Senior Leadership
Shireen L. Dodson, United Nations Ombudsman
On 7 June 2018, the Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Shireen L. Dodson of the United States as the third United Nations Ombudsman, at the level of Assistant Secretary-General.
Ms. Dodson brings to the position over thirty years of diverse leadership experience in business, government and non-profit organizations. Prior to this appointment, she was the first full-time Ombudsman of the State Department of the United States, a position that she assumed in 2010 and in which she provided dispute resolution, coaching, change-management and leadership training for nearly 75,000 people around the world.
Between 2006 and 2010, she was Special Assistant to the Director, Office of Civil Rights for the State Department of the United States. In 2004, she was the City Museum Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of The Historical Society of Washington. She also served as Interim Director of the Non-profit Roundtable of Greater Washington (2001-2002), Senior Strategist, Netsuite Division of Starpoint Solutions (2000-2001), Associate Director for Administration, Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution (1995-2000), Associate Director for Administration and Planning for The National African-American Museum Project, Smithsonian Institution (1992-1995), and Comptroller, Smithsonian Institution (1986-1992).
Ms. Dodson holds a Juris Doctorate Degree from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Morgan State University. She is also an International Coach Federation (ICF) certified coach.
Susan John, Chief of Service
Ms. Susan John was appointed Chief of Service in the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services (UNOMS) in October 2021.
Prior to that, she served for over ten years as the Regional Ombudsman in the Bangkok branch of UNOMS.
Ms. John brings to the position over twenty years of broad experience in, and knowledge of, the United Nations system, having served previously in various oversight roles in peacekeeping missions in Kosovo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti as well as in Vienna and New York.
Ms. John has a background in literature, law (JD) and international relations (masters). While at law school, she focused on alternative dispute resolution, became a certified mediator, and served as a community mediator in Brooklyn, New York.
Ms. John considers being an ombudsman a vocation that brings together the myriad aspects of her background, qualifications and interests with her desire to help others and make a positive impact.