Meet the Ombuds Staff

Brett Hathaway Harris joined the University of Oregon in 2016. Previously she served as the ombudsperson at the University of Mississippi. Brett holds a JD from the University of Idaho College of Law with a degree emphasis in Native American Law and a BA in American studies from Idaho State University. She completed mediation training through the Northwest Institute for Dispute Resolution and was a court-approved mediator and court mediation director in Idaho. She worked at various law offices in Idaho and had a private dispute resolution practice focusing on family and workplace dispute resolution before her work as an ombuds.

Sara joined the University of Oregon in 2021. She has a master's degree in Adult & Higher Education from the University of South Dakota, and a BA from Grand Valley State University in English Language & Literature with a minor in Writing. Sara has over 15 years of previous work in higher education, having most recently served as the Director of Student Success at Front Range Community College. She has also served as the director of student conduct, interim director of residence life, and has experience in orientation, chairing a CARE team, and advising student governments. Sara is a certified mediator, and has training in ombuds work through the International Ombudsman Association.

Stuart joined the University of Oregon in 2022. Stuart, MPA, has over 20 years’ experience as a mediator, trainer, and facilitator. He spent 13 years coordinating the Neighborhood / Workplace Mediation Program for the City of Portland with Resolutions Northwest, where he trained and mentored over 200 new mediators and helped develop the “Equity Informed Mediation” program. Stuart is a Family Mediator in private practice with Oregon Divorce Guides, and the author of “The Relationship Repair Game,” a conflict transformation toolkit in the form of a card deck. He is the co-founder for the Oregon Network for Compassionate Communication, and he was recognized by the Oregon Mediation Association with the 2019 “Spirit of Mediation” award.