It is the goal of the Ombuds Office at the University of Wyoming to provide the university community an informal setting in which to share dilemmas, ideas, questions, without fear of exposure, retaliation, or recrimination. The office is committed to serving with the International Ombuds Association best practice principles: informal, confidential, impartial, independent. It is our mandate to give voice to the university community, and to protect those voices. We will engage and support people and divisions to improve communications and policies. Our mandate includes resolving conflict, shedding light on serious concerns, mediating, facilitating difficult conversations, giving the community tools to disagree productively, educating, and coaching. The Ombuds Office, in every instance, will advocate for fairness and equity.
We aim to provide a safe space to facilitate the process of problem-solving. We are
committed to unbiased and fair services to the University of Wyoming community.
Listen to concerns
Provide information on university policies and procedures
Provide information on how to make your concern known to the university
Assist you in evaluating available options
Provide feedback to administration when systemic issues/trends occur
To schedule an appointment contact Don Appiarius, University Ombudsperson, at dappiari@uwyo.edu.
Upcoming Workshops - Contact the Office for Details
How to Get Along With Anyone
Embracing Conflict: How to Have a Difficult Conversation
Rules of Engagement: Improving Office Relationships and Communications
Conflict Resolution Lending Library
Informal:
The Office of the Ombudsperson works informally to achieve fair and equitable solutions
to concerns. We are not a reporting office, and do not participate in formal investigations
or play any role in a formal resolution process.
Independent:
The University of Wyoming Office of the Ombudsperson is an independent office. This
allows individuals to come forward, be heard, and discuss issues with any department
of UW without fear of retribution. The office reports to the highest possible level
of the university. The ombudsperson exercises total discretion regarding her responsibilities.
The office is not part of and does not take part in any administrative or formal complaint
processes
Neutral or Impartial:
We utilize processes that provide fairness and equity and provide impartial resources
for the University of Wyoming community. The Ombudsperson avoids situations that may
cause or result in conflicts of interest.
Confidential:
Information concerning any inquiries will not be disclosed without explicit permission,
with the exception of a compelling reason (i.e. a safety risk). Upon request of a
complainant, the office may contact individuals within the institution whose help
is necessary to resolve a problem. The Ombudsperson does not testify in formal proceedings.
The only exception to this privilege of confidentiality is where there appears to
be an imminent risk of serious harm, and where there is no reasonable option other
than disclosure.
Narina Nuñez came to the UW Psychology Department as a faculty member in 1987, after receiving her PhD from Cornell University. During her time at UW she held various leadership positions including department chair and Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. She retired from the university in 2024 but has returned to serve as the Interim Ombudsperson for the university.
“I look forward to serving the UW community in this new role.”
Narina Nuñez
Keep in mind that email is not confidential, so please don't share any information
here that you'd like to keep private.
To schedule an appointment contact Don Appiarius, University Ombudsperson, at dappiari@uwyo.edu.