Providing Confidential Assistance to Resolve KSU Concerns

The Office of the Ombuds is serviced by Dr. Akanmu G. Adebayo, Professor of History in the Department of History and Philosophy, and Dr. Luc Guglielmi, Professor of French in the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

Dr. Akanmu Adebayo has had extensive teaching, administrative, and academic experiences at KSU and at other institutions. He served as assistant dean in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, executive director of KSU’s Institute for Global Initiatives, and director of the Center for Conflict Management. He has conducted research in African and African Diaspora studies and in conflict management. He has also taught courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Dr. Luc D Guglielmi has been a professor at KSU since 2006. He has served as the Coordinator of the French program and as Director of a number of study abroad programs in Belgium and in France for the European Council of the University System of Georgia (now the University System of Georgia Goes Global) as well as at KSU. He has taught in multiple departments and is currently an affiliate in the Gender and Women Studies program.

An Ombuds provides confidential and informal assistance in the resolution of university-related concerns, especially those not being addressed adequately through normal procedures. He or she is an independent person who attempts to consider all sides of an issue in an impartial and objective manner. An Ombuds cannot impose solutions but can help identify options and strategies for resolution.

The KSU Ombuds serve all members of the campus community. 

Visitor Information

The University Ombuds provides confidential, impartial, informal, and independent services to assist individuals with resolving problems or concerns. All members of the university community can seek assistance from an Ombuds at no cost. The Ombuds can help by listening as a sounding board, assisting in examining resolution options, suggesting possible referrals, making informal inquiries, or otherwise reviewing matters received. The response of the Ombuds is tailored to the dynamics of the situation and the visitor's concerns.

All communication with the Ombuds Office is understood to be confidential. The Ombuds will not confirm communicating with any party or disclose information without that party's permission, except in cases where there is an imminent risk of harm to self or others. Please note that email is not considered confidential. If you have an interest in ensuring the confidentiality of our communications, be mindful of what information you share via email, and consider using the telephone or a face-to-face conversation instead.

student standing in front of tree on marietta campus.

The Ombuds office is impartial, serving as neither advocate nor apologist for any members or offices of the KSU community. Hence the Ombuds assists visitors in finding ways to address their problems, rather than by prescribing or pursuing a particular solution for a visitor. The goal of the Ombuds is to empower a visitor with options, knowledge, consultation, information, and objective, non-binding advice.

The Ombuds office operates informally, has no authority or role in any formal process on campus, and does not accept notice on behalf of KSU. The Ombuds functions independently of other campus processes and offices and has no vested interest or agenda, other than assisting visitors with reaching a satisfactory resolution to their concerns.

We look forward to assisting you in exploring your options or gathering information to inform your decisions going forward.

How We Can Help

An Ombuds can help you by:

  • Listening carefully to your concerns
  • Answering questions and helping you analyze your situation
  • Reviewing and explaining relevant university policies or regulations
  • Helping you explore options
  • Facilitating discussions

Please contact the KSU Ombuds office at 470-578-7773 if we might be of assistance. In case you reach voicemail, please let us know when we might reach you; we seek to return calls within a day.

Visitors may also contact the Ombuds office by email at ombuds@kennesaw.edu. Please be mindful that emails and voice messages should not be considered confidential. Please include only your contact information and availability to speak; do not include sensitive or confidential information.

Visitor feedback is appreciated! The following link provides the opportunity for you to give feedback on your experience with the Ombuds. The survey is anonymous and purely voluntary.

Contact Us

The KSU Ombuds serve all members of the campus community. 

Please contact the KSU Ombuds office at 470-578-7773 if we might be of assistance. In case you reach voicemail, please let us know when we might reach you; we seek to return calls within 24 hours, or on Monday morning if you left a message on the weekend. Please be mindful that voicemail should not be considered confidential.

Visitors may also contact the Ombuds office by email at ombuds@kennesaw.edu. Please be mindful that email should also not be considered confidential. Please include only your contact information and availability to speak; do not include sensitive or confidential information.

Our Office Hours:

Monday and Wednesday Kennesaw Hall 2302 (Kennesaw Campus) 9 am - 3 pm

Tuesday and Thursday Norton Hall R2-314 (Marietta Campus) 10 am - 4 pm

ksu students walking at the marietta campus.