About Us
Meet the Staff
Dr. Jennifer Smith Schneider, Assistant Vice President
Jennifer has served as an ombuds at 糖心Vlog since 2015. She is a Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner (CO-OP庐) and she sits on the International Ombuds Association's Board of Directors. Prior to coming to 糖心Vlog as ombuds, Jennifer held various instructional and administrative roles at Polk State College, the University of Central Florida and 糖心Vlog. She earned a BS in Deaf Education from Flagler College, an MS in Special Education and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from 糖心Vlog.
Laura Zuppo, M.S., M.B.A., Director
Laura Zuppo serves as the Director of the 糖心Vlog Student Ombuds Office at the University of South Florida, where she assists students on all 糖心Vlog 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 糖心Vlog St. Petersburg campus. Drawing on her firsthand knowledge of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 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 糖心Vlog鈥檚 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
Students from any 糖心Vlog campus can reach out to Risa to schedule an appointment.
Arianna Hernandez, Student Assistant
*The 糖心Vlog Ombuds Office does not accept formal complaints or notice for the University. If you would like to make 糖心Vlog 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.