Upholding traditionThe Office of the University Ombudsperson at MSU is the longest continuously operating ombuds office at any college or university in the United States. “Over its many decades in existence, this has been a hallmark of our office,” Burton said. To help advance the field, Burton recently co-edited the first book published by the International Ombuds Association. The organization seeks to advance the understanding and application of organizational ombuds and their vision for every organization to benefit from the practice. Additionally, it’s a means for researchers to begin exploring the work of organizational ombuds.