Our Staff
Lynell Cadray
University Ombuds
Senior Adviser to the President
In this role, Cadray advises the president on policies and systemic issues of concern as well as identifies behavioral trends and patterns that require attention. Cadray serves faculty and staff—and, when appropriate, students—with resolving their concerns and issues.
Since arriving at Emory in 1994, Cadray has served in numerous roles, including vice provost of equity and inclusion; associate dean of enrollment and student services and chief diversity officer at Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing; and dean of admission and financial aid and chief diversity officer at Emory University School of Law.
She has been recognized with numerous awards, among them, at Emory, the Award of Distinction (2014), the Distinguished Leadership Award for Women of Excellence (2016), and the Career Excellence Award in Equity and Inclusion from the Office of the Provost (2019). In 2017, Cadray was nominated to advance her work on peace as an “Emory Peacemaker” during the 21 Days of Peace celebrations on campus. External accolades include the Most Powerful and Influential Woman Award (2017) from the National Diversity Council.
Cadray received her BA from Tulane University, MA from Georgia State University, and a certificate in conflict resolution from Cornell University. She is a trained conflict coach and mediator as well as a national facilitator on implicit bias who worked with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to present this training during the Obama administration. Cadray is a member of the International Ombudsman Association and the International Association for Conflict Management. When she is not working within the Emory community, she serves as board chair for the Georgia Zoological Society, a partner to the Georgia Safari Conservation Park.
Angela Dash
University Ombuds
Angela serves faculty, staff, and students as a confidential, independent, impartial, and informal resource for navigating concerns, conflicts, and challenging situations. Prior to joining Emory, she has served as an organizational ombuds for over eleven years and has established ombuds programs at institutions including Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine and Northeast Ohio Medical University. She also served in Georgia’s Governor’s Office of Disability Services Ombudsman.
Prior to her work in the ombuds field, she spent more than 20 years working in county and state government in the Atlanta area, including 14 years in various leadership roles. Angela is a Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner (CO-OP®) through the International Ombuds Association and a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation. She has been a registered mediator through the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution since 2002 and is a former adjunct faculty member at New York University.
She holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a specialization in conflict within organizations, schools, and healthcare, an MPA and a BA, along with graduate certificates in Trauma and Resilience and Executive and Professional Coaching. She also holds a certificate in Team Coaching.
As an Alternative Dispute Resolution ADVISOR (reservist cadre) for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), she has been recognized for six years to receive a FEMA Reservist Special Act Award. Angela is a native of the city of Atlanta and enjoys nature walks, including hiking, home projects, and quality time for family and friends.
Ren Brooks
Administrative Assistant
The first person to welcome you to the office when you arrive, Brooks provides operational and administrative support for the office and schedules all appointments. She has a background in sales, communications, and customer service. Prior to working at Emory, she worked as a logistics administrator for a printing company and served in various administrative roles.
A certified nutritionist, Brooks enjoys creating visual art as well as undertaking herbalist studies and wildlife rehabilitation.