President Maurie McInnis today announced the appointment of Dawn Osborne-Adams as Yale University’s inaugural university ombudsperson, following an extensive national search.In the role, Osborne-Adams will serve as a confidential, neutral, independent, and informal resource for members of the Yale community navigating concerns related to their work or studies, the president said in an announcement message.“Fostering an environment of open communication is vital to the work we do at Yale,” McInnis wrote. “With the creation of this new position, we demonstrate our deep commitment to that ideal.”A lawyer, Osborne-Adams has served as university ombuds at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) since 2018. She starts at Yale on Sept. 1 and will report to McInnis, who established the Yale ombudsperson role in response to suggestions from faculty, graduate and professional school students, and staff.“With over twenty years of experience in ombuds practice, law, and leadership development, Dawn has demonstrated not only a keen understanding of conflict engagement and dispute resolution, but also a steadfast commitment to creating opportunities for growth and connection within communities,” McInnis wrote.