Melissa Connell is the Director of the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Ombuds Office and has been ombudsing for over 17 years. She received her JD from the University of Denver and completed her undergrad degree at Colorado State University.  Melissa, along with her colleague Lisa Neale, is one of the first ombuds nationally and internationally to be certified as an organizational ombudsman practitioner. She presently serves as co-chair of the International Ombudsman Association's Mentoring Committee and has proudly mentored more ombuds than any other IOA member. Prior to her work as an Ombuds, Melissa worked for elected officials at the county, state and federal level.