Colette Carmouche Named University Ombudsperson

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Colette Carmouche has been appointed university ombudsperson and will lead the UMass Amherst Ombuds Office, which is a confidential, impartial, informal and independent resource for students, faculty and staff.

Carmouche, who will assume her role in February, has been an ombuds for faculty, staff and students at Harvard University since December 2021. Prior to joining Harvard, she served for 13 years in the federal government as an ombudsman specialist for the Transportation Security Administration, as a mediation program manager, mediator, facilitator, trainer, ombuds and coach for the U.S. Department of Interior, and in assisting in establishing the first service-wide diversity and inclusion office for the National Park Service.

She holds a Master of Science in conflict analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and earned a Bachelor of Arts with dual majors in anthropology and African and African American studies from the University of Rochester. Carmouche also holds an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coach Federation.

Established by the Faculty Senate in 1969, the UMass Amherst Ombuds Office is one of the oldest public university ombuds offices in the country. The professionals in the office are available to listen to concerns, brainstorm potential approaches to address a variety of campus challenges, and/or provide informal assistance, such as facilitation support or training workshops. The team then shares trends and concerns – without attribution – directly with the Chancellor’s Office in an effort to help leadership solve problems facing the university community.

For more information or to schedule a confidential appointment, visit umass.edu/ombuds. For assistance securing an appointment or for questions regarding the resources offered by the office, contact a member of the ombuds team at 413-545-0867 or ombuds@umass.edu.