Ombuds

Announcing Our New Interim Ombuds Team

The Interim Ombuds Team consists of diverse experienced bilingual professionals dedicated to providing confidential support to our University community. With various backgrounds, they are here to assist students, faculty, staff, teachers, leaders, and alumni in navigating challenges and resolving conflicts during this transitional period from November 4, 2024 to January 31, 2025.  

SooHyun Tak 
SooHyun Tak, ‘90, ‘93, & G-’95, Deaf Korean American Female, has over 30 years of experience in the public, nonprofit, and higher education sectors. She is an independent consultant, facilitator, and trainer specializing in DEI and multicultural organizational development. Previously as a faculty member at Gallaudet University in the Departments of Counseling and Psychology, she also served as a restorative practice facilitator and mediator in the University Office of Ombuds. Holding a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, her background encompasses extensive work in mental health and advocacy in both front-line provider and supervisory roles, equipping her with the knowledge and skills to drive meaningful change in diverse organizational contexts.

Days/Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30A to  4:30P. Please schedule your meeting on this link: https://calendly.com/ombudstak

Ashley Meyer
Ashley Meyer (she/her), white female CODA, has been the Associate Ombuds at the Rochester Institute of Technology since 2019. She has worked at RIT for 13 years, prior to the Ombuds Office, she was in Residence Life and Academic Advising. Ashley earned her MBA from RIT in 2011 and her Bachelor’s degree from Lycoming College in 2008. Preferred pronouns are she/her/hers.

Days/Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4P to 8P. Please schedule your meeting on this link: https://calendly.com/akmrla-rit

Malibu Barron 
Malibu Barron (she/her), ‘11, ‘13 a Deaf Multiracial Woman who is a mother of three Deaf children, a current third-year doctoral student studying at Texas State University under Community and Educational Leadership, and a strategist to impact systematic inequality on multiple levels. She believes that conflicts are a necessary part of growth through becoming comfortable with discomfort. Malibu embodies a calming force to hold multiple truths to create authentic and meaningful changes in schools, communities, and corporations. 

Days/Hours: Weekly schedule varies. Please use the link for this week’s hours https://calendly.com/ombuds-malibu

Jennifer Schneider,  Ph.D., CO-OP®
Jennifer, white hearing female, started her career as a teacher, earning a bachelor’s degree in Deaf Education from Flagler College, interning at FSDB, and then teaching students who were Deaf or hard of hearing in the public school system. She later taught at the high school and college levels. Working with college students in this capacity piqued her interest in higher education, eventually leading her to pursue a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. She has since worked in a number of faculty and administrative roles at various colleges and universities in Florida. She is currently an organizational ombuds at the University of South Florida, a position she has held since 2015. Jennifer is a Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner (CO-OP®), and she is wholly committed to the principles that guide that work – confidentiality, impartiality, informality, and independence.

Days/Hours: Mondays through Thursdays from 8A to 10:30A. Please schedule your meeting on this link: 
https://calendly.com/jasschneider1

Mission

The Office of the Ombuds at Gallaudet University serves as your first stop, last resort, or everything in between to discuss concerns confidentially and informally. You will have the opportunity to be seen, heard, and engaged in coming up with options or a plan of action to address your concerns.

About Us

We serve undergraduate, graduate, and international students, staff, faculty, alumni, families of students, and other University community members who are having issues that stem from university policies, practices, and relationships. Anyone is welcome. When you visit us, you will

• Be treated with respect and dignity
• Receive guidance and consultation regardless if the issue is big or small
• Not have your conversations documented

• Confidentiality: The Ombuds can not disclose the identity of her visitors except when there is an imminent risk of serious harm.
• Informality: The Ombuds does not replace or duplicate any available formal process on campus. The Ombuds can only provide informal advice and assistance.
• Independence: The Ombuds is independent of any University structure, and contacting the Ombuds does not constitute notice to the University.
• Impartiality: The Ombuds ensures fairness in the procedures, not for the person.

Need to Meet with One of Us?

You can! Please see below for the Interim Ombuds Team’s days and hours: 

• SooHyun Tak: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30A to 4:30P: https://calendly.com/ombudstak
• Jennifer Schneider: Mondays through Thursdays from 8A to 10:30A: https://calendly.com/jasschneider1
• Ashley Meyer: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4P to 8P: https://calendly.com/akmrla-rit
• Malibu Barron: Weekly schedule varies. Please use the link for this week’s hours https://calendly.com/ombuds-malibu