Executive Director of the Academic, Faculty and Student Ombudsperson & ADA Compliance Office

Bonnie L. Blankmeyer, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Academic, Faculty and Student Ombudsperson
and ADA Compliance Office

The Executive Director reports directly to the Office of the Vice President of Academic Faculty and Student Affairs. The incumbent is a designated neutral or impartial dispute resolution practitioner whose major function is to provide confidential and informal assistance to constituents of UTHSCSA faculty, residents and learner communities. Additionally, incumbent coordinates and collaborates with the various schools in the recruitment, selection and hiring of faculty, ensuring compliance with affirmative action and equal opportunity policies and regulations. She coordinates resolution of student, resident, and postdoc requests and concerns related to Americans with Disabilities Act, participates in the development, implementation and administration of applicable policies and practices. She is responsible for the design, execution, and effectiveness of a system of internal controls which provides reasonable assurance that department operations are effective and efficient, department assets are safeguarded, departmental financial information is reliable, and the department complies with applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures.

1. Serves in a neutral dispute resolution practitioner for faculty, residents, and non-employee post-docs. This role is an advocate for fairness – providing faculty, residents, and non-employee post-docs with an understanding of their rights, responsibilities and options so that they can better and more quickly resolve problems or concerns.
2. Provides a safe, comfortable and confidential environment for faculty, residents, non-employee post-docs and campus visitors to discuss concerns.
3. Oversees search and recruitment process of faculty assistance in the advertisement of faculty openings and coordination with the Office of International Services.
4. Serves as the Health Science Center’s American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator for residents, fellows, students and non-employee post-doctoral staff. She also chairs the ADA Coordinating Committee.
5. Serves as liaison between the University and federal enforcement agencies and outside organizations concerned with ADA/EO/AA regulatory compliance.