The Ombuds Blog: Meet the Second Ombuds for George Mason University

July 15, 2025

Meet the Second Ombuds for George Mason University

In March 2024, Sarah Ahmed Atif was named the second University Ombudsperson for GMU. She joined Kimberly Davidson, who has held the same title since December 2021. Atif was promoted into the job after two years as the program manager for the Ombuds Office.

Atif has managed programs for several organization, including Fatima Jinnah Women University, AWT Pakistan, REDtone, and the Transitioning Justice Lab at GMU. She has also been a faculty member at several universities. hosted a meeting of Academic Ombuds from around the region. Atif graduated from the National University of Modern Languages and earned an MBA at Fatima Jinnhah Women University Rawalpindi and an MS in Conflict Analysis & Resolution , Mediation, Restorative Justice, Facilitation, Project Evaluation at George Mason University. (LinkedIn.)

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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany/Austria -- Ombudspersonen and Ombudsleute

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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July 15, 2025

Meet the Second Ombuds for George Mason University

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