Contact the Office
Telephone, Zoom, or In-Person meetings are most effective, and the University Ombuds Office offers a confidential place in which to meet. The Ombuds will schedule a meeting with you at a time that works best with your schedule, and extended hours are offered to accommodate different shifts.
No drop-ins, please. To protect your privacy and to avoid waiting, unscheduled or unannounced visits are discouraged.
The Ombuds will travel to Alexandria, Eunice, Shreveport, and New Orleans upon request.
To arrange a meeting, please contact the University Ombuds Office at ombuds@lsu.edu, or call or email the Ombuds practitioners directly.
Retha Niedecken, JD, CO-OP®
University Ombuds
Serves all campuses
rniedecken@lsu.edu | 225-578-2483
University Administration Building
and
Choppin Hall
Baton Rouge, LA
Michael Brochu, PhD
Associate Ombuds
Serves LSU Health New Orleans
And LSU Health Shreveport
mbrochu@lsu.edu | 225- 578-0337
University Administration Building
Baton Rouge, LA
*Meetings with Dr. Brochu will be by telephone or zoom, with travel to New Orleans and Shreveport upon request.
Ombuds Biographies
The University Ombuds, Retha Niedecken,JD, CO-OP® joined the LSU community in February 2018 and serves as the Ombuds for all LSU campuses, serving the entire community of faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and medical residents.
In 2019, Retha became a Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner (CO-OP®) and adheres to the ethical standards and practices established by the International Ombuds Association, providing Ombuds services based upon the principles of Informality, Confidentiality, Neutrality, and Independence. Retha is a licensed attorney, with extensive, prior experience practicing law in the areas of banking law, employment law, higher education, and governmental entities.
The Associate Ombuds, Michael Brochu, PhD, joined the LSU community in April 2021. Most recently, Michael served as the Associate Ombuds at the University of Cincinnati. His career includes nine and half years working in multiple areas of Higher Education in the United Arab Emirates. Michael holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Conflict Analysis & Resolution from Nova Southeastern University.
Additionally, Michael is Florida State Supreme Court certified in county, circuit, family, dependency mediation and qualified in arbitration. He has presented at international and national conferences on various topics related to Conflict Resolution and Higher Education. Michael is a member of the International Ombuds Association and the International Association of Facilitators.