Contact Us
Buchanan Hall Suite D170
Tel: (703)993-6596
If you call and we are unable to answer, please leave a message with your name and phone number only. We’ll contact you as soon as possible.
Our regular hours of walk-in availability are:
Monday through Friday
- 10:00 am to 12:00pm
- 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Except for published University holidays and times the office is closed due to programming or urgent situations.
We are available at other times of the day and week by appointment only. Please see our Calendly page to schedule an appointment.
Driving Address: 4379 Mason Pond Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030
Disclaimer: The Office of the University Ombudsperson is not an agent of the University authorized to receive notice of claims, complaints, or grievances against the University unless specifically and expressly required by law. The Office is a confidential resource; please do not communicate confidential information by email or voicemail. Retaliation against anyone for consulting with the Office or against the Ombuds for actions within the scope of their duties as described in the Charter is prohibited.
The Ombuds Office does not provide emergency services. If you have a situation or emergency you believe needs immediate attention, please call 911 or contact one of the following:
Mason Police and Public Safety: (703) 993-2810
TDD/TTY Police and Public Safety: 703-993-2817
Crime Solvers Anonymous Tip Hotline: 703-993-4111
Mental Health Hotlines via Counseling and Psychological Services
Our Team
University Ombudsperson - Kimberly Jackson Davidson
Kimberly Jackson Davidson joined George Mason University in February of 2022 as the University Ombudsperson.
Davidson’s primary practices rest on the foundations of social justice mediation, conflict management coaching, reflective structured dialogue, and nonviolent communication, among other strategies. Her experience includes in-depth studies in multiple conflict transformation and interpersonal communication modalities. She is passionate about introducing awareness of the frameworks and practices for transforming conflict and believes this awareness-building nurtures individuals' capacity to be better prepared to navigate internal, interpersonal, and systemic conflict successfully.
Davidson earned a B.A. in English Literature from Spelman College in 1986 and an M.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in African Literature in 1991. She is active within the International Ombuds Association (IOA), the California Caucus of College and University Ombuds (CCCUO), and the Ombuds Section of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR).
For additional detail, take a look at her profile on the University President's Council.
Program Coordinator - Sarah Ahmed Atif
Sarah Ahmed Atif (Sarah) enriches the Mason community as the Program Coordinator in the Office of the University Ombudsperson (Ombuds Office). She joined the office in 2022 after earning an MS in 2021 from the Jimmy and Roselyn Carter School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution and working as a manager at the Carter School’s Transitioning Justice Lab.
Before her graduate studies at the Carter School, Sarah traveled an educational and career path that now informs her work as a trained mediator and circle keeper. Sarah’s undergraduate degree is in Applied Psychology and Fine Arts, and she earned an MBA with a concentration in Management and Marketing from Pakistan. Over the years, Sarah has worked in the consulting world, higher education, headed Human Resources and Recruitment departments for significant firms, and established a center to promote international collaboration in higher education. During her career, Sarah has engaged with community members, NGOs, government agencies, and donors, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations. In addition, Sarah has taught management sciences to graduate students as an adjunct. She is a practitioner with a global perspective and passion for teaching and learning. She is a member of IOA and Virginia Mediation Network.