About Us
Meet the Staff
Dr. Jennifer Schneider - Ombuds - Serves all students on all ±«Óãtv campuses
Before coming to ±«Óãtv as student ombuds, Jennifer directed career services at Polk State College, worked with the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (now called the Institute for Sport and Social Justice) at UCF, and was an academic advisor in ±«Óãtv's College of Education. She also spent 13 years teaching in the public school system. Jennifer has earned a B.A. in Deaf Education from Flagler College, an M.A. in Special Education from ±«Óãtv and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from ±«Óãtv. She has also earned the designation of Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner (CO-OP®) through the International Ombuds Association.
Serving students as the student ombuds allows Jennifer to share her knowledge of University
policies and procedures, empathically listen to students' concerns, and advocate for
a fair process for resolving issues that students encounter at ±«Óãtv.
Laura Zuppo, M.S., M.B.A. - Ombuds - Serves all students on all ±«Óãtv campuses
Laura Zuppo serves as a full-time ombuds at the ±«Óãtv. Before becoming a full-time ombuds, Laura served as a collateral ombuds and as the Regional Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Success at the ±«Óãtv St. Petersburg campus. Drawing from her first-hand knowledge of ±«Óãtv’s structure, policies, and procedures, Laura provides a confidential, impartial, independent, and informal space where students can voice concerns, explore options, and seek resolutions. Laura spent the last 25 years in higher education administration and consulting. Her functional area experience spans from Enrollment Management to Student Affairs. Laura earned a B.A. in Sociology from Cedar Crest College, an M.S. in Higher Education Administration from Drexel University, an M.B.A. from Keller Graduate School of Management, and a Post Master's Certificate in Leadership in Higher Education. She is in her final year of coursework in ±«Óãtv’s Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration where she will focus her dissertation research on the experiences of collateral ombuds who serve students in post-secondary education.
Risa Blake, Administrative Specialist
Students from any ±«Óãtv campus can reach out to Risa to schedule an appointment.
Aliya Alibi, Student Assistant
Arianna Hernandez, Student Assistant
*The ±«Óãtv Ombuds Office does not accept formal complaints or notice for the University. If you would like to make ±«Óãtv formally aware of a particular problem, the Ombuds Office staff can provide information on how to do so. Keep in mind that email messages to the Ombuds Office could be subject to Florida's Public Records Law (Ch.119, Florida Statute) and may not be confidential.