Posted by Natasha Martin, JD, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion on Friday, May 13, 2022 at 11:11 AM PDT

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of the Provost, we invite you to participate in listening sessions with our search consultants from Koya Partners. Our search consultants look forward to hearing your thoughts about this important search.  Details below.

Koya Partners seeks your input as it drafts the position profile and announcement for the full-time Ombudsperson position to support our faculty and staff. If you cannot attend the session, we absolutely still want to hear from you; look to receive an email address to which you can send any comments directly to Koya Partners.

There will be two virtual listening sessions before the end of the academic year:

Tuesday, May 25, 2022 - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Wednesday, June 8, 2022 - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

** Zoom links will be sent out in advance of each session

While Koya Partners will be prepared to answer your questions about the search and their role, the main purpose of these conversations is to listen to you and your colleagues. Koya will use that information to create a Leadership Profile, the principal marketing document they will share broadly with potential candidates.

They are seeking key input in the following categories:

• The top agenda items for the next Ombudsperson – what are the most important opportunities and the greatest challenges; How can the person in this role best serve your needs?
• The description of the ideal candidate – what experiences, credentials, skills and personal qualities will best serve Seattle U and will help address the challenges and opportunities you enumerate? and
• Points of Pride – Why should someone want to be your next Ombudsperson; where is the upside both institutionally and personally?

Background/Context:

As announced previously, the role of an Ombudsperson is being reimagined and expanded to a full-time position to support faculty and staff. Provost Shane Martin and I convened a working group that included members selected by Academic Assembly and the Staff Council to offer input into this new role and ideas for making it most productive for both constituencies. The listening sessions will allow Koya Partners to further build on the efforts of the working group and draft the position profile that represents the best of SU.

This is an exciting time for our institution as we further enhance our inclusion ecosystem with this expanded role of the Ombudsperson to meet the evolving needs of our campus and serve as a key dimension of promoting inclusive excellence for all at SU.

Ongoing Network of Support

Last, I want to reiterate the network of support that remains in place as we move closer to filling this important position: For any matters you or others might engage an ombudsperson, please continue to direct those to my attention at inclusion@seattleu.edu. Additionally, Dr. Jill Moffitt, Interim Assistant Vice President for Institutional Equity, Title IX Coordinator, and ADA/504 Coordinator, is also available to offer her experience and insights for consultation. 

We greatly appreciate your participation and look forward to having you join the upcoming listening sessions.

Sincerely,

Natasha Martin, J.D.
Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion