This message is sent on behalf of the AEA Ombuds Team from MWI.

The Ombuds Office Is Open Today from 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET!

Have a work or academic-related concern? The ombuds can help. Today, from 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET, drop in to have a confidential chat with the ombuds for up to 15 minutes on a first-come, first-served basis. This is an informal opportunity for all members, including student members, to learn how the ombuds resource works and how and when it might be relevant to you, as well as to receive early, supportive guidance on communication or workplace/academic challenges before they escalate.

If you are unsure how the ombuds can help or whether your situation is appropriate for ombuds support, feel free to drop in and learn more. If our brief discussion uncovers a more significant issue, we will be happy to arrange a full-length appointment for another time that works for you. Rest assured, all drop-ins will remain strictly confidential, including the identities of participants, given that the ombuds will meet with people one at a time, and the names of those in the waiting room are not disclosed.

Join at any time during the hour using the link below: https://mwi-org.zoom.us/j/84334178662.

Organizational Ombuds Team Recognition

We are pleased to share that Dr. Brent Epperson, a member of our Ombuds team, has been appointed Co-Editor of the Journal of the International Ombuds Association (JIOA), the leading scholarly publication dedicated to organizational ombuds practice.

The appointment was announced by the International Ombuds Association (IOA) Board of Directors. Dr. Epperson will serve alongside Dr. Laura Armstrong, succeeding Dr. Shannon Lynn Burton, who led the journal for more than a decade.

Dr. Epperson is an assistant professor in the School of Conflict Studies and co-chair of the Center for Informal Dispute Resolution at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. He brings more than ten years of experience as an organizational ombuds serving higher education institutions, professional associations, and international organizations. His work bridges professional practice and scholarship, with a focus on ombuds practice, public administration and policy, and fairness in institutional governance.

We are proud to have access to Brent's expertise through our Ombuds Resource. This appointment reflects the caliber of professionals available through the resource and underscores our commitment to providing members with trusted, confidential support for navigating concerns, questions, conflicts, and challenges.

As always, members are encouraged to contact any member of the Ombuds team for confidential, independent, impartial, and informal assistance through https://www.mwi.org/aea-ombuds.

What Is the AEA Ombuds Resource and How Can It Help Me?

The ombuds resource provides AEA members with an independent, confidential, impartial, and informal source to manage, address, and surface concerns related to work or study. If you are curious to learn more about the ombuds resource, check out this brief article that describes this free service.