Princeton - PWB 042098 - Rao to become ombuds officer

Princeton Weekly Bulletin, April 20, 1998

Rao to become ombuds officer

Anu Rao will become the University's ombuds officer, effective July 1. Currently an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Social Work at Bryn Mawr, Rao will devote two days a week to Princeton's Ombuds Office as she completes her academic appointment this semester.

Rao served as interim ombuds officer at Princeton from June through December 1997. She served as director of training and organizational development at Princeton from 1988 to 1992.

"We received excellent feedback about Anu Rao's service as interim ombuds officer," said Associate Provost Joann Mitchell, who led the search committee with Associate Provost Georgia Nugent. "Her deep knowledge of the campus community and her sensitivity to the issues she encountered here made her an exceptionally strong candidate for the permanent appointment."

Fair and equitable climate

The ombuds officer works to assure that the campus climate is fair and equitable for students, faculty, staff and visitors. She oversees the dispute resolution process for administrative and support staff. She monitors the University's racial and ethnic harassment guidelines and coordinates a network of advisers who provide information and referrals to campus resources to address questions regarding harassment. She advises faculty, staff and students about mediation and conflict resolution.

Rao holds a 1970 BS degree and a master's in social work from Bangalore University in India, as well as a second MSW and a 1996 doctorate in city and regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania. Before coming to Princeton in 1988, she held joint appointments at the University of Pennsylvania as director of social services in the School of Dental Medicine and director of child welfare in the School of Social Work; she also served as director of the faculty and staff assistance program and director of the Center for Workplace Studies. She was director of staffing, training and organizational development in the University of Pennsylvania Health System before completing her PhD and taking the job at Bryn Mawr.

"I'm very happy to return to Princeton," said Rao. "I believe that I understand the challenges of the Ombuds Office, and I look forward to working with many of my long-time colleagues and friends -- and to meeting new colleagues and friends -- in this role."