University Ombuds Office

University Ombuds Michael Steinberg was appointed in September 2023. Prior to his work at OSU, he was a Senior Employee Relations Consultant for Cottage Health, the premier health network for Santa Barbara County. Michael also served as an ombuds at Columbia University and the University of California Santa Barbara. He was on staff at the Harvard Mediation program, where he worked as a mediator and trainer. He holds a BA from Connecticut College and a JD from Northeastern University School of Law. Michael adheres to the International Ombuds Association’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

Associate Ombuds Susie Brubaker-Cole joined the office on April 1, 2024.  Previously, she served as Vice Provost for Student Affairs at Stanford University from 2017 to 2024, where she was also a member of the University Executive Cabinet and the steering committee for the university’s equity, access and inclusion initiative.  Prior to this, she was OSU’s Vice Provost for Student Affairs from 2014-2017 and OSU’s Associate Provost for Academic Success and Engagement from 2008-2014.  She also served as Stanford’s Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education from 2000 to 2008.  She received her PhD in French literature from Yale University and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Washington in French and Comparative History of Ideas.  She is a native Oregonian, hailing from Ashland.  In her ombuds practice, she adheres to the International Ombuds Association’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. 

Jenni Allemann joined the University Ombuds team in December 2022 and is no stranger to supporting conflict resolution and inclusive community in higher education.  Her eighteen plus years of experience in the field began in Residence Life as an undergraduate at the University of Puget Sound.  After completing a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Art, Jenni journeyed to Alaska where she provided transportation and entertainment to tourists.  She loved the Great Land, with its vast expanses of mountains and tundra, particularly when the Northern Lights danced across the sky.  Jenni joined the Residence Life team at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2006.  As a Resident Director she provided guidance, supervision, and training to hundreds of first year students.  But as much as she loved her Alaska family, she missed her Oregon home.  Jenni began the College Student Services Administration program at Oregon State University in 2010.  During her Masters, she supported undergraduate leaders in the Student Alumni Association and through Career Services.  Post-master’s she promoted student success and development at Chemeketa Community College and Oregon Institute of Technology.  Her work led her back to OSU in 2022 when she accepted an interim position advising the vibrant and dedicated student leaders of ASOSU.  In 2022, she accepted the Ombuds Administrative Program Coordinator role.  She is grateful to call University Ombuds her home and to continue supporting the Oregon State community.