Jen Graf Sims, Staff Ombuds
Jen Graf Sims is excited to open this new office at The University of Texas at Austin. She has worked as an ombuds at the University of Hawaii and for Bridgepoint Education. She has degrees in Anthropology, Psychology and Community and Cultural Psychology. Jen has worked as a facilitator in many capacities from resolving group conflict to addressing public policy issues. She is also a trained mediator and has trained others on skills in facilitation and mediation. Jen is a member of the International Ombudsman Association and is a Certified Ombuds Practitioner. She is also a member of the Ombuds of Texas and Texas Organizational Ombuds Practitioners Alliance.
Cynthia Ivey, Staff Ombuds Coodinator
Cynthia Ivey welcomes you to the Staff Ombuds Office. She is a UT Austin graduate with a degree in Psychology and a degree in Spanish from the Universidad de Guanajuato in Mexico. She has 15 years of experience working at UT Austin, with 13 of those years at the UT Libraries Human Resources Office. She also has over 15 years of experience working in the social work/human services arena. She has served on many committees at UT, including UT Staff Council, and is currently a member of iForty.
What we do
Our responses are tailored to the visitor’s particular situation and needs. We may:
- Listen
- Offer information about university policies and procedures
- Discuss your concerns and clarify issues
- Help identify a range of options for solving problems
- Gather information and offer referrals to other resources
- Offer coaching to help you prepare for a difficult conversation
- Facilitate communication
- Track perceived issues and trends
- Make recommendations for institutional improvements
What we do not do
- Make decisions or findings of fact
- Establish, change or override policies
- Offer legal advice
- Offer psychological counseling
- Participate in grievances or other formal processes
- Serve as an agent of notice for the University
- Serve as an advocate for any person