TC President Arthur Levine announced the appointment of Erwin Flaxman as Ombudsperson of the College. Flaxman will work with students "to provide informal resolutions of their dissatisfactions of an academic nature." Flaxman is assuming the Ombudsperson responsibilities of Janice Robinson, Esq. who continues as Special Counsel to the President, heading the Office of Diversity and Community. Robinson filled the breech as interim director, in addition to all of her other duties, said Levine, since the retirement of Emeritus Professor Leonard Blackman, the past Ombudsperson.

Flaxman has a long history at the College. He helped to create the Institute for Urban and Education Minority Education, and served as its Director from January 1996 to September 2000. He is currently Associate Director for Academic Programs and Information Services.

He also has been Director of Theatre and Education and one of the Directors of the joint Columbia-wide master's program in theatre. He has taught in the formerly-named Teachers College Department of Languages, Literature, and Communication, and in the Department of Applied Human Development. He is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Department of International and Transcultural Studies.

The Office of the Ombudsperson is now located in Room 857 Thorndike, and the current telephone number is 678-4169.

Published Monday, Feb. 24, 2003