on educating the workforce on imperative diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) topics and promoting allyship across the agency.

Before becoming an Ombudsman, Aaron served as the Acting Regional Outreach Officer for the Eastern Regional Outreach Office (USPTO) to close the innovation gap among women, veterans, minorities, and differently-abled applicants who apply for patents and trademarks. He also worked as the Regional Offices' liaison in the Office of Under Secretary (USPTO). In this role, he promoted progressive change. He monitored the implementation of strategic program planning, assessment, performance measurement and analysis, process improvement, and trend identification efforts, which guided and governed management in the regions.

Aaron holds a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) from Liberty University, a Master's in Public Administration (MPA) from Strayer's University, and a B.A. in Business from Bowie State University. He resides in Washington, DC, with his rambunctious yet highly loyal dog, James. He is passionate about his "faith walk," personal growth, traveling, attending cultural events, family, and extreme sports. 

Marlo Goldstein-Hode

Marlo Goldstein Hode currently serves as the Director of Conflict Resolution and Mediation Services for the University of Missouri St. Louis, housed within the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  She holds a courtesy faculty position in the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri – Columbia.  She is the co-author of DEI 2.0 – A Toolkit for Building Your Own Online Diversity Course. As a scholar, she has publications in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters on various topics including sexual harassment, neurodiversity, racial issues on campus, and the effectiveness of online professional development courses.

Marlo received her BA in Communication from North Carolina State University, an MA in Intercultural Communication from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, an LLM in Dispute Resolution from the University of Missouri School of Law, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication with a minor in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri.

Derrick Johnson

Derrick currently holds the position of Ombudsman at Florida State College at Jacksonville, and has worked in the areas of education and counseling for over 15 years. It was not his intention to work in education; he originally was a Director of television at WALB-TV in Albany, GA; however, the education profession chose him, (which makes him a 3^rd generation educator). He has worked steadfastly since in the areas of student equality and achievement.

Derrick is an experienced student service professional who partners with students, parents, faculty, staff and administration to offer superior quality services in assisting students with navigating their academic, social and career pathways. After spending over a decade working in education and counseling, the position of Ombudsman has allowed him to focus those previous skills into assisting with the development of policies and processes that continue to build equality among program stakeholders.  

Jenn Mahony

Jenn is the Boston Children’s Hospital Ombuds Office Director. She has 20 years of conflict resolution and conflict resiliency work as an ombuds, mediator, facilitator, conflict coach, and educator. She focuses on restorative practices so that people can feel successful at work and in their working relationships. She obtained her J.D. from Emory University School of Law in 2001, worked as a dispute resolution professional and ombuds in New Zealand for almost 10 years, and was most recently an associate ombudsman at the National Institutes of Health. She is a member of the International Ombuds Association and the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand, where she is a fellow in arbitration and on the AMINZ mediation panel. She is a frequent presenter and educator on conflict resolution and building conflict resiliency at work.

Mike Rozinsky

Mike and Dan Young work together, across the Atlantic. Through the When & How Studios project they help create participatory experiences and meaningful conversations that connect and activate groups of people around the world. They work online, in-person, and everywhere in between.

For 23 years and counting, Mike has partnered to create impact through a variety of conflict management, people development, facilitation, change enablement, visual storytelling, restorative justice, and organizational development practices and workshops. Mike consults with clients locally and globally, serves as an external organizational ombuds as part of the ombuds teams at multiple organizations and universities, and is a confidential coach and dialogue facilitator at Bravely. He holds a graduate certificate in conflict resolution from the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMB) and is a Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner (CO-OP®) through the International Ombuds Association.

Christina Tay

Christina works as a freelance dispute resolver with a background as an organisational ombuds at an academic institution and the head of a client service providing ombuds services across numerous government agencies.  She is currently involved in the IOA Ombuds mentoring programme which she thoroughly enjoys.  Christina has been involved with restorative justice for many years and thoroughly enjoyed traveling to Dublin, Ireland to participate in a Maynooth University innovation lab on the topic of RJ: Public Education in August 2022.  The other areas that Christina has practised in as a mediator is Family dispute resolution, International Student mediation, and adjudication as well as Employment facilitation, mediation, and restorative practices.  She was also a public member of the NZ Media Council for a number of years which is a non-governmental organisation which exists to uphold standards in the New Zealand media industry and promote freedom of speech in New Zealand.

Dan Young

Dan and Mike Rozinsky work together, across the Atlantic. Through the When & How Studios project they help create participatory experiences and meaningful conversations that connect and activate groups of people around the world. They work online, in-person, and everywhere in between.

In the last 20 years, Dan has tinkered with network engineering, collided with consulting, played in product strategy and fallen into entrepreneurship. By reflecting on all his experience Dan has developed his own organizational development practice called Needs Workshop; through which he supports invitational change, offers consulting with a curious approach, and facilitates gatherings to transform the way people come together at work.

FAQs and Technology Questions

Technical Failure Policy: Check Your Tech

Make sure your computer or laptop speakers are properly connected and working prior to the conference, and confirm they are not muted or turned off. If your audio ever cuts out during a session, you can check it by clicking the up arrow next to the microphone icon in your Zoom window. Make sure the selected "Speaker" device is correct, and troubleshoot your sound by clicking "Test Speakers & Microphone."

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