Staff Spotlight: Charlie Price
University Ombudsman
Tell us about your background.
I am originally from the small city of Lincoln, England. I studied English at the University of Lincoln and studied abroad in the U.S., where I met my future wife who had coincidentally just come back from studying abroad in England. We bonded over our love for study abroad, and I officially moved to Arlington in 2021 to join her. I have always been interested in higher education, so when I saw a job opening at Marymount it felt like a good fit. I’ve been here for about two and a half years, and I’ve enjoyed serving students as they move through their journey in higher education.
What is an ombudsman?
Essentially, I am the “problem solver” for students. Students can come to me if they have a problem, complaint or dispute with a person, department or just in general, and I help them find a resolution. Part of my job is to also identify systemic issues within the University and help change those things to make the student experience better. By making sure issues are addressed and no student is left behind, I work to improve the overall student experience at Marymount.
What sort of issues do you help students with?
I can help with anything that students need. Most of my work involves resolving problems that impede their academic progress. For example, a student may have difficulty communicating with a faculty member who isn’t good at answering emails promptly. I can contact the department head who oversees that professor’s class and alert them of communication issues. Usually, it’s an easy fix once that concern is brought to the attention of the people in charge. I also have relationships with offices across campus. I can connect students with the right services such as mental health counseling or academic help if they have a larger, ongoing problem. No problem is too big or small. If a student has a problem and doesn’t know what to do, they should contact me. I can then direct them to the correct channels to address that concern.
What should students know about your role?
Even though my role is part of the Marymount Student Living and Engagement Office, I don’t represent the University’s interests. Rather, I am an impartial third party working exclusively on behalf of students to resolve problems fairly and equitably. Also, students can have as much or as little confidentiality as they would like when addressing problems. They can remain anonymous as I advocate on their behalf, or they can spearhead the conversation with my support. So no one should be worried they may be penalized for coming forward with an issue.
Why is your work important?
Working with young adults at this formative time in their lives is a really rewarding experience. It wasn’t long ago that I was a student at university, just figuring things out as I went along. It’s not always easy for everyone to be away from home, have new responsibilities and have an increased workload. University can be a challenging time, but it also can be a rewarding and exciting time. If I can help them have an easier time at university, learn how to advocate for themselves and solve problems to improve their experience, then I feel I’ve done my job well.
How can students contact you for help?
Students can fill out the Ombudsperson Intake Form on the Student Life website, which goes into an independent server only I can access. From there, I email students to gather follow-up information and discuss how to move forward. Students can also reach out by emailing me at .
For more information, please visit our Student Ombudsman page.
