Angela Dash to join Emory University Ombuds Office
May 27, 2026 Sylvie Wages
Angela Dash has been appointed university ombuds for the Ombuds Office at Emory University. She will report to Lynell Cadray, university ombuds and senior advisor to the president.
“I am excited about her appointment to this role at a very important time at Emory and a critical time in higher education in general,” says Cadray.
For more than a decade, Dash has served in ombuds roles in higher education, supporting faculty, staff and students through conflict management, mediation and organizational challenges. She holds a PhD in conflict analysis and resolution and brings extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, team development and trauma-informed practices.
The Ombuds Office serves as an informal, confidential and impartial resource for faculty, staff and students who are navigating workplace, academic and interpersonal concerns. The office also identifies broader patterns and systemic issues affecting the university community.
According to Dash, individuals may seek support for a wide range of concerns, including interpersonal conflict, workplace or learning environment dynamics, academic issues, or navigating concerns related to organizational processes and decisions.
“I’m a native of Atlanta, but this will be my first ombuds role in Atlanta,” Dash says. “I’m excited about serving a school that I’ve known about all my life and have a lot of respect for: Emory University.”
Dash’s interest in ombuds work began early in her career. She was introduced to mediation while working in the court system in the late 1990s. As she later moved through leadership roles ranging from frontline staff to senior management, she became increasingly interested in how organizational culture and conflict impact people’s well-being. She began noticing patterns across organizations, particularly how both interpersonal dynamics and organizational systems shape culture and influence alignment, cohesion, and the well-being of individuals and the institution as a whole. That ultimately led her to pursue a career in ombuds work.
“It’s important that people know what their resources are,” Dash says. “Conflict, tension and issues are inevitable in any environment, and sometimes it’s helpful to talk to someone where they know it is confidential.”
Dash says a major part of ombuds work is helping people navigate difficult situations and decide how they want to move forward. In addition to one-on-one support, ombuds offices may also provide trainings and facilitation for teams and groups focused on dispute resolution, communication and workplace cohesion.
Dash describes the office as a space where individuals can clarify concerns, explore options and consider perspectives before deciding how to move forward. In some cases, she says, this includes preparing for difficult conversations or role-playing how a discussion might unfold.
“Resources should be accessible and inclusive,” Dash says. “Sometimes only pockets of people know about resources that could really help them. An Ombuds Office is most effective when it is visible, trusted and connected to the community so individuals at every level understand how the office can serve them. That connection is cultivated over time, and I am excited to support and build upon the meaningful engagement that is already a valued part of the office’s work.”
Dash’s appointment comes as Emory continues to emphasize resources that support community well-being and constructive dialogue across campus. In her role, Dash will work with students, faculty and staff to navigate conflict, identify solutions and surface broader patterns affecting the university environment.
