Appointment of Kirsi Aulin as Campus Ombuds

August 13, 2012

I am pleased to announce that, after a thorough search, Kirsi Aulin has been appointed as the new campus Ombuds, starting July 23, 2012.  Kirsi is an experienced Ombuds practitioner, having served as the Associate Ombuds here at UCSB for the past five years. During her time as Associate Ombuds, Kirsi worked extensively with faculty, staff, and students.  She has sought advanced training in the Ombuds field, becoming a Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner in 2011.  Working in the mental health field since 1996, she became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in 2003.  In addition to having a private practice, Kirsi has held various counseling positions working with children, families, AIDS patients, and severely mentally ill patients among other groups. Before coming to UCSB, Kirsi served as the Director of Client Services at Pacific Pride Foundation.  Prior to joining the Ombuds office, Kirsi counseled students at UCSB Student Health regarding sexual health and stress issues.  Kirsi holds a BA in French Literature from Bryn Mawr College and a M.S. in Counseling Psychology from California State University at Northridge.

The campus Ombuds assists the UCSB community with the informal resolution of any University-related complaint or conflict. The Office of the Ombuds serves as a confidential, impartial, informal and independent resource for conflict management and serves all members of the UCSB community, including faculty, staff, and students.  The campus Ombuds assists those who seek guidance with the resolution of academic or administrative issues and disputes that are not being adequately addressed through other University procedures. Matters discussed with the Office of the Ombuds are informal and off-the-record and do not constitute formal notice to UCSB.  In addition to Kirsi, the Office of the Ombuds consists of Faculty Ombuds Bill Forgie and Analyst and Intake Coordinator Summer Turner. 

The Ombuds office is located in 1205K Girvetz Hall.  Kirsi Aulin may be contacted at 893-3285 or by e-mail at Kirsi.Aulin@ombuds.ucsb.edu.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the search committee.  The membership is listed below.  The search committee members spent considerable time, effort and thoughtfulness in advertising, reviewing, interviewing and considering candidates for this position.  The campus will greatly benefit from their efforts. 

Ombuds Search Committee:

Andre Wyss (Chair), Professor, Earth Science

Michael Jochim, Professor, Anthropology

Roane Akchurin, Manager, Community Housing Office

Sue Berg Arnold, Associate Director, UCSB Education Abroad Program

Linda Putnam, Professor and Chair, Communication

Jane Conoley, Dean, Gevirtz Graduate School of Education

Robin Rogers, Executive Assistant to the Dean, Division of Social Sciences

Deborah Karoff, Executive Director, Academic Senate

Burt Romotsky, Social Worker, Student Health Service

Jon Ramsey, Lecturer, Writing Program