Skip to content Skip to main navigation Report an accessibility issue

Ombuds office is fully staffed – Welcome Nellie Haddad!

By

The UTK Office of Ombuds Services welcomes Nellie Haddad, Ph.D, as our new Associate University Ombudsperson!

Nellie joins University Ombudsperson and Director, Lisa Yamagata-Lynch, in empowering graduate students, staff, and faculty to constructively navigate challenges relating to their experiences at the University of Tennessee. Nellie brings to this position several years’ ombuds and mediation experience; she is also a Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner® with the International Ombuds Association (IOA). She joins us joins us after serving as Senior Associate Ombuds with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, where she found joy in working in a team ombuds environment. Previously, Nellie established the Ombuds office and served as University Ombudsperson at the University of Wyoming from 2022-2024.

As an Ombuds, Nellie believes that:

“Conflict is unavoidable, and can be uncomfortable, and in the extreme, hurtful. Yet, it is also the path to growth and change. Rather than shun conflict, I encourage visitors to embrace it as an opportunity. If we approach others with genuine curiosity, with questions rather than demands, with openness rather than judgement, we can circumvent escalation and open channels for communication and resolution.”

Nellie holds a PhD and BA in English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley, as well as a Master’s in International Studies from the University of South Carolina and, most recently, a master’s in Mediation & Applied Conflict Studies from Vermont’s Champlain College. During her studies, she interned for the U.S. Department of State at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, and the Middle East Human Rights Desk. Nellie hails most recently from Williamsburg, Virginia, and dotes on her two dogs, Zoe (Australian Shepherd) and Halley (Stabyhoun).

In other news – we are currently accepting outreach and education requests for Fall 2025.  Take note: Our available September & October slots are filling fast!