Biography
Born and raised in rural North Carolina, Josh worked as a public high school teacher before completing his doctorate in theological and religious studies at Georgetown University. As a contingent faculty member and academic administrator at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity, he taught courses on comparative mysticism and dismantling Islamophobia. He also developed a new degree concentration in Interfaith Literacy and Leadership and worked with colleagues to open a graduate concentration in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies to divinity students.
Josh was the founding ombudsperson at The University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he developed an active program within his first month on the job and served successfully for three and a half years. In Fall 2020, he was appointed Associate Ombuds for The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a constituency exceeding 40,000 community members.
Candidate Statement
I am seeking your vote as an experienced ombudsperson interested in using my skills and training to benefit the members of the American Academy of Religion (AAR). I believe the work of an ombudsperson is rooted in compassion and justice, and that my first responsibility will be to provide our membership with an opportunity to talk through challenging situations in a space where they can feel safe and where they can feel heard. The seriousness with which I approach this work has led me to meet with my office visitors on short notice, at any time, and for as long as needed. When people are facing difficult circumstances, perhaps even professional crises, they need to know they have someone to speak with. I will bring this same work ethic and sense of service to the ombudsperson role with the AAR.
My training includes the foundation course offered by the International Ombuds Association, mediation courses sponsored by the Superior Court of North Carolina, graduate coursework in conflict resolution, a certificate program in diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace sponsored by the University of South Florida, and a certificate program in inclusive leadership sponsored by Catalyst, an organization committed to accelerating progress for women through workplace inclusion. I am also an active participant in workshops and conferences sponsored by the California Caucus of University Ombuds and the International Ombuds Association.
My prior service as an ombudsperson will let me bring an informed perspective when working with a complainant to address and resolve alleged violations of the Professional Conduct Policy. When our members are working through a difficult situation, they need someone who can ask clarifying questions, reframe key issues, and help them to effectively communicate their concerns. Members will also benefit from an ombudsperson who is practiced at interpreting policies, explaining processes, and walking them through each aspect of the options in front of them. This work demands precision and a level of sensitivity toward the kinds of power differentials and types of abuse present in academic life. Visitors to an ombudsperson might be unsure of what to do next and anxious about the possibility of retaliation if they take any action at all. Knowing that you are speaking with someone who understands these challenges is important for establishing trust in the process and in the ombudsperson as well.
I am continually aware of the trust placed in the ombudsperson role. If elected to this position, I will do everything in my power to live up to that trust and the commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respect central to our mission and values in the AAR.