Harbour Named Ombuds Services Director

Jennifer Harbour, Ph.D., an associate professor in UNO's Department of Black Studies, has been named UNO’s newest Director of Ombuds Services. Harbour succeeds previous Ombuds Director Connie Schaffer, Ed.D., who recently was named director of the UNO Center for Faculty Excellence.

Ombuds Services provides confidential, informal, impartial, independent assistance to all university students and employees who seek help with resolving university-related problems and conflicts. Ombuds are selected from different units of the university to help avoid situations that could jeopardize their impartiality.

While the Ombuds are not meant to replace other UNO channels, formal or informal, for the resolution of problems or conflicts, their services are often a helpful supplement to other resources for members of the UNO community.

Harbour joined UNO in 2013. Her teaching interests include human rights law, pedagogies of kindness, and black feminisms. She also is part of the Women's and Gender Studies faculty and is an affiliated faculty member in the Goldstein Center for Human Rights. In 2020, Harbour was recognized by the UNO Alumni Association with an Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award.

“I am thrilled to accept this position, the Ombuds Office at UNO serves all members of the Maverick community,” Harbour said. “Students, faculty, and staff all benefit from a safe, confidential, and welcoming environment in which to discuss their concerns about policies and procedures.”

Also working as university ombuds are Tracie Anderson, UNO assistant registrar in athletic certification and Joseph (Joe) Price, Ph.D., assistant dean in the College of Arts and Sciences and administrative coordinator for UNO’s Master of Arts in Critical and Creative Thinking program.

For more information about Ombuds Services, please visit the website at https://www.unomaha.edu/ombuds-services/index.php.