Strategic Alliance & Partnership Committee

Mission

Identify, develop, and—with Board approval—implement alliances and partnerships to promote and protect the ombuds profession. Seek organizations important to the ombuds role and, among other activities, participate as presenters/exhibitors, co-author articles, and co-present at educational efforts.

Participants

Chair:

  • Sana Manjeshwar, CO-OP, Chevron

Committee Members

  • Sarah Espinosa, Arbitrator Mediator Ombuds, SME Dispute Resolution, LLC

  • Bryan Hanson, Ombudsperson, Graduate School at Virginia Tech
  • Dr. Robin Kimbrough, JD, MDIV, Chaplain, Special Advisor to the President on United Methodist Affairs, Director Office of the Ombuds, Meharry Medical College
  • Bruce MacAllister, Ombuds, International Foundation for Online Responsibility, Board Member Liaison to ABA DR Section Ombuds Legislative Subcommittee
  • Eliane Markoff, University Ombuds, Bentley University
  • Elizabeth Stone, University Ombuds, Gallaudet University
  • Katie Swanson, Center for Conflict Resolution, IOA Ombuds Day Liaison
  • Julie Weber, Ombuds, Montgomery College

Current Projects

  • Developing an ongoing list of organizations for the Committee to consider as allies and partners
  • Working to build supportive connections with the American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section and the Association for Conflict Resolution; exploring connections with the Emerging Ombuds Network
  • Created a matrix/rubric to connect with organizations including the following categories:
    • Influence Organizations: organizations that the IOA deems important for purposes of helping to build greater awareness of the organizational ombuds concept, e.g. National Association of College and University Attorneys 
      Goals:  Educate, inform, and recruit to support OO model
    • Shared Goal Organizations: organizations that share similar values and goals and may use some of the same tools, e.g. ABA DR Section Ombuds Committee, Association for Conflict Resolution, Emerging Ombuds Network  
      Goals: Form collaborations, leverage influence and awareness to expand audiences, incorporate successful ideas and approaches, share workload and planning efforts, expand brainpower and experience, and increase IOA membership
    • Regional Ombuds Organizations: regional- or program/sector-focused ombuds practice groups, e.g. Coalition of Federal Ombuds, European Ombuds Group     
      Goals: Provide support, gather information about sector and regional needs, challenges and opportunities, provide consistency in practice approaches and standards application
  • Supporting Ombuds Day activities with direct liaison to ABA DR Section Ombuds Committee Ombuds Day group

To Join the Committee

IOA members interested in joining this committee please send an email to the committee co-chair Roy Baroff.

Last Updated 20 May 2020