Meet Your Faculty Ombudspersons

Learn more about the University’s ompudspersons resource for faculty and students.
Meet Your Faculty Ombudspersons

Faculty and students on each campus have access to a designated ombudsperson who is well informed on the University’s governance structure, policies, and procedures, and serves as a neutral and impartial resource for the University community. Dependent on your campus affiliation, an assigned ombudsperson is available to troubleshoot various concerns and challenges, and provide information about individual schools, colleges, and University resources. Additionally, they are able to mediate issues, offer advice, counseling, and mentoring with a neutral lens. The faculty ombudsperson does not participate in formal administrative procedures regarding matters that are brought to their attention and operate under full confidentiality. Meet the University’s faculty ombudspersons:

James M. Tien
On the Coral Gables and Marine campuses, faculty are encouraged to partner with newly appointed ombudsperson, James M. Tien, distinguished professor and Dean Emeritus for the College of Engineering. In addition to his long-service to the University’s College of Engineering, Tien has endeavored to serve the engineering profession in a range of capacities, including his most recent appointment to a four-year term as foreign secretary of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). As NAE foreign secretary, Tien oversees the organization’s international activities and coordinates its interactions with other national engineering academies. Given his extensive academic experience and role as a global representative for the University, Tien is brings a wealth of leadership experience to the ombudsperson designation. Read more about Tien’s expertise and role as ombudsperson for faculty on the Coral Gables campus.

Norman H. Altman
Serving as the ombudsperson to Miller School of Medicine faculty, residents, fellows, and graduate students at UHealth, Norman H. Altman, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and director of the Division of Comparative Pathology has spent 44-years of his career at the University of Miami. As the 2018-2019 recipient of the James W. McLamore Outstanding Service Award, Altman has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to selfless service in areas of research, education, and administration at the U. During his four and a half decades at the Miller School, Altman has served as director of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center; director of the University Self-Study for Reaccreditation; director of the NCAA Reaccreditation; senior associate dean for Research; vice provost for Research; speaker of the Faculty Council at the Miller School; and member of the Faculty Senate. He was appointed ombudsperson for the Miller School in 2014 and continues to provide guidance to his colleagues through his deep institutional knowledge and passion for helping others thrive in the medical field.

Students on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses also have access to ombudspersons to help resolve concerns and assist in the navigation of the university by answering questions, educating about policy, and connecting students with key faculty and staff. Explore the ombudsperson resources for students.