March 2023
AERA will continue its Ombuds Program as part of the 2023 Annual Meeting. The ombuds is a neutral, confidential, informal, and independent resource made available to hear persons’ concerns and assist them by identifying options and resources to address conflicts or issues, including harassment, discrimination, or any violation of professional conduct as set forth in sections 6-8 of the AERA Code of Ethics and AERA Policy on Inclusive and Welcoming Meeting Environments. Launched in 2019, the Ombuds Program is an important part of AERA’s commitment to provide a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment.
AERA’s ombuds resource is a two-person team available to all attendees, staff, exhibitors, vendors, and any others at the Annual Meeting, whether they are place-based in Chicago, April 13–16, or on the online platform for the virtual component, May 4–5.
Shannon Lynn Burton, Ph.D., and Carol Mershon, Ph.D., will once again serve as the co-ombuds for the Annual Meeting. Burton is a university ombudsperson at Michigan State University and Mershon is a professor in the Department of Politics at the University of Virginia.
The ombuds will be available during the place-based component of the 2023 Annual Meeting for in-person, video, or phone appointments, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT, Thursday, April 13–Sunday, April 16. Those wishing to schedule an appointment can email aeraombuds@gmail.com or call (202) 505-3356. The ombuds will also be available for walk-ins in their office at the place-based meeting in Chicago.
The ombuds can be contacted via email or phone through June 2, 2023, to discuss an issue that occurred during the place-based or virtual component of the meeting.
The AERA ombuds adhere to the International Ombuds Association’s Standards of Practice. They are a resource provided by AERA for meeting participants but are independent of AERA’s formal reporting structure, and attendees’ communications with the ombuds are confidential.