The Pacific University Ombuds Resource

In a confidential, off-the-record meeting, we will listen, explore different options for addressing your concerns, help you navigate relevant organizational resources, and coach you through how to effectively communicate your concerns to others should you choose to do so. We can also help facilitate informal discussions between two or more people when appropriate or work with groups experiencing conflict.

What is an ombuds? The term “ombuds” (pronounced “ahm–buhds”) comes from a Swedish term meaning “a person who has an ear to the people.” The ombuds team is an independent, impartial, informal, and confidential resource for Pacific University employees, including faculty, staff, administrators, and student employees. The ombuds team has two ombuds (Derrick and Birthe, see bios below) available to work with employees to effectively manage, address, and surface work-related issues. The ombuds team supplements and does not replace formal administrative channels.

FAQs:

For answers to frequently asked questions about the ombuds resource, please see this page: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

About the ombuds team:

Contact one of the ombuds below to discuss your concerns and explore options to move forward.

Derrick Johnson ( derrick-ombuds@mwi.org and 904-800-9946) is an ombuds with MWI and has served as an ombuds at Florida State College at Jacksonville since 2018. Derrick has worked in the areas of education as a manager of student services and counseling in substance abuse, juvenile justice, and vocational rehabilitation for over 15 years. Derrick is an experienced service professional in the educational field who has partnered with students, parents, faculty, staff, and administration to offer superior quality services in assisting stakeholders with navigating their academic and social conflicts. After spending over a decade working in education and counseling background informs his work as an ombuds, namely, to assist visitors and help clients develop policies and processes that continue to build equality among program stakeholders. Derrick is completing a Doctoral degree (Ed. D.) in educational innovation at the University of South Florida. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Georgia Southwestern State University and a master’s degree in education counseling from Albany State University in Georgia. Schedule a time to talk with Derrick by sending an email to derrick-ombuds@mwi.org or by calling 904-800-9946.

Birthe Reimers, Ph.D. (birthe-ombuds@mwi.org and 404-692-0505) is an experienced ombuds and trainer with MWI. She is the 2023 recipient of the Association for Conflict Resolution’s William J. Kreidler Award for Distinguished Service to Expanding Knowledge in the Field of Conflict Resolution. Birthe is an Ombuds, mediator, coach, and published conflict scholar-practitioner with 18 years of experience in the field. Her most recent article in the JIOA was published in 2024. Birthe earned her Ph.D. in International Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University in 2015 and has been an Ombuds as well as a member of the International Ombuds Association since 2016. Since January 2018, she has been directing the Office of the Ombudsperson at Georgia State University, the largest public university in Georgia. In this role, Birthe serves as a confidential thought partner, conflict coach, and facilitator of challenging conversations for administrators, faculty, staff, students, their family members, and alumni across seven campuses. To support positive transformations at the university, she provides upward feedback to university leadership about systemic challenges as well as trends in the campus climate and organizational culture. Birthe also develops and facilitates conflict management-related workshops to empower and equip participants with key analytical and applied tools to engage in conflict constructively. Schedule a time to talk with Birthe by sending an email to birthe-ombuds@mwi.org or by calling 404-692-0505.

Contact

• Email: Email a member of the ombuds team at the email addresses provided here – Derrick Johnson at derrick-ombuds@mwi.org or Birthe Reimers at birthe-ombuds@mwi.org.
  • Please use email for scheduling only. Email and voicemail cannot be guaranteed to be confidential, so do not include any details about your questions, situation, or concerns. If you share the best way to reach you, an ombuds will follow up to schedule an appointment.
• Phone: Contact Derrick Johnson at 904-800-9946 or Birthe Reimers at 404-692-0505 (direct and confidential phone and voicemail).
• Confidential web form:  If you have a concern at work and would like to raise it anonymously, or if you would like to make an appointment with the first available ombuds, please fill out the web form below.
  • If you would like to schedule an appointment with an ombuds team member, please include your preferred contact information and indicate which ombuds you would like to work with or whether you prefer to speak with the first available one. To share a concern anonymously, please do not include personally identifiable information. An anonymized summary of your comments may be shared with the organization unless you indicate otherwise on this form.

An ombuds team member will get back to you within one business day.