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IOA Strategic Alliance & Partnership Committee

About the Strategic Alliance & Partnership Committee and Their 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

Interim Chair:

  • Sana Manjeshwar, CO-OP, Chevron

Committee Members

  • Twillea Evans-Carthen, Director, Ombuds Services, California State University, San Bernardino
  • Bryan Hanson, Ombudsperson, Graduate School at Virginia Tech
  • Robin Kimrough, College Chaplain & Special Advisor to the President on United Methodist Affairs, Meharry Medical College
  • Eliane Markoff, University Ombuds, Bentley University
  • Nadine Philp, Masters Candidate - Conflict & Dispute Resolution at University of Oregon, School of Law
  • Anu Rao, Ph.D., ROI Solutions, LLC
  • Jennifer Swann, Lehigh University
  • Katie Swanson Decker, Operations Support Specialist, Air New Zealand
  • Julie Weber, Ombuds, Montgomery College
  • Diana Wu, Ombuds Analyst, Chevron

Accomplishments 2019-2020

  • Developed IOA Conference scholarship for new and aspiring ombuds
  • Provided IOA support and developed programming to participate in Ombuds Day 2019
  • Supported IOA exhibitors at several conferences including ACR and USOA
  • Identified and prioritize organizations for IOA to build connections with

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

If you are interested in joining this or any other committee, please visit our Volunteer Opportunities page to learn more about available positions and complete our Volunteer Interest Form.

Volunteer Interest Form