The Society for Cinema and Media Studies has appointed an independent Ombudsperson to support our members as well as the implementation of the Code of Conduct and related procedures. The Ombudsperson serves as a confidential, neutral, and informal resource for conference participants who have questions about the Code of Conduct, wish to discuss concerns, or are seeking guidance.

The Ombudsperson does not advocate for any individual or for the Society, but instead helps participants understand the Code of Conduct, sort through their concerns, explore possible next steps, and navigate the reporting and resolution framework in an informed and supported way. Engagement with the Ombudsperson is informal and exploratory, and contacting the Ombudsperson does not initiate a formal complaint.

2026 Conference Ombudsperson

For the 2026 conference, our onsite Ombudsperson is Bathabile K. S. Mthombeni (she/her/hers). She is the founder and principal of Untangled Resolutions, a company launched in 2010 that provides conflict management and dispute resolution consulting and services with an equity lens.

Bathabile is the eldest child of an immigrant family. She was born in South Africa, raised in Southern California, and now lives in the Southern Tier of New York State. Her name means “they are happy” in at least three Southern African languages: seTswana, isiZulu, and isiNdebele. She is a companion to four dogs and two cats, loves music and mystery novels, sang for tips on New York City subway platforms, and once lived in a tent.

Bathabile earned her A.B. in Sociology from Princeton University, her law degree from Columbia Law School, and her master’s degree in Leadership and Organizational Development, along with a graduate coaching certificate, from the University of Texas at Dallas’s Jindal School of Management. She brings over 20 years of experience as a mediator, coach, and ombudsperson to provide you with empathy, guidance, and community- and person-centered interventions.

Important Information

Contacting the Ombuds service does not constitute reporting a concern to SCMS. The Ombuds can help you think through your options and decide whether, and how, you would like to make a report.

You have up to one year after the conference to contact the Ombuds regarding a conference-related concern. Please be aware that options for addressing concerns may narrow over time. As time passes, memories fade, information may be more difficult to gather, and participants may become harder to contact. For these practical reasons, incidents are generally easier to address when raised promptly and, if possible, within 90 days. We also recognize that individuals may need time to process their experiences before deciding whether to reach out. The one-year window is intended to provide space for that reflection, while also encouraging timely communication when possible.

How to Reach the Ombuds Service

To reach the Ombuds and request services, call (917) 912-0882 and leave a message with your contact information, or click the link below to access a confidential online form (which does not collect email addresses), or use the direct link here: https://bit.ly/SCMSOmbuds.

You should receive a response within two hours between 11:00 am and 8:00 pm local time. Requests made outside those hours may receive a delayed response. Please avoid including details about your situation when leaving a message.