Leveraging Queer Theory in the Ombuds Role

22 June 2026

9:00-10:30 AM PT / 12:00-1:30 PM ET / 6:00-7:30 PM CET

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Registration

  • IOA Members: Free
    Member registration includes access to the live webinar and the entire library of on-demand recordings.

  • Non-Members: $250 USD per webinar
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About the Course

Ombuds work is uniquely situated to address the complexities of conflict resolution by navigating the competing perspectives and needs of our visitors.  The four pillars of ombuds Standards of Practice provide a necessary framework to accomplish this directive; at the same time, translating the pillars from conceptual framework to actualized practice is not without challenges. This webinar introduces queer theory as a supplementary tool for ombuds practice. Queer theory is an interdisciplinary framework that evaluates how power dynamics and social structures create and reinforce norms. With a focus on questioning taken-for-granted assumptions and disrupting binary thinking, queer theory can be utilized to analyze complex problems and generative creative solutions. This session will help provide the basics of queer theory and its applicability to ombuds work, as well as practical application through case studies. As two queer ombuds, we hope to share our experiences in our roles to illustrate the efficacy of this model and how each of us can continue to adapt our practices to our ever evolving environments. 


Learning Objectives

After participating in this webinar, participants will be better able to:

  • Identify core concepts of queer theory 
  • Relay how queer theory applies to ombuds work
  • Identify ways to adopt, challenge, and/or synthesize queer theory as it relates to their position

Professional Development Hours

This course has been submitted for 1.5 PDH pending approval. 


About the Instructor


Markku Makinen

Markku Makinen (she/her) has worked in higher education for 5 years, in the areas of student housing and LGBTQ+ student services. She has been a practicing ombuds for over 2 years at a large public university, and her career in higher education has provided a plethora of experience in navigating conflict resolution from many different perspectives. Within her work as an ombuds, Markku has developed a particular interest in developing her practice in mediation, a service she launched for her office last fall.


Closed Captioning and Languages for Online Webinars & Meetings

IOA is dedicated to making meetings and content more accessible. All IOA Live Webinars will offer closed captioning. This service will also be available for IOA committee meetings upon request. Participation for all is encouraged; if you have any questions please email the IOA office at [email protected].

This course is presented in English. Captions are available in English by default. Individual participants may choose to see their captions translated into one of the following languages: Arabic, Bangla (beta), Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Czech, Danish (beta), Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French (France), German, Hebrew (beta), Hindi (beta), Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian (beta), Polish, Portuguese, Romanian (beta), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Tamil (beta), Turkish, Ukrainian, or Vietnamese.


IOA Online Learning & Virtual Event Policies

Webinar Cancellation Policy: 

Notification of cancellation must be submitted in writing via email to [email protected]All cancellation requests received 21 days in advance of the event start date, will be issued a refund less a $10 USD processing feeNo refunds will be given thereafter except in the event of extenuating circumstances. Requests for registration cancellation must be submitted in writing via email to [email protected].

Substitute attendees will be permitted. Substitution requests must be in writing via email to [email protected] no later than two days before the event's start date. If you have any questions, please contact the office at [email protected].

Nonpayment Policy:
Full payment of registration fees is required 7 days before the start of a course. If payment is not made prior to the start of the course, event details will not be released to you and your registration may be canceled. The IOA office will contact registered individuals with a balance due before canceling their registration. If you have any questions, please contact the office at [email protected] or by phone at +1-206-209-5275.
 
Subject to Change or Cancellation:

All IOA Courses are subject to change and/or cancellation. 

IOA asks that all registered attendees confirm system requirements and test their computers prior to the start of each virtual session. If the Zoom or other platform used experiences a failure that is beyond our control, IOA may reschedule the session. If an attendee experiences a technical failure on their end, and the session is being recorded, attendees may watch the recorded session.  If the session is not recorded, no refund will be issued.

Recording Acknowledgement:
Each virtual session may be recorded. These recordings may be provided for later viewing and may be used for promotional purposes, advertising, and other print and online materials at the sole discretion of IOA. By registering for a virtual session you consent to be recorded by IOA when attending live sessions.

Participant Agreement:
IOA asks that all participants of any IOA course review the Organizational Values and Community Norms prior to attending. 

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IOA Organizational Values & Community Norms