About Us
Meet the Staff
Dr. Jennifer Smith Schneider, Assistant Vice President
Jennifer has served as an ombuds at °®¶¹´«Ã½ since 2015. She is a Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner (CO-OP®) and she sits on the International Ombuds Association's Board of Directors. Prior to coming to °®¶¹´«Ã½ as ombuds, Jennifer held various instructional and administrative roles at Polk State College, the University of Central °®¶¹´«Ã½ and °®¶¹´«Ã½. She earned a BS in Deaf Education from Flagler College, an MS in Special Education and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from °®¶¹´«Ã½.
Laura Zuppo, M.S., M.B.A., Director
Laura Zuppo serves as the Director of the °®¶¹´«Ã½ Student Ombuds Office at the University of South °®¶¹´«Ã½, where she assists students on all °®¶¹´«Ã½ campuses. Before becoming a full-time ombuds, Laura served as a collateral ombuds and as the Regional Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Success at the °®¶¹´«Ã½ St. Petersburg campus. Drawing on her firsthand knowledge of °®¶¹´«Ã½â€™s structure, policies, and procedures, Laura provides a confidential, impartial, independent, and informal space where students can voice their 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 a doctoral candidate in °®¶¹´«Ã½â€™s Ph.D. program in Higher Education Administration, where she will focus her dissertation research on the experiences of collateral ombuds who serve students in post-secondary education. Laura is also a certified Conflict Dynamics Profile Coach, supporting individuals and teams in developing effective conflict management strategies.
Risa Blake, Administrative Specialist
°®¶¹´«Ã½ from any °®¶¹´«Ã½ campus can reach out to Risa to schedule an appointment.
Arianna Hernandez, Student Assistant
*The °®¶¹´«Ã½ Ombuds Office does not accept formal complaints or notice for the University. If you would like to make °®¶¹´«Ã½ 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 °®¶¹´«Ã½'s Public Records Law (Ch.119, °®¶¹´«Ã½ Statute) and may not be confidential.