Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference

Senior University Legal Counsel
UW-Madison

Anne E. Bilder is Senior University Legal Counsel in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Legal Affairs (OLA). Her principal practice areas include employment law, student affairs, legal issues related to campus programs for children and youth, Title IX, privacy and cybersecurity, and diversity issues. Prior to joining OLA she served as Senior System Legal Counsel in the Office of General Counsel for the University of Wisconsin System where she was an attorney since 1998. Anne is a graduate of Carleton College and the University of Wisconsin Law School, where she was a member of Law Review. She also has a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and teaches courses in privacy law at the Law School and a course in Legal Aspects of Higher Education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. An active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), she has served on many NACUA committees and has given presentations at annual conferences. In addition, she has spoken to a wide variety of statewide and regional audiences on topics including Title IX, student privacy, student discipline, diversity, and employment issues. She has also served as Co-Chair of the UW System President’s Task Force on Sexual Violence and Harassment and other policy-related committees.

Director of EEO & DEI Services
ICS, LLC

Celeste Bradley has been a labor and employment lawyer for almost two decades, serving as Associate General Counsel for BlueCross BlueShield over their labor and employment division (with over 6,000 employees in offices across Tennessee) and in-house employment counsel for a large trucking company and parking services company. Ms. Bradley has conducted dozens of investigations ranging from sexual assault allegations to Title IX athletics complaints to faculty and staff complaints. She provides diversity training and programming, Title VI, Title VII and other Human Resource Professional training and workplace investigations for the private sector and education institutions. Serving as in-house counsel provided Ms. Bradley with valuable experience in the importance of providing efficient and thorough assistance while presenting the information with an understanding of the business needs. She is successful in partnering with entities to provide policy reviews along with Title VI and Title VII compliance.   Additionally, she provides union negotiation support from the election process to finalizing the collective bargaining agreement. She also has experience in drafting and implementing pandemic plans and building Crisis Response Teams and plans.

CEO/Executive Director
Integrated Community Alternatives Network (ICAN)

Bulger has over twenty years of experience in the behavioral health field with eighteen years at ICAN, serving as CEO/Executive Director for close to a decade. Since taking the helm in 2014, ICAN has seen significant growth under Bulger, and now provides services to over 2,100 families everyday through over 22 programs across seven Upstate New York counties. He was instrumental in creating the Return Home Early Project which has received national attention by both the Building Bridges Initiative and the White House Council for Community Solutions.

Bulger has presented on the innovative ICAN model across the country with presentations at the Annual Research and Policy, the Mental Health Association of San Francisco Annual Conference, University of Maryland’s Training Institute’s National Conference and the Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health.

He currently serves on the NYS Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health, SUNY POLY College of Business Board, and Herkimer County HealthNet. He has also been a member of the Westmoreland CSD Board of Education since 2019. Bulger received a Bachelors from Niagara University and a MBA from SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Chief Innovation Officer
Integrated Community Alternatives Network (ICAN)

Butler has spent more than 20 years working in the behavioral health field and began working for ICAN in 2017.  In his current role, he oversees the agency’s Independent Practice Association (ICAN IPA), Elevate CNY Sports Complex, Community Education and Training Department, and School-Based Services. He has spent the bulk of his career building high performing teams.

He has designed, developed, and delivered over 225 trainings at the local, state, and national level. He holds multiple certifications in a variety of training disciplines ranging from Cornell University’s Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Mental Health First Aid for Youth, Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP), Positive Behavior Intervention Supports, Peer Mediation, to Screening of Persons through Observational Techniques (SPOT) through LSU, among many others.

Butler earned a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Syracuse University.  He is the current Co-Chair of the NYS Children’s Behavioral Health Coalition’s School Based Mental Health Coalition, the MV Regional Youth Justice Team and a former past President of the Oneida County Youth Services Council.

Vice President of Student Life & Dean of Students
Washington and Jefferson

Eva Chatterjee-Sutton joined W&J as the Vice President of Student Life & Dean of Students in July of 2013. Eva earned her BS in Sociology and Political Science at Kansas State University and her MA in College Student Development with a minor in Organizational Change & Development at the University of Iowa. Upon completion of her graduate work, Eva joined the University of Maryland – Baltimore County (UMBC) where she held several positions within the Office of Residence Life. In the summer of 1997, Eva joined Bennington College, first as the Associate Director of Student Life and later transitioned to the Dean of Students at Bennington, in 2006.

At W&J, Eva continues her commitment to creating a holistic and robust student experience. She supports a team in the Division of Student Life whose work resonates with the values of student and community development: developing leaders of uncommon integrity. The work of the division includes athletics, campus & public safety, dining, residence life, accountability & conduct, student health and counseling, and professional and career pathways.

In addition to her board role on the Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference, Eva serves as the NCAA ADR Institute Facilitator; on the NASPA James E. Scott Academy Board; as a member of the NASPA Annual Conference VSPA Initiatives Subcommittee; and, on the NASPA Law and Policy Conference Planning Committee.

Advisor and Consultant 

Megan Farrell is an attorney licensed to practice in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Megan currently serves as the Title IX Coordinator for Palo Alto Unified School District and provides consulting/mediation services to educational institutions.

Over the course of her career, Megan has served the education community in a variety of positions. She has been an administrator, in-house counsel, and a full-time faculty member, as well as Title IX Coordinator.  Aside from her in-house experience, she has also served as an external advisor to educational institutions on compliance matters.  Megan provided Title IX support and training to educational clients across the country with T9 Mastered and the Hirschfeld Kraemer, LLP law firm.

Megan began her education/legal career with United Educators Risk Retention Group where she provided assistance to colleges, universities, and K12 institutions across the country on employment and student claims and litigation.  She also served as the Education Practice Leader for DC-based offices of Marsh, Inc.

Founding Attorney
Faulkner Legal LLC

Janet Elie Faulkner was Emerson College’s first general counsel and also was in-house counsel for Northeastern University for over ten years.   Janet conducts independent investigations of Title IX, employment, faculty, discrimination, disability, and athletics matters.   She recently co-authored a peer-reviewed article on accommodating disabilities in the Title IX process.  Janet has held leadership roles in the Boston Bar Association’s College and University section, is a member of the NACUANOTES Editorial Board, and has developed training modules for the Student Conduct Institute.  She was a co-author of SCI’s Joint Guidance on the 2020 Title IX regulations, including the article on the intersection between Title IX and Title VII.  Janet recently served as interim Employment Counsel for Cengage Learning.  She also teaches Education Law and Public Policy at Boston College.

Janet established Faulkner Legal in 2014.  Faulkner Legal is a boutique firm with a focus on the areas of employment, education, disability & privacy law. Faulkner Legal provides legal advice to colleges and universities, non-profits, education vendors, & small businesses.  Faulkner Legal is a member of the Partner Network of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education.

Director of Accountability and Regulatory Affairs
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities

Jody Feder represents the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) on issues of accountability and regulatory affairs, including Title IX, affirmative action, freedom of speech, educational privacy, and accreditation. She joined the NAICU staff in March 2017 after more than 14 years as a legislative attorney with the Congressional Research Service. At CRS, she provided nonpartisan advice and analysis to Members of Congress and their staff on civil rights and education law. Prior to attending law school, she wrote about federal education issues as an editor for Thompson Publishing Group. Feder earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from Brown University and a law degree from Yale University.

Vice Chancellor for Human Resources
California State University

Leora D. Freedman serves as the Vice Chancellor for Human Resources at the California State University system. In this role, Leora provides strategic leadership and direction for the CSU’s comprehensive human resources department (faculty and staff).  She oversees collective bargaining, equity services (including Title IX and other nondiscrimination policies, equal opportunity, and whistleblower complaints), compensation, benefits, data research and analysis, policy development and Learning & Development. Leora first joined the CSU’s Office of General Counsel in 2010. Between 2014 and 2017, she served as General Counsel for Occidental College in Los Angeles. Leora returned to the CSU Office of General Counsel in February 2017 and served as Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief Counsel — Academic and Student Affairs.  Between 2018 and 2022, Leora served as Associate Vice Chancellor and Deputy General Counsel.

Leora began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Harry L. Hupp, United States District Court for the Central District of California. Thereafter, she practiced business and insurance coverage litigation and then served as the Directing Attorney of the Consumer Law Project and the Homelessness Prevention Law Project at Public Counsel in Los Angeles.  Leora earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Wesleyan University, and a juris doctorate degree (J.D.) from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Director of Public Safety
Northeastern University

Ruben Galindo joined the Northeastern University Police Department (NUPD) in January of 2015, as their Deputy Chief of Police, and Director of Public Safety.  The NUPD is a full service police department with over 100 employees, 70 + which are sworn law enforcement officers. In additional to uniform patrol, investigations and community engagement functions, emergency management and international security also operate alongside the police department serving the university global needs. They are accredited through CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) and through MPAC (Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission).  The NUPD has also partnered with the Cambridge Police Department to run their own police academy through the MPTC.

Ruben began his career with the Miami-Dade Police Department in 1982 and during his tenure served as officer, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and major. Some of his commands included, Captain of the Liberty City District, Commander of the Miami International Airport and Director of the Miami-Dade Training Institute.

Ruben holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Lynn University, as well as a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Miami. Ruben is a Graduate of the 22nd Command Officers Development Course from the Southern Police Institute.

Senior Counsel
Bond Schoeneck & King Attorneys

Seth brings direct experience in student affairs, labor and employment matters to his clients, with an emphasis on higher education institutions (HEIs). For the past 16 years, he served as senior counsel to several HEIs in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, including Upstate Medical University and the University at Buffalo.
Most recently, Seth was labor and student affairs counsel for SUNY’s western campuses (University at Buffalo, Buffalo State College, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Brockport and Alfred State College). In addition, he served as primary counsel for international programs, applied learning and records/e-discovery.Seth oversaw many labor and employment cases, including cases before the New York State Division of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He has drafted multiple policy documents for SUNY, including housing licenses, discrimination complaint procedures and e-discovery procedures. Seth managed audits, including federal and state Clery, OFCCP and Title IX audits; represented SUNY during Inspector General and Office for Civil Rights investigations and was counsel to task forces on student wellness and students with disabilities. He negotiated system-wide contracts with Google and Microsoft.Seth is a frequent presenter at national higher education conferences, including National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA).

Vice Chair, Institutional Response Group
Cozen O’Connor

Leslie Gomez, Vice Chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Institutional Response Group, focuses her practice on the institutional response to sexual and gender-based harassment and violence, child abuse, and other forms of harassment, discrimination, and criminal conduct. Leslie provides consulting, counseling, and legal advice on all aspects of the institutional response to misconduct. She assists institutions in designing effective institutional responses that integrate the complex federal and state regulatory framework with the unique dynamics of trauma and the impacts of interpersonal violence on individuals and communities. Leslie regularly advises presidents, boards, senior leadership, counsel, student affairs, human resources, campus law enforcement, Title IX Coordinators, and other campus partners in implementing trauma-informed, fair, and impartial processes. Leslie helps institutions develop comprehensive policies, procedures, systems, and training programs in compliance with Title IX, Title VII, the Clery Act, as amended by the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, and state and local laws. Leslie conducts comprehensive policy audits; drafts policies, procedures, and internal operating protocols; develops and trains multi-disciplinary teams; serves as an expert adviser to campus task forces and working groups; consults and advises on Title IX investigation, adjudication and appeal proceedings; and assists educational institutions in meeting federal compliance obligations and responding to investigations by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Clery Compliance Division. Prior to entering private practice, Leslie served as an assistant district attorney at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

Partner
Clark Hill

Patricia Hamill, Co-Chair of Clark Hill’s Title IX and Campus Discipline practice, Patricia is an attorney who represents college students, faculty members, and administrators in campus disciplinary proceedings and in litigation following flawed disciplinary processes. She has been successful in bringing lawsuits around the nation for violations of Title IX (or other civil rights statutes), breach of contract and tort liability on the basis that colleges’ disciplinary processes failed to ensure fundamental due process rights, discriminated on the basis of sex and breached contractual obligations.

Patricia is a frequent speaker, commentator and writer on Title IX and is sought out by groups and institutions to share her knowledge and to advocate for how best to meet the needs of students and faculty in the ever-changing legal landscape involving Title IX case law and regulations. Given her expertise, she has often testified before the Department of Education and was invited to testify on due process issues before the United States Senate’s hearing on “Reauthorizing HEA: Addressing Campus Sexual Assault and Ensuring Student Safety and Rights” in Washington DC (April 2019).

Senior Solutions Specialist
Grand River Solutions

Emma Hempel (she/her) is a Senior Solutions Specialist at Grand River Solutions. With over a decade of experience in the field of higher education, she has expertise in areas of Title IX, sexual/interpersonal violence prevention, bystander intervention, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a particular emphasis on supporting the LGBTQ+ Community.

Emma has served as Title IX Coordinator at both public and private institutions of various sizes. Emma also served as President for the State University of New York’s Title IX Coordinator Association (STIXCA) and worked with 64 campuses and their Title IX initiatives. She specializes in the intersection of sexual violence within the LGBTQ+ community.  Emma has also served as LGBTQ Coordinator at the State University of New York at New Paltz, providing broad support for LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, and students. Additionally, she has worked as a trainer for the LGBTQ+ Center of the Hudson Valley, developing and implementing Cultural Responsiveness Workshops for local organizations, companies, and the community at large. Her expertise has been recognized through numerous conference presentations, where she shares insights and best practices to address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals impacted by sexual violence. Emma holds a graduate degree in Social Justice Educational Studies from the State University of New York at New Paltz. Her academic background, coupled with her extensive practical experience, enables her to approach her work with a deep understanding of the systemic issues surrounding sexual and interpersonal violence and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Member
Institutional Response Group at Cozen O’Connor

As a member of the Institutional Response Group, Maureen’s practice is focused on helping educational institutions prevent and address sexual assault, interpersonal violence, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, hazing, and other forms of prohibited conduct under Title IX, Clery, VAWA, and related laws.

Maureen helps schools design and implement effective institutional responses that integrate the complex federal and state regulatory framework with the unique dynamics of sexual and gender-based harassment and the impacts of interpersonal violence on individuals and communities. She provides hands-on assistance writing policies and procedures, conducting investigations, serving as an external decision-maker, and developing and delivering training programs for Title IX Coordinators, Institutional Equity personnel, decision-makers, investigators, and other leaders.

Maureen served as Interim Title IX Coordinator at Baylor University, helping to build Baylor’s Office of Institutional Equity; and Interim Director of Investigations at a large state university, restructuring their intake and investigative processes. She currently leads a team of attorneys who serve as equity consultants for Michigan State University, reviewing policies, procedures, and case files and reporting on legal compliance and effective practices.

Maureen co-chairs Cozen O’Connor’s Education Team, helping identify, develop, and connect education leaders with legal advisors and experienced professionals within and outside the firm.

Associate Vice President and Counsel for Government Relations and Public Policy
Association of American Universities

Kate Hudson serves as the Associate Vice President and Counsel for Government Relations and Public Policy with the Association of American Universities, where her portfolio includes higher education policy issues such as intellectual property, technology transfer, open science and public access, data privacy, labor and employment, research security policy, Title IX issues, tax and endowments, and other regulatory matters important to America’s leading research universities. As AVP of Government Relations, she provides visibility and advocacy for AAU members before federal agencies, the White House, and the Hill. As policy counsel, she is also responsible for AAU’s amicus docket. Kate leads AAU’s General Counsels (GC) constituent group and the Council for Federal Relations Intellectual Property & Tech Transfer Task Force. She is a former senior federal agency attorney, serving at the Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and the U.S. General Services Administration. Prior to her federal service, Kate served as a public defender and legal aid civil litigator in Georgia and North Carolina. She is a graduate of American University (MPAP), the University of Dayton School of Law (JD), and Ohio University (BA/MA).

Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Adam serves as the Dean of Students for University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, where he helps assist with student conduct, student advocacy and engagement, support resources, including basic needs, crisis management. Adam also co-leads the Campus Cares initiative—comprehensive, holistic health and wellbeing work for all UWM students, faculty and staff. Before UWM, Adam was the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Conduct at Washington State University. He previously represented WSU as an assistant attorney general, and has a certification in higher education law and policy from NASPA Adam served as a faculty member for the Foundations Track at the 2018 Gehring Academy, and has been fortunate to speak at a number of conferences about how to better serve students, including the National Conference on Law and Higher Education, University of Vermont Legal Issues Conference, the Higher Education Alcohol Other Drug & Wellness Summit, and the National Conference on Campus Sexual Assault and Violence. Adam was also a member of NASPA’s Culture of Respect CORE Constructs Advisory Board, advising NASPA on creating best practices regarding sex and gender based violence. Adam is also a faculty member for higher education law and policy at Marquette University. Adam received his juris doctorate from Seattle University and his Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems from California Lutheran University. He is a member of the Washington bar.

Partner
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Daniel (Dan) Kaufman is recognized by Chambers USA as a Leading Labor & Employment Lawyer, holds an AV® (preeminent/highest) rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2012-present), among other honors. Dan is a member of the NACUA Board and has spoken at many NACUA and other conferences. He also has taught Law & Ethics in Higher Education in Northwestern University’s Masters in Higher Education program.

Dan’s roles at Michael Best include serving as one of the leaders of the Higher Education Group, as a past Chair of the Labor & Employment Relations Group, previously serving as a member of the Management Committee, and serving twice as the Managing Partner of the Chicago Office. After law school, Dan served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Charles L. Levin, Michigan Supreme Court.

Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel
University of Vermont

Trenten D. Klingerman is the Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel at the University of Vermont, joining the Office of the General Counsel in September 2022. Prior to this position, Trent served as the Deputy General Counsel at Purdue University for six years. In that role, Trent handled a wide variety of matters involving faculty, staff and student issues as well as overseeing litigation and agency matters. Trent is a 1994 graduate of Purdue, and a 2001 graduate of the Indiana University Maurer School of Law in Bloomington, Indiana. While in law school, Trent was named a Managing Editor of The Indiana Law Journal and worked as the Student Director of the Protective Order Project, a group dedicated to assisting victims of domestic violence. He also was his class representative in the Student Law Association.

Prior to law school, Trent worked as a teacher and in human resources, including working as a Human Resources Manager for a national engineering services firm. Following law school, Trent practiced with a prominent Indiana law firm, successfully representing employers of all sizes in federal and state trial and appellate courts. Trent then worked in Human Resources at Purdue, including serving as the University’s Director of Employee Relations and its Vice President for Human Resources prior to being appointed Deputy General Counsel.

President
NASPA

Dr. Kevin Kruger draws on more than 40 years of experience in higher education. Since 2012, he has served as president and CEO for NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Prior to his role as president, Dr. Kruger worked for 18 years as the associate executive director and served as the chief operating officer (COO) and chief financial officer (CFO) for NASPA. He has held a range of student affairs positions at Southern Methodist University and the University of Maryland. As NASPA president, Dr. Kruger represents student affairs at a variety of national forums and is a frequent contributor to higher education news stories on the college student experience. Dr. Kruger has published and presented nationally and globally on trends in higher education, student success, degree-completion strategies for low income/first-generation students, and change management and leadership in higher education. Dr. Kruger received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland. He is the proud father of two children, both recent college graduates

Associate General Counsel
The Pennsylvania State University

Tamla J. Lewis is Associate General Counsel at The Pennsylvania State University. Prior to joining the Office of General Counsel, Tamla served for three years as Associate Dean for Administration, Compliance and Special Initiatives for the University of Arkansas School of Law. Prior to her Law School tenure, Tamla served for ten years as an Associate General Counsel with the Office of General Counsel for the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where she was lead attorney on matters involving Title IX, Student Affairs, and campus safety, including Clery compliance. She conducted extensive trainings on student conduct and student records, contract compliance, and sexual assault awareness and prevention.

Tamla received a J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law and an M.Ed. in Workforce Development Education from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, with a B.A. in English. During law school, Tamla served for two years as a Law Clerk in the University of Arkansas General Counsel’s office. Immediately after law school, she practiced as an Associate with the Rogers, Arkansas office of Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, where her practice focused on civil litigation, including employment and business litigation. Prior to law school, Tamla was employed as a paralegal by the Jefferson County, Arkansas, Public Defender’s Office and the Cross, Kearney & McKissic law firm in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Chair, Institutional Response Group
Cozen O’Connor

Gina Maisto Smith, Chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Institutional Response Group, focuses her practice on the institutional response to sexual and gender-based harassment and violence, child abuse, and other forms of harassment, discrimination, and criminal conduct. Gina provides consulting, counseling, and legal advice on all aspects of the institutional response to misconduct. She assists institutions in designing effective institutional responses that integrate the complex federal and state regulatory framework with the unique dynamics of trauma and the impacts of interpersonal violence on individuals and communities. Gina regularly advises educational and child-serving institutions including public and private K-12 schools and colleges and universities about policies, changes in the law, and investigations into allegations of child abuse and sexual misconduct, including sexual violence. She regularly conducts policy audits and assists in the development of policy and the design and implementation of internal operating procedures. In addition, Gina conducts training for K-12 administrators and multiple university constituencies, including Title IX coordinators, sexual assault response teams, judicial hearing boards, investigators, and members of the campus community. Before entering private practice, Gina spent nearly two decades in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office where she investigated numerous cases, handled more than 100 jury trials, and developed unmatched experience in the investigation and prosecution of sex crimes, child abuse, and domestic violence.

Associate Vice President for Student Health and Well-being
Middlebury College

Originally from western Massachusetts, Barbara moved to Vermont to work in college health. She identifies as a White, queer, woman who was a first-generation college student and who lives with disabilities.

Barbara has been a community health educator in many settings including pharmacies, migrant farmworker communities, birthing people and infants, and most importantly, college students. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Mount Holyoke College where living and learning at a historically women’s college shaped her worldview and values.  She earned a master’s in public health in community health education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and certificates in LGBTQ health, healthcare leadership, change management, and equity and inclusion. Barbara joined Middlebury in 2013 as the Director of Health and Wellness Education and now provides administrative leadership for Counseling, Health Services, Health and Wellness Education, Integrated Care, and Sports Medicine as the Associate Vice President for Student Health and Well-being. As a college health professional, Barbara is committed to prioritizing staff development especially around equity and identities work, championing peer education, and ensuring student engagement as partners in healthcare

Retired Higher Education Counsel

Steven J. McDonald is the recently retired General Counsel of Rhode Island School of Design and previously served as Associate Legal Counsel at The Ohio State University. Steve began his legal career at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, where he represented CompuServe in Cubby v. CompuServe, the first online libel case, and he also has taught courses in Internet law at Ohio State’s College of Law and at Capital University Law School. He is a Fellow and past member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, one of the developers of its NACUANOTES legal information service, and a recipient of its Distinguished Service and Life Member Awards. He presents and writes frequently on issues of higher education law. In State, ex rel. Thomas v. The Ohio State University, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that he really is a lawyer. He received his A.B. from Duke University and his J.D. from the Yale Law School.

Executive Director
William G. Nash Foundation

Kristin and her family started the William G. Nash Foundation, a 501(c)(3), to honor her son’s life and legacy, including work on harm reduction, drug education and psychedelic safety. Will died in his college dorm due to a preventable accident caused by psychedelic-induced hallucinations and psychosis. Kristin believes that education and harm reduction could have impacted those events. The foundation conducts original research, provides grants to increase reality-based drug education like Safety First, and advocates for programs to create campus communities of safety and wellness. Previously, Kristin worked in global public health, developing programs to support the sexual and reproductive health of adolescent girls and young women, including overseeing a USAID grant to combat gender inequity, HIV transmission and early pregnancy among orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi. Kristin’s research and writing have been published in the peer-reviewed journal, Reproductive Health (Jan. 2019) and presented at the International AIDS Society, Global Health and Innovation, and National Harm Reduction Coalition conferences. Her volunteer work includes serving on the Marin County Human Rights Commission where she advocated for social justice and equity. Kristin holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Washington and a BA in journalism and international relations from the University of Southern California.

Partner
Holland & Knight

Jeffrey J. Nolan is an education and labor and employment attorney with Holland & Knight who represents, advises, educates and helps clients throughout the United States manage conflicts, enhance the safety of individuals and environments, and successfully navigate the maze of legal obligations faced by educational institutions and employers. Mr. Nolan is based in Holland & Knight’s Boston office.

Mr. Nolan represents and advises colleges, universities and independent schools throughout the United States regarding situations that implicate Title IX, the Clery Act, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other laws that apply in the higher education context. He also conducts system-wide compliance assessments and helps clients develop Title IX/Clery Act and other policies, practices and training programs to minimize risk and enhance compliance with those laws. In 2022 and in 2018-19, Mr. Nolan served on the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Title IX Working Group that prepared ACE’s comments to the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed 2022 and 2020 Title IX regulations, and his work on fair, equitable trauma-informed investigations was cited 8 times in the Preamble to the final Title IX regulations issued by the Department in May 2020. Mr. Nolan also advises higher educational institutions on the governance, faculty relations and related challenges that they face in the current economic and regulatory environment.

In the employment law area, Mr. Nolan assists employers in dealing with the full range of employee relations issues, advises them on how to comply with applicable employment laws, and helps them to create effective employment policies and training programs.

Mr. Nolan is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Vermont and Virginia, and practices in other jurisdictions as appropriate under state practice regulations.

CEO
NovakTalks

Kimberly Novak is the CEO of NovakTalks, a higher education consulting firm that specializes in facilitating the development of strategic prevention, intervention, and accountability initiatives. A foundational characteristic of her team’s our work is the involvement of students in the governance of their organizations. Additionally, she. serves on Pi Kappa Alpha’s Staff as the Health & Safety Officer. In this role she provides training and support specific to health and safety for chapter leadership, collegiate members, volunteers, and staff.

Kim is recognized as a thought-leader in Student Organization Conduct having worked in student conduct administration for over 25 years. She is frequently called up to educate campus professionals and international fraternity staffs on the design as well as implementation of organization conduct systems. In 2007 Kim lead the development of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Hazing Prevention, the first educational experience designed to apply the principles and framework for prevention to the issue of hazing. The Institute is now in its 15th year and continues to be the leading hazing prevention program in higher education.

Kim approaches her work with college students with the heart of an advocate and is committed to the advancement of communities of care on college campuses across the country.

Assistant Vice President, Office of Institutional Equity
University of Notre Dame

Erin Oliver is the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Equity and Title IX Coordinator at the University of Notre Dame.  Her responsibilities include providing leadership, oversight, and support in the areas of harassment, discrimination, affirmative action, accessibility, and youth protection. Erin also develops strategies and plans for the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty and staff.

Prior to her position at Notre Dame, Erin served as the Director of Institutional Equity at Purdue University, where she directed a team responsible for managing internal complaints of harassment and discrimination involving students, faculty, and staff and provided guidance to senior university administrators on issues of equal opportunity and equal access.

Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame and a J.D. from Michigan State University where she specialized in Indigenous Law and Policy.  Erin is a member of the Indiana State Bar and the National Association of College and University Attorneys.

Associate General Counsel
University of Vermont

Jennifer Papillo joined the University of Vermont Office of the General Counsel in August 2010 and was promoted to Associate General Counsel in July 2015. Jennifer represents, advises, and educates her clients to proactively identify and manage legal risk, enhance the safety, security, and well-being of individuals and the campus community, and successfully navigate the maze of legal and compliance obligations faced by a public land-grant and aspiring R1 institution with a global reach. Her representation of UVM includes practice across a broad range of legal issues, with particular emphasis on student and academic affairs, as well as risk management, campus safety, privacy, and regulatory compliance.

Jennifer is a frequent speaker and author on issues related to student conduct, managing distressed and disruptive students, student organizations, residential life, admissions practices, campus disruption, the First Amendment, political activities, Title IX, the Clery Act, FERPA, and the ADA, as well as taxation of exempt organizations. She has spoken at national and regional conferences of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), and the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA), as well as at the University of Vermont higher education legal issues conference. Jennifer is an active member of NACUA, a member of the UVM Legal Issues Board of Directors, and a contributor to the SUNY Title IX Joint Guidance Initiative.

Partner
Saul Ewing LLP

Amy Piccola is a partner in Saul Ewing LLP’s higher education practice. Amy works with institutions of higher education to assess and respond to issues of compliance, policy, and liability, particularly with regard to student and faculty conduct matters, Title IX and other civil rights statutes, and the Clery Act. Amy also advises education clients on athletics issues, including the developing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) landscape and esports on campus.

Amy both provides proactive assistance—drafting handbooks and policies on issues ranging from sexual harassment and hazing to cyberbullying and program and department operations, and providing on-campus training to administrators, judicial boards, and others in university and college communities regarding implementation of those policies—and manages institutions’ responses to U.S. Department of Education and OCR investigations and complaints.

Whatever the issue, Amy draws on her litigation experience to assist colleges and universities in identifying escalating issues, managing high-profile exposure, and proactively developing, and providing training on, policies and procedures to minimize risk.

Partner
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP

Josh is a partner at the Philadelphia office of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, where he is the Vice-Chair of the firm’s Higher Education Practice, which has handled hundreds of matters involving Title IX and related issues for colleges, universities, and K-12 schools. Josh approaches his Title IX work and other matters involving litigation, compliance and/or government investigations from a mission-driven perspective and strives to provide practical advice that protects institutions without compromising their ability to fulfill their primary purposes. Josh brings this approach to matters involving employment disputes, student conduct, faculty relations, board governance, financial
exigency, accreditation, minors on campus, and civil tort claims, including student death and abuse matters. In addition, he regularly conducts on-site training sessions for higher education clients regarding compliance with civil rights laws and the Clery Act. Josh is a graduate of Middlebury College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is currently nearing the end of a three-year term (FY 2019-2022) on the NACUA Board of Directors and is on the Legal Issues In Higher Education Advisory Board.

SUNY

Robert Ruggeri served as the Managing Counsel of the State University of New York System as well as the General Counsel for the University at Buffalo.  For nearly 3 decades, he advised SUNY presidents and supervised SUNY attorneys on a wide range of education law issues including the First Amendment, student affairs, commercial matters, and litigation.   Robert has taught “Higher Education Law” at SUNY Albany and the Univ. at Buffalo for many years.  He was formerly a “Professor (Part Time)” at Georgetown Univ. Law Center.

Now retired, Robert serves as a member of the Legal Advisory Council of the “Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression” (FIRE).   He also served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Schenectady County Community College as well as a Board member of the college’s Foundation.  Before joining SUNY, Robert practiced international law at Rogers & Wells in Washington for a decade.  He also was a Fulbright Scholar and worked in-house as an attorney at the European Union’s Commission in Brussels and the OECD in Paris.

Chief Safety & Compliance Office
University of Vermont

Michael Schirling was appointed Chief Safety & Compliance Officer at the University of Vermont in June of 2022. In that role he oversees campus police, emergency management, risk and environmental risk management – including fire safety, and compliance and privacy services, He previously served as a member of Governor Phil Scott’s Cabinet as Commissioner of the Vermont Department Public Safety, overseeing the Vermont Crime Information Center, Vermont Emergency Management, the Vermont Forensic Laboratory, and the Vermont State Police, and as Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development which includes the Departments of Economic Development, Housing and Community Development, and Tourism and Marketing.

From 1989 to 2015 he held a variety of posts with the Burlington, VT Police Department, including serving as Chief of Police from 2008 through 2015. He has worked as a contractor conducting national and worldwide training for a host of organizations including the National District Attorney’s Association, Fair & Impartial Policing, LLC, and the U.S. State Department’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program Cyber Division and is an Executive Fellow for the National Police Foundation. He is an avid boater, scuba diver, and pilot. He resides in Burlington with his wife and has two grown children.

Attorney
Husch Blackwell LLP

Scott advises companies and educational institutions nationwide on a variety of complex legal issues with a focus on particularly sensitive matters. He is a prominent litigator as well as a sought-after advisor on Title IX, labor and employment law issues, and various risk management concerns. He has led numerous investigations of serial sex abuse allegations, allegations of misconduct involving senior leadership and other acts of institutional misconduct, as well as high-profile program reviews of institutional response.

Over the last decade, Scott has provided training nationally to thousands of personnel on a variety of issues, including Title IX; labor and employment law; faculty hiring, promotion and tenure processes; and Greek Life risk management. Scott regularly presents to national organizations, including the National Association of College and University Attorneys, the National Association of Independent Schools and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.

Scott is an award-winning professor at Tulane University and also serves on the faculty for the State University of New York’s Student Conduct Institute. In addition, Scott has been retained by the National Center for Campus Public Safety to serve as a faculty member for its Trauma-Informed Sexual Assault Investigation and Adjudication training program for campus officials.

Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
Penn State University

Danny Shaha has served as an Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Student Affairs at Penn State University since 2017. As AVP, he provides functional supervision to the Directors of Student Affairs at Penn State’s 19 Commonwealth Campuses and supervises the offices of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response, Student Care and Advocacy, Fraternity and Sorority Compliance, Off Campus Student Support, Respondent Support, and Student Legal Services. He also co-chairs the University’s Behavioral Threat Management Team and holds responsibility for the University’s response to student-related crises.

Danny’s prior work includes roles in Student Conduct, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Title IX and Sexual Misconduct, Care and Advocacy, and Leadership Development at the College of William and Mary, Texas A&M, and The Ohio State University. He also served as a Special Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Danny is currently completing a fellowship researching free speech on college campuses and serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Southern Mississippi. Danny received his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Texas A&M University, his Master of Arts in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, and his Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Lamar University.

Managing Director
Grand River Solutions

Jody Shipper is a Managing Director and Co-Founder of Grand River Solutions. Jody has more than 25 years of experience in Title IX, equity and diversity, and related fields. She is known for her insight into best-in-class programming, policies, and community outreach aimed at addressing sexual misconduct on campus. She lectures extensively at universities and conferences throughout the U.S. on Title IX, VAWA, harassment, DEI practices, and implementation of best and emerging practices. Jody also co-founded Project IX in 2014, a nonprofit focused on Title IX-related services to schools with a mission to provide effective solutions for preventing and responding to sexual violence.

Jody previously served as the systemwide director for Title IX/VAWA/Clery compliance for the University of California system. Prior to that, she served has held campus roles of chief Title IX administrator, Chief Diversity Officer, Director of Affirmative Action, and 504 Coordinator.  In these roles, she provided direct, hands-on experience in the fields of Title IX, civil rights, employment law, and workplace and academic investigations. Her responsibilities included focusing on diversity efforts, sexual assault prevention and training, affirmative action, and protecting minors on campus.

Previously, Jody served as outside counsel to businesses and nonprofits in California, litigating employment and education matters.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
University of Missouri-Columbia

Dr. Bill Stackman is currently the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He previously served for seven years as the Vice Provost for Student Affairs at Notre Dame University.  Dr. Stackman has been working in student affairs for 38 years and has held leadership positions at a number of institutions, including Director of Student Activities at Texas A&M University, Dean of Student Affairs at Rhodes College, Associate and Acting Dean of Students at Oberlin College, Director of Student Activities/Mayer Campus Center at Tufts University, Associate Director of the Illini Union and Program Director at the University of Illinois, and Associate Director of Student Activities at Temple University.

Dr. Stackman earned his doctorate at Boston University in Leadership, Administration, and Policy Studies. He also holds a master’s degree from West Virginia University in Higher Education Administration, a master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in Parks and Recreation Administration, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky in Parks and Recreation. He is currently completing a master’s degree from the University of Missouri in Positive Psychology with an emphasis in Positive Coaching.

Director of Consulting Services
Grand River Solutions

Andrea Stagg has extensive experience consulting, writing and training on Title IX, Equity and safety. Andrea was Deputy General Counsel and Director of Government Relations & Compliance at Barnard College and was counsel to three colleges within the SUNY system. She has worked with federal and state legislators to develop state laws and follow best practices in campus safety and sexual harassment prevention.

Senior Director
Compliance and Innovation Solutions

Joseph Storch is the Senior Director of Compliance and Innovation for Grand River Solutions. He develops guidance and builds systems to simplify compliance and improve response, so we can invest in prevention. A nationally recognized expert on Title IX, the Clery Act, and state laws covering violence and harassment, he twice testified before the U.S. Senate (Armed Services, 2019; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, 2016), drafted legislation and regulations including New York’s groundbreaking Education Law Article 129-b, and regularly provides guidance and analysis for national associations and institutions across the country. He is the author of over 80 articles and book chapters, regularly presents at conferences and on campuses, and has led development of innovations that are in use at institutions collectively serving millions of students. Joe is a graduate of SUNY Oswego, has a Masters of Public Policy from the University at Albany, and a law degree from Cornell Law School. He received the First Decade Award from NACUA, the Unsung Hero Award from the One Love Foundation, the Straight But Not Narrow Award from the Pride Center of the Capital Region, and was selected by City and State in 2020 as one of its 40 Under 40.

Vice President for Student Life
University of Washington

Dr. Denzil Suite, Vice President for Student Life, joined the University of Washington in July 2013. In that capacity, he provides leadership and direction for strategic planning, assessment, and staff development for a comprehensive division of student programs and services. He leads a team of approximately 1,000 professionals in creating and maintaining a healthy campus environment through services, programs, and innovative learning experiences beyond the classroom, and through a highly collaborative relationship with other senior UW leaders.

Prior to joining UW, he served as Associate Vice President of Student Affairs at the University of Southern California where he had oversight responsibilities for over 20 departments in the division. He also served and as an Associate Professor for Clinical Education at the USC Rossier School of Education. He taught master’s level courses on Student Development, the History of Higher Education, and on Intervention Strategies.

Suite earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology at The Ohio State University, a master’s degree in Education from the University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. in Policy and Organization from the University of Southern California. His research for his doctorate centered on factors affecting student success in college. He is especially interested in how students from differing backgrounds are affected by the college environment. He chose this topic because of his long-standing commitment to college students and their success.

Dr. Suite has worked professionally in student affairs for over 20 years and has held positions of responsibility at UC Berkeley, Cal State L.A., and UC Santa Cruz. He is the recipient of numerous awards from national, local, and student organizations.

He recently served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for NASPA—the world’s leading association for Student Affairs professionals.

Founder
Wang Law LLC

Lin-Chi Wang has in-depth experience interpreting and implementing Title IX, Title VII, and Title VI, anti-discrimination, and sexual harassment requirements, serving as an investigator, hearing officer, or advisor, and providing policy review, training, and consulting for public and private colleges, universities, and K-12 districts across the nation. Lin-Chi also represents individuals involved in an internal school or workplace investigation.

Prior to founding Wang Law, LLC, Lin-Chi served as the Director of Equity & Title IX Coordinator and Associate Dean of Students at Muhlenberg College. In that multifaceted role, Lin-Chi served as the primary institutional investigator and oversaw response of all reports and complaints of identity-based discrimination and harassment as prohibited by College policies. Lin-Chi served as primary trainer and oversaw sexual and gender violence prevention efforts at the College. Lin-Chi previously worked as an institutional civil rights investigator for Michigan State University, conducting over two hundred informal and formal investigations of identity-based discrimination and harassment. Before her career in higher education, Lin-Chi practiced as an attorney at a labor and employment law firm in Michigan.

Lin-Chi maintains her attorney licenses in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Lin-Chi earned her B.M. from the University of Michigan, M.M. from the University of Florida, and J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law.

Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Equity, and Compliance
University of Southern California

Felicia A. Washington is USC’s first senior vice president for human resources, responsible for designing and implementing a coordinated and professionalized world-class HR function; she joined USC in June 2019 and is a member of the President’s Senior Leadership Team. In December 2020, her responsibilities expanded to include additional people-focused central offices: Culture, Ethics, and Compliance; Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX; and Professionalism and Ethics. Thus, USC’s HR, Equity & Compliance Division was formed, and Felicia’s mission of Making More Impact than Ever Before was adopted. Previously, Felicia was chief people officer and vice chancellor for workforce strategy, equity, and engagement at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and in private practice for over two decades at K&L Gates, a multinational law firm where she was a partner and focused on employment law and business immigration. She is currently serving a three-year leadership role of the American Research Universities – HR Institute and previously served numerous boards and organizations, including as a member of the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees and the North Carolina Medical Board. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from UNC-Chapel Hill and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Associate Vice President
Tulane University

Erica Woodley is the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Tulane University. Since 2003 she has been an integral member of the division of student affairs. Currently, she oversees the university’s multi-tiered crisis response system and the offices of Case Management & Victim Support Services, the Goldman Center for Campus Accessibility, Family Programs, Student Conduct and the Recovery Community.  Erica chairs the University’s Behavioral Intervention Team and is a member of the Sexual Misconduct Response Team. During her tenure at Tulane, she has led several mental health initiatives and coordinated Tulane’s Katrina, Ida and COVID responses.  She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology  from the University of Tulsa and a Master of Science from Oklahoma State University is Counseling and Student Personnel.

Chancellor
Vermont State Colleges

After many years in private practice, Sophie Zdatny joined the Vermont State Colleges first as Associate General Counsel in August 2014 and then as General Counsel, effective January 1, 2017. She was subsequently appointed to serve as Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System in May 2020, in which role she has been overseeing the transformation of the system to address its structural deficit and adjust to Vermont’s demographic challenges.  The transformation includes the creation of Vermont State University by bringing together the five campuses and multiple academic centers of Castleton University, Northern Vermont University and Vermont Technical College, as well as system-wide administrative consolidation.

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Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference will be back on campus this year!  There is the opportunity to webstream if you cannot be with us.  Participants who choose to webstream can watch material in a group or on their own, and multiple people from the same institution are welcome to sign on under the same purchased instance.

You will be sent instructions on how to access the conference using Brightspacea few days prior to the conference and a tech test will be available for participants to access the week before the conference.

Yes, we have approved CLE credits for Vermont only.   The conference was approved for 8.25 General Credit hours of continuing legal education in 2022.  Other states will need to reach out to their own board for approval.

You will be sent instructions on how to access the conference a few days prior to the start of the conference.

Yes, you can call 802-656-8407 to register but will need to wait a short period of time for the login credentials (2 – 4 hours).

Conference attendance, breakfast, lunch (Monday & Tuesday), networking opportunity, and shuttle to and from your hotel.

• Registration – Contact our registration office at 802-656-8407
• Tech Issues –  Contact us by phone at 800-639-3210 or email learn@uvm.edu
• General Questions – Contact us by phone at 800-639-3210 or email learn@uvm.edu