OMBUDS EVENTS
Highlighted Events on January 29 & Feb 6!
>>Dynamic Mentoring Relationships: A Key to Better Research<<
VIRTUAL – January 29th, 1:15-2:45 pm ET Register via workshop.utk.edu
Human-centered high-quality research environments are a team effort resulting in lower stress, fewer errors, better collaboration, and increased innovation. Join us to explore concepts, strategies, and resources for building the interpersonal understanding and trust in mentorships that is key to practicing better research. Audience: ALL research team members: mentors, mentees, grad students, postdocs, faculty, and staff.
This workshop on nationally recommended research mentoring practices is facilitated by staff from Ombuds Services, ORIED, and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.
>>Psychological Safety: Self-Assessment & Strategies<<
VIRTUAL – February 6th, 11:30am-1pm ET Register via workshop.utk.edu
Have you ever felt afraid to speak up or share your ideas for fear of repercussions or causing conflict? Are you concerned about staff or peers who have expressed similar concerns? You are not alone!
In this virtual session, you will discuss the importance of psychological safety in open and honest workplace communication, take steps to self-assess your own psych safety needs, and learn strategies to engage in respectful dialogue with peers about increasing psych safety in the workplace. This interactive workshop includes self-reflection, breakout discussion, and action planning activities.
Please spread the word about these upcoming communication-focused workshops!
Ombuds Spring 2026 Registration is Live!
All upcoming Jan-May 2026 virtual professional development events are now open for registration.
Take a look at what we are offering and register early!
Upcoming Partner Events
The ombuds office partners with other service units who provide supports to graduate students, staff, and faculty. Below are a couple of highlighted events:
- Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Workshop
Wed, Feb 4 | 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. | Student Union, 169
Learn the fundamentals of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), including conflicts of interest, authorship, and data management, and how UT supports required RCR training. Register & learn more about the RCR Workshop - The Transition from Grad Student to Postdoc
Thurs, Feb 5 | 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Virtual
Discover insights on transitioning from graduate student to postdoc in this session. A brief presentation will be followed by a panel of UT postdocs sharing advice and answering questions. Ideal for doctoral students nearing dissertation completion. Register for this presentation - UT Mentoring Initiative – 3 part in-person series held Feb-April 2026 addressing a) Maintaining Effective Communication, b) Aligning Expectations, and c) Fostering Independence. For click below for specific dates and details:
Request a Workshop or Outreach Session
Knoxville UT community, use our Ombuds Workshop or Outreach Session Request form to request any of the above workshop or outreach topics for your dept, unit, class, or group on your preferred date. Our calendar fills up fast – request asap for Feb-March 2026. Leaders can request a series of workshops to best meet your learners/team/group’s needs. We take requests up to 4 semesters in advance and are available to present after 5pm M-F.
OMBUDS OFFICE NEWS
Review our FY2025 UT Ombuds Annual Report
The Office of Ombuds Annual Report for fiscal year 2025 is now available on our website. We encourage you to explore this wealth of information about our offices’ growth and initiatives, how we’ve served the UT community over the year, and how satisfied they were with our visitor and education services.
Meet Our New Staff Members
In July and September 2026 we welcomed new staff members to our Ombuds team. Learn more about them via the links below:
New Associate University Ombudsperson |
New Educational Program Admin Specialist |
| Welcome Nellie Haddad |
Employee Conflict Navigator Certificates Awarded!
The following nine people were awarded a UT Employee Conflict Navigator certificate since out last newsletter (back in May/June). We congratulate these Knoxville UT community members in developing their expertise in constructive communication for navigating tension, uncertainty, and conflict towards desired & innovative outcomes!
Summer 2025 Semester
- Pam Borovy, Regional Director, Social Work Research and Public Service (SWORPS), 06/2025
- Chris (Sissie) Hadjiharalambous, Assistant Director, Social Work Research and Public Service (SWORPS), 06/2025
- Julia Stiles, Assistant Business Manager, VolShop, 06/2025
- Milagros Zingoni Phielipp, Director and Professor, School of Interior Architecture, 06/2025
- Mariah Cozart, Student Services Specialist, School of Information Sciences, 7/2025
Fall 2025 Semester
- Iama (Arianne) Price, Extension Agent II, UTIA Hardeman County Extension Office, 09/2025
- Sarah Linn-Peirano, Assistant Professor of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, 10/2025
- Keri Boyd, Student Engagement Coordinator for Student Engagement & Success, Haslam College of Business, 11/2025
- Matthew Pamental, Teaching Associate Professor of Philosophy, College of Arts & Sciences, 12/2025
Awardees independently complete and track 20 hours of synchronous professional development from Ombuds Services and other UT support offices. Full -time Knoxville UT employees can apply now to our ECN program– only 10 slots currently available.
Learn More about Ombuds & Ombuds Services
To learn more about how Ombuds Services can empower you to constructively navigate ANY challenge you might be facing at UT – via individual consultations, team coaching, and/or our educational programming – take action!
- Visit our website: https://ombuds.utk.edu
- View our short overview video: https://youtu.be/csmnunlFNRk
- Attend a monthly Ombuds overview Zoom session – next one is:
Getting Unstuck: Intro to Office of Ombuds Services
VIRTUAL – February 3, 11am-12pm ET
Register via workshop.utk.edu to receive the Zoom link.