The University has selected three staff members to serve as University ombudsmen for the undergraduate and graduate student population, according to an email sent out to the community last Thursday.

Director of the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program Erika Smith, Associate Director of Academic Advising Brian Koslowski and Assistant Director of Student Support Services Elena Lewis MA’11 will serve as University ombuds for the Spring 2016 semester and until the final selection of a Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion.

The creation of the ombuds role follows Interim University President Lisa Lynch’s diversity update to the community on Feb. 24, in which she discussed the search for a Chief Diversity Officer, as well as student and faculty recruitment. It also comes several months after the end of Ford Hall 2015, during which one of the student protestors’ listed demands was to “establish an office of ombuds within Academic Services” to “receive and investigate complaints made by students against abuses or capricious acts of university officials, faculty, and staff.” Ford Hall 2015 leaders did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

According to the email, a University ombudsman will serve as a “conflict-resolution resource who is independent, confidential, informal and neutral” and works to address student concerns and advocate fair procedures. All three appointed ombudsmen recently completed official ombudsmen training with the International Ombudsman Association.

The University Ombuds website notes that the staff “operate outside of official or sanctioned university processes” and will “not participate in any formal adjudicative or administrative procedure.” It also notes that the service is completely confidential, and no student information will be shared with other entities except in cases of “imminent risk of serious harm and reports of sexual misconduct.”

The three ombudsmen are all active staff members in the University, with many years of experience working at Brandeis and with issues of diversity and social justice. According to the ombuds website, Smith has been at Brandeis for over 15 years, serving as the director of the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program since 2004, an adjunct lecturer in the Heller School, a research analyst, a Posse mentor and a faculty sponsor for the Education and Development Working Group.

Koslowski is currently in his eighth year at Brandeis and serves as the associate director of academic advising in Academic Services, as well as the coordinator of the Brandeis Undergraduate Group Study program, according to the website.

Lewis has been at the University since 2004 and is currently the assistant director of the Student Support Services Program. She has also taught in the Civil Rights and Educational Equity program and has supported numerous groups on campus, such as the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance and the Brandeis Bridges Fellows. All three declined to comment at press time.