Who We Are
We are a team of three, part-time, independent contractor ombuds who together provide ombuds services for all employees (staff, faculty and administrators) of the MATC community.
As ombuds, we are guided by the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics of the International Ombuds Association (IOA), and follow the fundamental principles that guide our practice at the College: (1) independence; (2) confidentiality; (3) impartiality; and (4) informality. Click here to learn more about these four principles and the IOA.
HOW CAN AN EMPLOYEE OMBUDS HELP?
The ombuds (pronunciation: om-budz) can assist in resolving difficult issues by offering a range of services. The ombuds can:
- Listen to concerns without judgment; help in clarifying thoughts, feelings and goals; and assist in creating strategies for resolving problems/conflicts
- Answer questions or refer visitors to someone who can
- Identify and help analyze problems and explore and evaluate options for addressing them; visitors to our office choose their path of resolution.
- Informally mediate disputes or facilitate discussions between individuals or groups
- Address issues prior to using existing formal channels offered by the college
- Provide coaching on effective conflict management
- Explain related college policies, procedures and processes
The ombuds cannot:
- Participate/conduct any internal or external formal investigations or hearings
- Represent or advocate for any individual or the college
- Offer legal advice or psychological counseling
- Disclose identifying information about visitors unless given permission by the visitor or required by law
- Receive official notice on behalf of the college
Saadia Ahmad
Saadia brings over a decade of experience in conflict resolution, serving as a mediator, conflict coach, dialogue facilitator, and instructor across higher education, nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors. She currently works as an adjunct professor at Providence College and has contributed articles to prominent publications including The Boston Globe and America Magazine. Additionally, she holds professional mediation and facilitation certifications from the Social Justice Mediation Institute, Soliya, UN Habitat, the University of Rhode Island’s Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies and the Community Mediation Center of Rhode Island.
Saadia holds a Bachelor of Arts from Providence College and a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she was honored with the Ambassador John W. McDonald Departmental Award for Leadership and Innovation in Global Governance and Conflict Resolution.
Kerry Egdorf
Kerry has an extensive background in academia and dispute resolution, having served as the Ombuds at Marquette University for twelve years and taught communication courses for 24 years. Her leadership in the field includes serving on multiple committees for both the International Ombuds Association and the California Caucus of College and University Ombuds, as well as serving on the Board of Directors for the International Ombuds Association.
Kerry holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Oklahoma, and a Ph.D. in Communication from Ohio University and holds a graduate certificate in dispute resolution from Marquette University.
Sarah Farrukh
Sarah Farrukh, J.D., is a mediator who joined MATC as an Ombudsperson in 2022. She first entered the ombuds field during law school and has since earned a certificate in the Foundations of Organizational Ombudsman from the International Ombudsman Association. Her current practice includes volunteering as a long-term care ombudsperson with the Senior Services Association.
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and received her Juris Doctor, along with a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution, from Marquette University Law School.
CONTACT US
Employees may contact the Office of the Ombudsperson to schedule an appointment by emailing employeeombuds@matc.edu, and an ombuds will reach out to schedule an appointment. Confidential information should not be emailed.
EMAIL: employeeombuds@matc.edu
Please be aware that email is not a secure or confidential method of communication.
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST. Early morning and early evening times are also available.
OMBUDS SERVICES DISCLAIMER
By electing to voluntarily use the ombuds services, visitors agree to abide by the terms of use and not record any conversations with the ombuds and not seek to compel the ombudsperson to disclose any information received as a part of providing ombuds services in any other forum, such as a formal complaint proceeding or in a court of law.