March 2026
AERA will offer its Ombuds Program as part of the 2026 Annual Meeting, supporting a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment for all participants. The ombuds serve as a neutral, confidential, informal, and independent resource available to listen to concerns and help identify options and resources for addressing conflicts or issues. These may include matters related to harassment, discrimination, or other concerns involving professional conduct, as outlined in the AERA Code of Ethics and the AERA Policy on Inclusive and Welcoming Meeting Environments.
The Ombuds Program is available to all Annual Meeting participants, including attendees, staff, exhibitors, vendors, and others engaged in the meeting.
The 2026 Annual Meeting will again feature a two-person, co-ombuds team: Shannon Lynn Burton, university ombudsperson at Michigan State University, and Kamaria B. Porter, associate ombuds at Northwestern University. Both are experienced, full-time professional ombuds with deep expertise in higher education and conflict resolution.
During the Annual Meeting, the ombuds will be available for in-person, video, or phone appointments. Their offices will be located at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE, on the third floor in rooms Olympia I and II. Participants may schedule an appointment by emailing aeraombuds@gmail.com or calling (202) 505-3356.
After the meeting, individuals who wish to discuss an issue that arose during the conference may continue to contact the ombuds by email at aeraombuds@gmail.com or by phone at (202) 505-3356.
The AERA ombuds adhere to the International Ombuds Association’s Standards of Practice. While provided as a resource for meeting participants, they operate independently of AERA’s formal reporting structure, and all communications with the ombuds are confidential.