Student Ombuds Program
The Wesleyan Student Ombuds Program was informed and inspired by student voices.The Student Ombuds are available to talk with students about their concerns related to experiences in the classroom, with their athletic team, or within other parts of their academic and campus life at Wesleyan. Each Ombud serves as a neutral and confidential* peer resource focused on empowering students to successfully navigate the institution and advocate for themselves in moments of conflict, particularly when there are power dynamic considerations. Although separate from the University’s Ombudsperson for staff and faculty, the Student Ombuds use similar conflict resolution and restorative justice practices.
Here’s just a few of the ways Student Ombuds can offer support:
- Serve as a confidential*, neutral thought partner for students considering their options for resolving an issue, especially when the other party is in a position of power in relation to the student
- Hold a safe and supportive conversational space, simply listening and serving as an impartial sounding board
- Provide insight on managing challenging conversations
- Share information about campus resources
- Explain institutional policies and processes, including those regarding how to make a formal complaint to the University
- Communicate any patterns of concern to university leadership
The Student Ombuds partner with and are supported by Dr. April Ruiz, Dean for Academic Equity, Inclusion, & Success.
*The Student Ombuds stand with survivors of sexual misconduct, though they do not serve as a confidential resource for these matters. If you need confidential support related to sexual misconduct, please reach out to SHAPE, CAPS, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life.
Connect
The Student Ombuds are available to support students throughout the academic year.
The last day for holding Spring 2022 appointments is May 9th. To schedule a conversation with one of the Student Ombuds, please fill out this form no later than May 5th.
For general inquiries, send an email before May 5th to studentombud@wesleyan.edu
To connect with someone between academic years, please email Dean April Ruiz (aruiz01@wesleyan.edu)
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AMY GUAMAN ’22, she/her/hers aguaman@wesleyan.edu
Where is home for you? Queens, NY, USA
What are your academic interests ? Psychology; Neuroscience; Italian; Data Science
What are you involved in at Wes? WesRugby; the Basal Gang (Neuroscience Club); Peer Tutor through the Dean’s Peer Tutoring Program; Academic Peer Advisor; Peer Health Advocate
What is something someone might not know just by looking at you? I come from a huge family (20+) who have always made me feel part of a team and whose support has carried me to soon become the first in my family to graduate from a four-year institution.
Why are you serving as a Student Ombud? Now more than ever, it is important to provide students with a safe, comforting, and supportive space on campus. Being able to serve as a resource and advocate for students coming from historically disadvantaged backgrounds such as myself, or simply students who do not feel comfortable advocating for themselves on their own, is what drew me to the position.
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KALYANI MOHAN ’22, she/her/hers kmohan@wesleyan.edu
Where is home for you? Geneva, Switzerland and New Delhi, India
What are your academic interests? College of Social Studies, Economics, International Relations
What are you involved in at Wes? Arcadia Political Review, Photo
What is something someone might not know just by looking at you? I have lived in 8 different countries.
Why are you serving as a Student Ombud? I want to offer a neutral listening space to my peers to help navigate difficult situations, but also get to meet new people at Wesleyan I might not cross paths with otherwise!
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LOGAN TOMLINSON ’23, he/him/his ltomlinson@wesleyan.edu
Where is home for you? Manchester, CT, USA
What are your academic interests? Economics; Psychology
What are you involved in at Wes? Varsity Football; Student Athlete of Color Leadership Council (SACLC); Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council for Football
What is something someone might not know just by looking at you? My father emigrated from Jamaica to the United States at the age of 13.
Why are you serving as a Student Ombud? I am excited to have the platform and opportunity to positively affect the Wesleyan community. I will strive to act as a useful resource and guide my peers through their academic, athletic, and administrative challenges to allow them to excel in all facets of their life at Wesleyan.
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SARAH ASIEDU ’24, she/her/hers sasiedu@wesleyan.edu
Where is home for you? Los Angeles, CA, USA
What are your academic interests? Government; Sociology; African Studies; Chemistry
What are you involved in at Wes? Ujamaa; African Student Association; Race, Ethnicity, & Nationality Intern at the Resource Center; Wesleyan's Minority Association of Pre-Med Students (MAPS); Black Box Labs
What is something someone might not know just by looking at you? I come from a big family of immigrants from Ghana, West Africa.
Why are you serving as a Student Ombud? I want to be able to empower Wesleyan students of all backgrounds to take charge of their education on and off campus, no matter what conflict they may face.