About Us

An ombuds is a person trained to assist members of a community or organization. We are a confidential, impartial, informal, and independent resource for staff, faculty, and administrators at Carolina. We also identify trends and challenges and can make recommendations for change in University policy or practice when appropriate. However, we are not decision makers. We do not have the power to establish, change, or set aside any University rules, policies, or management decisions.

Wayne A. Blair

Wayne comes to UNC-Chapel Hill from Columbia University in New York, where he also served as an associate university ombuds officer. He earned a bachelors degree and a master of arts in technology and society from Stony Brook University.

Wayne joined Columbia in 1995 as assistant director of student activities, and then was promoted to serve as director three years later. He went on to serve as special adviser to the dean of student affairs and as interim deputy director of Columbia's Office of Disability Services before he was named Columbia’s associate university ombuds officer in 2002.

Wayne has had extensive experience in conflict management, mediation and working collaboratively with various groups and constituents. He looks forward to the opportunity helping to build an ombuds program that members of the Carolina community will find useful.

Laurie Mesibov

Laurie Mesibov is an ombuds because she believes people want to do a good job and to be respected and appreciated for the work they do. She understands that while workplace problems and conflicts are inevitable, they also offer opportunities for positive change, learning, and professional development. Laurie considers it is a privilege to serve the Carolina community as an ombuds.

Laurie is a long-time faculty member at the School of Government where she specializes in public school law. She is continuing her work there on a half-time basis. Laurie also has wide experience across the campus. She worked in the Office of the Provost from 1996-2000, chaired the Performance Management Review Board, served as advisor to SPA grievance panels, and was a member of the Faculty Grievance Committee, Faculty Executive Committee, and Faculty Council.

Laurie earned her B.A. from Stanford University and her J.D. from Carolina’s School of Law.

Victoria Dowd

Victoria is the executive assistant for the University Ombuds office. She has over ten years of service at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She has served on various committees and boards across campus to include the Performance Review Board, SPA Grievance Committee, Employee Forum, Personnel Issues Committee, Graduate Studies Committee and served as an SPA Grievance support person. Her professional training includes mediation, managing conflict and confrontation, advanced problem solving, performance management, supervisory resources, ombudsman 101 and the ombuds support role.

Victoria is a recipient of the 2006 State Employee's Award for Excellence, 2005 Chancellor's Award, Star Heels Award and the Black Faculty/Staff Caucus award. She is a member of the International Ombudsman Association and the Association for Conflict Resolution.