{"id":4,"date":"2025-04-17T09:21:55","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T13:21:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/ombudsperson-new\/?page_id=4"},"modified":"2026-02-27T15:09:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T20:09:05","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/ombudsperson\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:4rem\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull section-intro has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-stretch is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"background-image:url(&apos;https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/ombudsperson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/jonas-clark-building-lq.jpg&apos;);background-position:18% 51%;background-size:cover;\" class=\"wp-block-group padded lifted has-white-background-color has-background wp-container-content-69bc4bdf is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div style=\"height:25.625rem\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group padded has-charcoal-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-57dd9d20f5dd23d541525f79faedb7d9 is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"intro\">Clark University\u2019s Ombudsperson, Israela Brill-Cass, is an informal, confidential, neutral, and independent resource for staff and faculty who want to discuss any concern, issue, or conflict \u2014 without fear of retaliation or judgment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-d26b1e96 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fixerrr.com\/clarkuniversityombuds\">Make an appointment<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fixerrr.com\/\">Visit israela&#8217;s website<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/news\/2020\/11\/05\/new-clark-ombudsperson-available-to-help-staff-faculty-with-tough-workplace-issues\/\">read more about israela<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:2rem\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">What to expect in a visit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you have a virtual visit with Israela, she will explain a bit about her role, then let you talk about your concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns equal-height is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout has-light-teal-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>An ombudsperson (or \u201combud\u201d) can:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be a sounding board and offer a neutral and impartial perspective<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide you with information about how to manage challenging conversations and resolve a matter informally<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Answer questions, identify your goals, and provide information to help you assess your options (not legal advice)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coach you in written and verbal communications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Refer you to the appropriate office to file a formal complaint or grievance, if you wish to do so<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mediate conflicts and facilitate conversations if all participants are willing to do so<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout has-light-teal-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>An ombudsperson cannot:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make or change a University policy, rule, or decision<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide legal advice or representation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Testify in formal grievance proceedings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conduct investigations or grievance proceedings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Israela will help you weigh your options and develop strategies \u2014 but&nbsp;<em>you decide<\/em>&nbsp;what to do next.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">About confidentiality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a member of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ombudsassociation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">International Ombudsman Association<\/a>&nbsp;(IOA), Israela Brill-Cass subscribes to the IOA\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ombudsassociation.org\/standards-of-practice-code-of-ethics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice<\/a>, including confidentiality, independence, neutrality, and informality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Confidentiality<\/summary>\n<p>The purpose of the ombud\u2019s office is to create a safe space for faculty and staff to share their concerns, examine issues, and identify and consider potential options.&nbsp;<strong>All communications are confidential<\/strong>, which means that Clark\u2019s ombud won\u2019t share the name of anyone who visits \u2014 in person, via email, phone, or video conference \u2014 in or outside of the office. She also will not share what we discuss unless she receives explicit permission to do so.&nbsp;<em>The only exception to this confidentiality is if I feel there is an imminent risk of serious harm, in which case I\u2019ll notify an appropriate individual or office.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Independence<\/summary>\n<p>The ombudsperson is independent and outside of Clark\u2019s administrative structure. The only \u201creporting\u201d will be in the form of general check-ins with President David Fithian to see if the office is being used. Reporting will not include any identifying information about individuals or issues unless visitors specifically ask for their information to be shared.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Neutrality\/Impartiality<\/summary>\n<p>The ombudsperson is an impartial third-party whose role is to offer objective assessments of any concerns raised and to provide information about what options are available to employees. She has no authority to take action or advocate on anyone\u2019s behalf and cannot compel anyone or any department to respond.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Informality<\/summary>\n<p>An ombud is an informal resource for faculty and staff. She does not and cannot make or override decisions or formally advise any individual. The ombud does not maintain any permanent records of confidential communications and cannot participate in any formal adjudicative or administrative process regarding concerns brought to my attention. Her role is to listen and offer perspective and information only.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Israela Brill-Cass<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p>Israela has more than 20 years of experience as an attorney, mediator, facilitator, trainer, ombuds, and consultant. In 2015 she launched her company,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fixerrr.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fixerrr LLC<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 the 3 r\u2019s stand for rethink, respond and resolve \u2014 to help individuals, groups, and organizations recognize their strengths, assess their options, and gain the tools they need to succeed. In 2017 she became Wesleyan University\u2019s inaugural ombudsperson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 2003, Israela has taught negotiation (including culture and gender in salary negotiation), conflict communication, dispute resolution, mediation, and ombuds skills in both the public and private sectors for such clients as the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Tufts Women in Medicine and Science, MassMutual, MIT, Arabella Advisors, the American Bar Association, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.&nbsp; A faculty member in the Communication Studies Department at Emerson College since 2012, she teaches courses in Conflict and Negotiation, Persuasion, Mediation, Advocacy, and Pre-Law.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"373\" height=\"478\" src=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/ombudsperson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/I_BrillCass-Image.avif\" alt=\"Israela Brill-Cass\" class=\"wp-image-7\" style=\"width:200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/ombudsperson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/I_BrillCass-Image.avif 373w, https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/ombudsperson\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/I_BrillCass-Image-234x300.jpg 234w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 373px) 100vw, 373px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Clark University\u2019s Ombudsperson, Israela Brill-Cass, is an informal, confidential, neutral, and independent resource for staff and faculty who want to discuss any concern, issue, or conflict \u2014 without fear of retaliation or judgment. What to expect in a visit When you have a virtual visit with Israela, she will explain a bit about her role, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":19,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-no-title","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-4","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ombudsperson | Clark University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Clark University\u2019s Ombudsperson provides confidential, impartial support to help resolve campus concerns.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/ombudsperson\/\" 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