Meet our ombuds in person, in Zoom, or on the phone!
Due to building renovations – appointments are only being offered virtually at this time.
Our Mission
The Ombuds Office Team serves graduate students, staff, and faculty, empowering them to constructively navigate challenges related to their experiences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
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- We build our community members’ capacity to constructively navigate current and future challenges, through individual consultations, coaching, and educational programming.
- We assist in organizational change by supporting teams to meet their full potential through leadership coaching, team coaching, mediation, and educational programming.
- We support organizational improvement by surfacing emerging concerns and systemic issues within the University.
- We invite other University units into collaborative partnerships to align our work in supporting constituent success and organizational health.
- We contribute to the advancement of the Ombuds profession through leadership, research, and service to the International Ombuds community.
Our Vision
As a collaborative Ombuds office team, we excel in providing supports that cultivate an organizational culture where University of Tennessee community members approach tension and uncertainty as an opportunity to reflect, learn, and thrive.
Our Values
In addition to following the International Ombuds Association Standards of Practice, which includes independence, impartiality, confidentiality, and informality, we are guided by the following values:
We Believe
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- Conflict and challenges are hard – no matter the size.
- Asking for help is a sign of strength.
- Stories are rarely simple & organized.
- There are many constructive ways to manage conflict.
We’re comfortable with strong emotions & complexity.
We Believe
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- In meeting people where they are.
- You are the expert of your own life.
- No one who comes to us needs fixing, just some help in getting unstuck.
We empower you to act in alignment with your goals & interests.