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PME announces two new student ombudspersons

The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) at the University of Chicago has announced the appointment of two student ombudspersons, Sophia (Chao-Wei) Huang and Adarsh Suresh. The pair are the first to hold the position, which was introduced in August.

As student ombudspersons, Huang and Suresh will act as confidential and informal resources to help students learn about school policy, address specific concerns, or mediate conflict. They are responsible for listening to student concerns without judgment, helping to untangle and clarify relevant issues, and identify a range of options or strategies for moving an issue forward. As part of their duties, the student ombudspersons will be able to provide information for both Pritzker Molecular Engineering and the University of Chicago policies.

Sophia (Chao-Wei) Huang
Sophia (Chao-Wei) Huang

The new position was created as part of PME’s ongoing efforts to foster a supportive and inclusive environment. According to Huang, the student ombudsperson can act as an accessible resource for students who feel more comfortable confiding in a peer. Speaking about why she was interested in the new position, Huang reflected on previous interactions with fellows students.

“I've realized that sometimes, the help a student may need is right here on campus, and they just need a little stepping stone to get them there,” Huang said. “I've enjoyed being that stepping stone for my classmates unofficially, just through daily conversations, and I would love to be a helping hand getting more people to reach the professional help they need.”

Suresh, speaking about the new role, reflected on his own experiences navigating higher education.

Adarsh Suresh
Adarsh Suresh

“As an international graduate student, I know how much is on your plate—you feel the need to assimilate quickly, you feel the need to make friends fast, you feel the need to find a PI,” Suresh said. “Whether you're international or not, you can feel somewhat overwhelmed and alone, but you're not. There’s a huge number of excellent resources on campus, it’s just a matter of knowing about them. In this role, I can guide students to those resources, which I know can be incredibly helpful.”

Students can contact Huang or Suresh for help resolving or clarifying any problems or complaint, or to seek advice on school procedure.

Students may also reach out the University of Chicago’s Office of the Student Ombudsperson. Andrew Ferguson, associate professor of molecular engineering and vice dean of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and Chong Liu, assistant professor of molecular engineering, serve as the PME faculty ombudspersons and are available to the entire PME community.