Former NIU employee Stacy Dolby has been appointed as interim ombudsman in place of Bertrand Simpson who left the office to work as a management faculty member in the College of Business.

The ombudsman helps “students and faclty members of NIU resolve problems that arise out of their relationships with the university by personally assisting them or directing them to someone who can,” Simpson said. The office of the ombudsman is located in Holmes Student Center Room 701.

Anne Kaplan, assistant to NIU President John La Tourette, said that Dolby was appointed by La Tourette to succeed Simpson until a permanent ombudsman is hired. Until then, Simpson will help Dolby break into his new ombudsman role.

“Stacy’s agreement to serve as interim ombudsman will provide continuity of service because he knows the campus, he’s familiar with students and student groups, and he’s long been a well respected member of the campus community,” Kaplan said.

University Council Executive Secretary J. Carroll Moody also commended the selection. “We are fortunate to have someone with the qualifications (Dolby) has. He’s a very humane person who has an excellent reputation with student relations, especially minority students.”

Dolby, who retired from NIU in April 1989 after 26 years of service, has held a range of jobs from marine electrician and cannery laborer to jobs as a campus minister and workman director. When he retired, he was assistant director of student housing at NIU.

Who ever succeeds Simpson on a permanent basis will have a tough act to follow, since Simpon’s evaluations as ombudsman were so high, “they were off the charts,” Kaplan said.

Describing himself as a mediator to resolve conflicts, Simpson said the ombudsman’s primary role is “to ensure that justice is done—and justice is done by making sure that procedures work.”

Simpson, who holds a law degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, will be teaching business law classes this fall.

Moody said that a 10-member search committee has been formed to recommend final candidates to La Tourette for a permanent ombudsman replacement.

In accordance with existing univeristy policies, the committee includes three undergraduates, two graduate students, two faculty members, plus representatives from NIU’s supportive professional and operating staff councils.