About

Meet University Ombudsperson Dawn Osborne-Adams

Dawn Osborne-Adams is Yale’s inaugural University Ombudsperson. She brings more than 20 years of experience helping individuals and organizations navigate conflict, address concerns, and build constructive paths forward. Known for her thoughtful, compassionate approach and deep expertise in conflict engagement and dispute resolution, Dawn is committed to fostering an environment in which members of the Yale community feel heard, respected, and empowered to explore their options.

As University Ombudsperson, Dawn serves as a confidential, impartial, independent, and informal resource for faculty, staff, trainees, and graduate and professional school students. She helps visitors assess their situations, think through concerns, understand available resources, navigate difficult conversations, and identify productive ways to address challenges.

Before joining Yale, Dawn served as University Ombuds at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and previously as University Ombudsman at Binghamton University. Her career also includes service within the federal judiciary, where she worked as a law clerk to federal district court judges and directed the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program for the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Across these roles, she has developed extensive experience in mediation, conflict engagement, organizational dynamics, and collaborative problem-solving.

In addition, Dawn has taught courses in law and conflict resolution as an adjunct faculty member. She earned her Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University.