Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference

Associate Vice President for Compliance Services
Boston University

Nedra has overseen Boston University’s Compliance Services Office since 2016. The Compliance Services Office (CSO) is a resource for the entire Boston University community that works with compliance partners across the institution to clarify obligations, coordinate compliance activities, support training and other educational efforts, investigate compliance concerns and identify, assess and mitigate risks.  In her role, Nedra provides leadership and guidance in support of the University’s compliance efforts. As AVP for Compliance Services, Nedra is responsible for carrying out all of the office’s responsibilities as described above on this webpage, including CSO’s core functions of Hotline facilitation, conflict of interest oversight, and management of the Policies website. CSO reports up to the General Counsel and the Board of Trustees Audit Committee.

Prior to BU, Nedra facilitated compliance efforts for the State University of New York (SUNY) System Administration, where she served as the Director of Compliance and Ethics. Nedra’s duties at SUNY were to establish, coordinate, and maintain a University-wide Compliance function to serve the SUNY system of campuses, act as a central resource for individual campus compliance efforts, maintain the system-wide policy website, and help with training efforts. Nedra also served as the System-wide Ethics Officer and System-wide Records Management Officer. Prior to SUNY, Nedra worked for over seven years in higher education administration at the University of Connecticut School of Law. Nedra graduated from the University of Connecticut, cum laude, and received her J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Dean of Students
University of St. Thomas

Linda Baughman currently serves as the Dean of Students at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, MN.

With over 32 years in higher education, Linda has held a variety of leadership roles in Student Affairs and Academic Affairs. In her current role, Linda addresses a wide range of high-level campus concerns, including the critical issue of free speech on campus. She is dedicated to fostering an environment where diverse viewpoints can be expressed respectfully.

Linda holds a Master’s degree in Counseling from the University of Wisconsin River Falls and a Master’s in Education from the University of St. Thomas. An avid lifelong learner, Linda is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Learning at St. Thomas. Her dissertation is focused on experiences of belonging of first-generation students who started at a community college and persisted to baccalaureate degree completion.

Although Linda has lived in Minnesota for over 32 years, she remains a proud Michigander and she finds great joy in helping people plan vacations to Lake Michigan. Linda resides in St. Paul, MN with her husband. When she is not in Minnesota, odds are you will find her visiting her children in Washington D.C. or Colorado.

Director Center for Restorative Practices
Amherst College

Rita Suzanne Belleci taught conflict transformation, intercultural communication, peace education, and foundations in intercultural service, leadership and management courses at SIT Graduate Institute throughout the years of 2000-2017. There she served as SIT’s first Ombudsperson, bringing groups together, facilitating restorative circles for community building and mediating disputes. She taught global peacebuilding, conflict analysis, conflict Interventions, and restorative justice practices to domestic and international students in SIT’s Graduate Certificate program in Peace and Justice Leadership.

Nationally and internationally, Susie has led workshops and trainings for peacebuilders in conflict and post-conflict zones in Iraq, Macedonia, Bosnia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Israel, and Palestine. She has also led trainings for youth from Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Iraq, Jordan, and the United States. She taught Peace and Conflict Studies in the English Language Department at the Arab American University of Palestine. In the US she served in the office of Senator Nick Petris, in Oakland, California, providing constituent affairs in the most economically depressed city in the wealthiest state in the union. In this role, along with her colleague, she represented the senator in the district for the 9 months each year that he was in the Capitol. Continuing her work in advocacy, Susie was the developer and director of Jardin de Maestros, a program to create pathways for students of color to become teachers in the very districts in which they were raised and have their roots. She was a teacher and trainer in Florence, Italy; Porto and Lisbon, Portugal; Jenin, Palestine; and Pohnpei Island in the Federated States of Micronesia and was the associate director of world studies at Marlboro College. Most recently she was the executive director of the Greater Falls Community Justice Center in Southern Vermont and currently teaches Principles of Restorative Justice at Vermont Law School.

Married to a Dane, Susie spends her summers in Denmark with her husband and young son. When not working and mothering, Susie enjoys vegetarian cooking, sharing the same YA fantasy fiction books with her son, picking fresh tomatoes from her garden and swimming in Vermont’s lakes and rivers in the summer.  Her skiing still needs work.

General Counsel
University of Northern Iowa

Anne E. Bilder is General Counsel for the University of Northern Iowa, joining the office in 2024. As UNI’s chief legal officer, Ms. Bilder manages the Office of General Counsel as well serving as a member of President Mark Nook’s Senior Leadership Team and the President’s Cabinet.

Prior to coming to UNI, Ms. Bilder served as Senior University Legal Counsel in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Legal Affairs (OLA). Her principal practice areas included employment law, student affairs, legal issues related to campus programs for children and youth, Title IX, privacy and cybersecurity and diversity issues. Before joining OLA, Ms. Bilder was Senior System Legal Counsel in the Office of General Counsel for the University of Wisconsin System (OGC) where she was an attorney since 1998, and handled a broad range of legal issues affecting System administration and its many comprehensive and associate degree-granting institutions. While at the OGC, Ms. Bilder served as Co-Chair of the UW System President’s Task Force on Sexual Violence and Harassment.

Ms. Bilder was recently elected to a three-year term as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA). Ms. Bilder also is the Chairperson of the NACUA Solo & Small General Counsel Office Affinity Group. A long-term active member of NACUA, she has served on many NACUA committees and has given presentations at annual conferences.

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.

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Corporation at Bentley University

Guilherme Costa joined Bentley University in 2023 and serves as the Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Corporation, advising the Board and University leadership on all legal matters.

Guilherme previously served as the Senior Associate Vice President and Deputy University Secretary (and as Interim Senior Vice President and University Secretary) of Syracuse University; Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Trustees of Ithaca College; General Counsel of the South Dakota Board of Regents; Deputy General Counsel (and previously as Associate General Counsel) at the University of Idaho; and as an associate in the Health Care group at the Washington, D.C. office of Drinker, Biddle, and Reath LLP (now FaegreDrinker).

Guilherme has been a higher education attorney since 2010 and has been deeply involved in student affairs matters from the beginning.

Guilherme earned his undergraduate degrees in business administration and political science from the University of Florida, his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School, and his master’s degree in Adult/Organizational Learning and Leadership from the University of Idaho. Guilherme was enrolled as a doctoral student in the Ph.D. in Higher Education program at Syracuse University during his years working there.

President, The Harbor Institute
Counsel, Fraternity and Sorority Law Group

Rasheed Ali Cromwell, Esq. utilizes a unique multidisciplinary approach from his diverse experiences as a former federal law clerk, a practicing attorney, an educational consultant and speaker/trainer to address areas including hazing prevention and intervention, cultural competency, leadership development and recruitment and retention regarding culturally based fraternal organizations (CBFOs).

Through the Harbor Institute, he has shared his messages with thousands of students/ administrators at over 300 colleges/universities in 45 states as well as fraternal organization leadership.

Currently, he serves as counsel for the Fraternity and Sorority Law Group (FSLG) as well as a board member of the Hazing Prevention Network (HPN). In 2023 he was awarded the Jack L. Anson Award by the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) for demonstrating a continued commitment to the fraternity/sorority community and assisting in developing partnerships within higher education and the interfraternal community.

Executive Director
UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement

Michelle N. Deutchman is the inaugural executive director of the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement (Center). In this role, she oversees the Center’s operations, programming and research including its multidisciplinary national fellowship program. Deutchman, a leading expert on expression in higher education, facilitates workshops for staff, students, administrators and law enforcement on First Amendment principles and how to safeguard free speech at universities while simultaneously maintaining a safe and inclusive campus climate. Her work to study and shape the discourse on expression and engagement touches all 10 UC campuses as well as the national conversation about higher education.

Before joining the Center, Deutchman served for 14 years as western states civil rights counsel and national campus counsel for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a non-profit organization that combats bigotry, prejudice and anti-Semitism. From 2014-2018, Deutchman taught a law seminar at UCLA School of Law on Contemporary Free Exercise Issues. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley where she met her husband. They now have two kids and a dog named Berkeley.

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

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.

Vice President for Student Affairs
Washington College

Sarah Feyerherm is the vice president for student affairs at Washington College in Chestertown, MD. She oversees athletics, residential life, health and counseling, student engagement, intercultural affairs, career development, Title IX, and public safety. She is also the director of the Wellness and Personal Development academic program and teaches Sports Leadership in the department of Business Management.

Previously, Feyerherm was Washington College’s assistant athletic director and head field hockey coach. She led the team to over 100 wins, two NCAA Tournament appearances, two ECAC berths, one Centennial Conference championship, and was named the 1996 South Region Coach of the Year. She has served on the NCAA’s Division III Management Council as well as the association-wide Committee on Women’s Athletics and various other working and advisory groups.

Feyerherm earned her Ed.D. in Innovation and Leadership from Wilmington College (now Wilmington University – DE) and wrote her dissertation on the interactions between students and staff members at a small liberal arts college and their developmental impact on students. She has an M.S. in Sport Management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a bachelor’s degree in English from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY where she was a three-sport varsity athlete.

Title IX Coordinator
Columbia University

Associate Vice President Marjory Fisher is Columbia University’s Title IX Coordinator, responsible for monitoring the university’s policies and procedures for resolving sexual and gender-based misconduct, harassment, and other complaints under Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in federally-funded educational institutions.  The Title IX Coordinator works to ensure a safe, welcoming, and harassment free-environment for all members – students, faculty and staff – of the Columbia community.

Marjory joined Columbia from T&M Protection Resources, where she served as Senior Managing Director of the Sexual Misconduct Consulting & Investigations Division. She was formerly Bureau Chief of the Special Victims Bureau in the Queens District Attorney’s Office for 22 years, and prior to that served for eight years as Assistant District Attorney in the Sex Crimes Bureau and supervising Trial Attorney in the Homicide Bureau of the Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney’s Office.

Marjy has been a St. John’s University Law School Adjunct Professor, where she taught a course on Sexual Assault and Family Violence.  She is the recipient of multiple awards for excellence in trial work and the pursuit of justice, including recognition from the Mt. Sinai Rape Crisis and Intervention Program and the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault. She earned her juris doctor from George Washington University’s National Law Center.

General Counsel
Claremont McKenna College

Marcie Gardner is General Counsel at Claremont McKenna College, a small, private, residential liberal arts institution in Southern California. CMC has slightly less than 1400 students and is part of the Claremont Consortium which is composed of 5 distinct but geographically contiguous undergrad institutions (with an approximate student population of 8,000) and 2 graduate institutions. Marcie has been with CMC since 2014 and, as an office of one, is responsible for all legal matters impacting CMC. Prior to CMC, Marcie spent 12 years as a private adult and juvenile criminal defense attorney handling a wide variety of misdemeanor and felony trials throughout Southern California. Before that, Marcie was an associate at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis for six years, focusing on civil litigation and pro bono representations

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 co-chairs Cozen O’Connor’s Institutional Response Group, a practice group dedicated to improving institutional responses to sexual and gender-based harassment and violence, discrimination and harassment, and child abuse. A former career child abuse and sexual violence prosecutor, Leslie helps institutions develop comprehensive policies, procedures, systems, and training programs in compliance with Title IX, Title VII, the Clery Act (as amended by VAWA), Title VI, and state and local laws. She conducts comprehensive policy audits; drafts policies and procedures; develops multi-disciplinary teams; advises on Title IX investigation, resolution and appeal proceedings; and assists educational institutions in meeting federal compliance obligations and responding to investigations by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the Clery Compliance Division. Leslie is nationally recognized for her knowledge and experience related to child sexual and physical abuse, child protection, and child protective services laws. Leslie assists institutions in evaluating and responding to historical allegations of abuse in an open and transparent manner designed to promote child safety and welfare. Leslie is the president of the Yale Law School Association, a member of the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center board of directors, and a member of Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference Board of Advisors.

Associate General Counsel
Dartmouth College

Joshua Grubman serves as Associate General Counsel at Dartmouth College. Previously, he served as Associate General Counsel at Rhode Island School of Design, focusing on litigation, regulatory compliance, policy development, employment, and operational matters. Prior to his role at RISD, he was General Counsel for Mount Ida College, including counseling through the closure process in 2018. His practice prior to in-house positions included outside counsel for post-secondary education, regulatory compliance, and government relations.

Partner
Clark Hill

Patricia Hamill is the Co-Chair of Clark Hill’s Title IX and Campus Discipline practice with a nationwide practice representing college students, faculty members, and administrators in campus disciplinary proceedings and in litigation following flawed disciplinary processes. She is a skillful negotiator who works to resolve matters without the need for litigation. When that is not possible, Patricia 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.

With decades of experience in complex litigation matters, Patricia brings a strategic approach to each matter. Her deep legal expertise is matched by her tenacity to push for best outcomes for her clients, and she never forgets that her clients need not only legal expertise but also empathy and support. Patricia’s approach is captured perfectly by a client’s description of her as “an incredibly gifted lawyer who not only knows the detailed nuances of Title IX law and the university processes but also has the street smarts and toughness that only come from years of experience. Her calm, confident, and strategically aggressive style successfully guided our family through a difficult time.”

Nationally ranked in the Chambers & Partners inaugural Higher Education practice area, Patricia was noted by clients as “highly regarded for her plaintiff-side Title IX expertise” whose biggest strength is “her great judgment and her human touch when dealing with complicated situations.” Patricia is a frequent speaker on the ever-changing legal landscape involving Title IX case law and regulations. Given her expertise, she has testified numerous times 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).

Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Belonging
Curry College

Dr. Juan M. Hernandez is the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Belonging at Curry College. Previously, he was the Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Title IX at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. At Curry, Juan is responsible for providing vision, strategic leadership and direction to guide all diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging programming and initiatives. He works collaboratively with stakeholders across the institution to strengthen a culture that promotes and embraces diversity in all forms.

Juan was born in Puerto Rico, but raised in Chicago, Illinois. After receiving the prestigious Posse Foundation Leadership Scholarship, he attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. While at Trinity College, Juan double majored in political science and history. He also earned a master’s degree in public policy with a concentration in education policy. Afterwards, he attended the University of Hartford, where he received a doctoral degree in educational leadership.

Professor of Sociomedical Sciences
Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical School

Jennifer S. Hirsch, a medical anthropologist and Professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University, works at the intersection of public health and social science, with a research agenda that examines gender, sexuality and migration, the anthropology of love, social dimensions of HIV, and undergraduate well being, including sexual assault. Hirsch co-directed the Sexual Health Initiative to Foster Transformation (SHIFT), a research project on sexual assault and sexual health among Columbia undergraduates. With Shamus Khan, she is coauthor of Sexual Citizens: Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus (WW Norton), which draws on SHIFT’s ethnographic research to examine sexual assault and consensual sex among undergraduates in relation to the broader context of campus life. Hirsch co-directs the Columbia Population Research Center, which brings together faculty from schools across the campus who work on population health and inequalities. A 2012 Guggenheim Fellow, a 2015 Public Voices Fellow, a 2018-19 Visiting Research Scholar with Princeton’s Center for Health and Well-Being, and a 2024-25 Fellow of Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute, Hirsch’s published work includes both scholarly and popular writing on health and social inequality. She is author of A Courtship After Marriage: Sexuality and Love in Mexican Transnational Families, the award-winning coauthored The Secret: Love, Marriage and HIV, two edited volumes on the anthropology of love, more than 80 peer-reviewed articles, 15 book chapters, and many op-eds in venues such as Time and The Hill.  Hirsch also served six years as a board member for Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, including the last two as board chair.  Hirsch earned her A.B. from Princeton University in History, with a certificate in Women’s Studies, and her Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in Population Dynamics and Anthropology.

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.

Director of Risk & Emergency Management
Rhode Island School of Design

Jennifer Howley is the Director of Risk & Emergency Management at Rhode Island School of Design. She has worked at RISD since 2007 and has led the Risk and Emergency Management programs since 2013.  In her time at RISD she created a formal emergency management structure and has organized teams dedicated to on-campus emergencies and international incidents. Jennifer is the Chair of the International Incident Response Team and administers the Travel Assistance program for the institution.  She is always excited to discuss international risk management; she recommends a team approach that focuses on prevention, but understands the importance of an effective response strategy.  She holds her BA in Finance from East Carolina University and her ARM designation.

Partner
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Clients turn to Dan because he is an outstanding litigator and a trusted advisor on employment, higher education, and other issues. His deep knowledge of employment law and higher education, exceptional judgment, and strategic advice enable clients to achieve their goals. Colleges and universities, businesses, municipalities, and other clients rely on Dan’s proven litigation experience and proactive counsel on a broad range of issues, including: discrimination and harassment suits; hiring, disciplining and terminating employees; retaliation and whistleblower claims; medical leaves and disability; restructuring issues; wage and hour matters; and litigation avoidance. Dan’s work is regularly honored by regional and national ranking organizations. He 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), Midwest’s Best Lawyers (2021-present), Illinois Super Lawyers (2006-present), and Chicago’s Top-Rated Lawyers (Chicago Tribune and Wall Street Journal). Dan also has been selected to be a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Dan is a member of the NACUA Board, has served on numerous NACUA committees, and has spoken at many NACUA conferences. He also has taught Law & Ethics in Higher Education in Northwestern University’s Masters in Higher Education program.

Dan is passionate about service, including serving as a Highland Park, IL City Councilperson (2011-21). The Judges of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association recognized Dan’s dedication to service with the “Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service” in 2010.

Dan also has held various leadership roles at Michael Best, including 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. Dan served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Charles L. Levin, Michigan Supreme Court, from Fall 1986 to Fall 1987.

Partner
Saul Ewing LLP

Jim Keller, co-chair of Saul Ewing LLP’s Higher Education Group and member of the Firm’s Executive Committee, defends colleges and universities and advises them on critical issues of compliance, policy, and liability. Jim has led teams in both proactive and reactive internal investigations across a wide swath of higher education compliance and risk management issues, including compliance with the Clery Act, Title IX, student deaths, hazing, sexual assault, and alcohol abuse and use on campus. Jim regularly defends institutions of higher education in matters (and litigation) involving student discipline, academic misconduct, tenure denials, and research misconduct. Jim also serves as general counsel to several colleges and universities that do not have inside counsel.

Senior Resolutions Counsel
United Educators

A.J. Kornblith is a Senior Resolutions Counsel at United Educators. He helps colleges, universities, and independent schools manage and resolve complex claims ranging from employment discrimination cases to catastrophic injuries to antitrust litigation. Prior to joining United Educators, A.J. was a member of the Higher Education Practice Group at Saul Ewing LLP, where he defended and counselled colleges and universities in employment, Title IX, and other civil cases. A graduate of the University of Virginia and the George Washington University Law School, he lives in Washington, DC with his family.

Partner
Holland & Knight LLP

Paul G. Lannon Jr. is a litigation attorney in Holland & Knight’s Boston office and co-chair of the firms national Education Team. Mr. Lannon advises and represents educational institutions as well as serves as the outside general counsel for several private colleges and secondary and elementary schools. Mr. Lannon, editor and co-author of MCLE New England’s 2021 College and University Law Manual, is a formerly elected member of the board of directors for the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) and the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), co-chair of the Boston Bar Association College & University Law Section and editor of the Journal of College and University Law. Mr. Lannon has been honored in education law as one of the Best Lawyers in America, Boston’s Best Lawyers, Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Who’s Who.

Distinguished Professor of Human Resource Management
Rutgers University

Barbara A. Lee is Distinguished Professor of Human Resource Management at Rutgers University, where she has taught higher education law and employment law for over forty years. Professor Lee has served as Dean of the School of Management and Labor Relations, Associate Provost, and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. She is also Of Counsel to the law firm of Bond Schoeneck & King, where she practices higher education law and employment law.

Professor Lee has published over 100 books and articles, including The Law of Higher Education (2019 with W. Kaplin, N. Hutchens and J. Rooksby), Academics in Court: The Consequences of Faculty Discrimination Litigation (1987 with G. LaNoue), and numerous articles in law journals and human resource management journals. She serves as editor of The Journal of College & University Law and has received several awards for her scholarship and her service to the higher education community. Dr. Lee holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in Higher Education Administration and a J.D. from Georgetown University. She received her B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Vermont.

Associate General Counsel
The Pennsylvania State University

Tamla J. Lewis is Associate General Counsel at The Pennsylvania State University. In her role as associate general counsel, Lewis concentrates on matters relating to student affairs and student conduct, discrimination issues, freedom of speech and Title IX. Lewis also serves as Penn State’s athletics integrity officer. In this role, Lewis is responsible for overseeing and implementing Penn State’s athletics integrity program, which is designed to promote compliance with the NCAA’s and Big Ten Conference’s standards of integrity for member institutions.

Before 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. She also previously served for eleven 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 compliance with federal Clery Act requirements, with considerable experience related to intercollegiate athletics. Lewis is a frequent presenter in legal education seminars on the topics of Title IX compliance, employment law, student social media, transgender student and employee issues and general issues in higher education.

President
XL Law and Consulting P.A.

Xinning Shirley Liu is the President of XL Law and Consulting PA, where she concentrates her practice on international higher education law, domestic and global data privacy, and research compliance. Shirley has experience implementing a wide array of international programs and has advised on a variety of regulatory and transactional matters. She also assists clients in the strategic design and implementation of their global portfolios and helps address local compliance concerns, from labor and IP, to taxation and data privacy matters.

A current board member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), Shirley has authored multiple publications and volunteered for different NACUA committees. An advocate of diversity and equity issues in higher education, she serves on the NACUA Board Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusivity and leads various NACUA Affinity Groups.

Shirley is a frequent speaker on issues related to international higher education at NACUA, Association of International Educators (NAFSA), the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), and the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) conferences.  Additionally, Shirley is a member of the Florida Bar, where she serves on the Education Law Committee, International Law Section, Business Law Section, and the Government Law Section.

Director of Compliance and Chief Privacy Officer
University of Vermont

Tessa Lucey, MHA, CHC, CHCP has over 25 years’ of compliance experience. She is currently Director of Compliance and Chief Privacy Officer for the University of Vermont where she is responsible for the implementation and oversight of the University’s Compliance and Ethics, Privacy, Enterprise Risk Management, Public Records, and Institutional Policy Programs. Prior to joining UVM, Lucey held Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer positions at health care organizations and hospital systems throughout the Northeast including Hallmark Health Systems (Medford, MA), South Shore Hospital (Weymouth, MA), Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (West Orange, NJ), and Community Rehab Centers (Burlington, MA). Lucey was also the President and CEO for Chenaille Compliance Consulting, LLC a firm that provided outsourced compliance, privacy, and information security program services to small and medium sized healthcare organizations. She has spoken on the local, regional, and national level on matters related to compliance, enterprise risk management, and privacy. Lucey is a graduate of Westfield State University and obtained her Masters from Simmons College in Boston. She is a member of the Westfield State University Board of Trustees. Tessa is certified in both health care compliance (CHC) and privacy (CHPC) through the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics.

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.

Executive Director, & Interim Title IX Coordinator
Equity & Compliance Programs at Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Alexis Martinez is currently the Executive Director of Equity & Compliance Programs and the Interim Title IX Coordinator at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA. In this role, she oversees the institute’s ongoing commitment to the ethical and legal compliance of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Title IX, VAWA, and Clery. Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Martinez served in senior leadership role at several law schools, responsible for academic matters, professional development, student discipline, disability services, financial aid advising, as well as student programming and leadership development. For the past four years she has taught a Higher Educational Law course, and previously developed and taught a Leadership & the Law course. She is on the Advisory Board for the Georgia Latino Law Foundation and has previously served on the Executive Committee of the Student Services Section for the Association of American Law Schools.

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.

Director Office for Gender Equity / Title IX Coordinator
Harvard University

Nicole Merhill is the Director of Harvard University’s Office for Gender Equity and also serves as the University’s Title IX Coordinator. In her role, Nicole oversees OGE’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Resources and Education (SHARE) Team, Title IX Team, and Prevention Education Team. In her capacity as University Title IX Coordinator, Nicole is responsible for Harvard’s overall Title IX system, as well as services within it, including direct support and consultation to the University’s 60+ Title IX Resource Coordinators; development and implementation of education programming and prevention efforts; and direct support to community members.

Nicole serves as a member representative for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Action Collaborative, of which Harvard University is a founding member. For four years, Nicole served as the co-lead of the Working Group on Evaluation: Measuring Climate and Gauging Progress on Campus and presently serves as Harvard’s Working Group representative on the Using Climate Data to Inform Action project. Nicole also served on the Survey Design Team (SDT) for the Association of American Universities (AAU) Survey on Sexual Assault and Misconduct and the 2024 Higher Education Sexual Misconduct and Awareness (HESMA) Survey, collaborating with SDT members in the design and implementation of the 2019 AAU Survey and 2024 HESMA Survey, respectively. Nicole has more than 20 years of civil rights experience in various protected class statuses, including sex, race, color, national origin, disability, and age.

Nicole is a licensed attorney and holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and English from Purdue University (1998), and a J.D. and a Master in Education Law from University of New Hampshire School of Law (2001).

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.

Director, Regulatory Compliance
The Healy+ Group

Kyle C. Norton serves as the Director for Regulatory Compliance at The Healy+ Group, (formerly Margolis Healy and Associates, LLC) with an extensive higher education and compliance background. He oversees Regulatory Compliance efforts which include the Clery Act, Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA), and Title IX (in conjunction with Cozen O’Connor’s Institutional Response Group or IRG). His focus is on leveraging the firm’s collective expertise to deliver compliance support to higher education communities that is impactful, actionable, and always led by preparedness – never driven by fear.

The bulk of Kyle’s career has centered in higher education in a variety of capacities. Kyle has served as an Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs and Recruitment through which he led university-wide recruitment initiatives, developed student leadership programs, spearheaded youth programs, and served on the student conduct board. He also served as a Managing Director and full-time clinical professor, and oversaw academic advising, and curriculum development. Additionally, Kyle aided IRG as its inaugural Chief of Staff and Institutional Response Coordinator, focusing on Title IX, VAWA, and Clery-related policy work and investigations, data audits, and national trainings.

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.

Student Advocacy Program Coordinator
University of Oregon

Savannah Olsen is a higher education professional focused on advocacy, equity, and access for students on college campuses, and has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Oregon. Currently, she runs the Student Advocacy Program at her alma mater and provides leadership and oversight to this developing service center. The Student Advocacy Program is deeply involved with equity issues and access hurdles across the entire campus, as well as an active partner with other Advocacy Programs across the country, working collectively to improve the quality of college students’ experiences. Her previous experience includes work in student conduct and Fraternity and Sorority misconduct, and she uses this work to inform her advocacy for students’ rights in the student conduct process and similar processes in higher education. She is a member of the Association for Student Conduct Administration and the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors.

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.

Student Advocacy Program Attorney
University of Oregon

Kristi Patrickus is a dedicated attorney with a diverse background in higher education law and advocacy. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Oregon in 2021 and is licensed to practice in Missouri and Oregon.

Currently serving as the Student Advocacy Program Attorney at the University of Oregon, Kristi provides comprehensive legal guidance to students and organizations navigating disputes with the university, including student conduct and Title IX cases. Currently, Kristi is the only full-time, university-employed attorney on any college campus providing these free legal services to students. Kristi also operates a part-time consultancy firm where she provides a range of services for attorneys, student organizations, and colleges and universities.

Before entering private practice, Kristi held pivotal roles at the University of Oregon Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, managing complex cases and contributing to policy development. Her legal acumen extends to her clerkships at the Lane County, Oregon Office of Legal Counsel and the ACLU of Tennessee, where she honed her skills in constitutional law and litigation support.

Kristi remains actively engaged in legal education and advocacy, contributing to professional publications and presenting at conferences nationwide on topics ranging from due process in higher education to Title IX regulations. She is a member of several professional associations and continues to shape the landscape of student rights and legal protections in educational settings.

Senior Vice President of University Compliance
Liberty University

Ashley Reich is the Senior Vice President of University Compliance at Liberty University. Ashley has spent the majority of her 17-year career in Student Financial Services and transitioned into Clery and Title IX work in October 2022. Ashley has a passion for compliance and has worked to build a robust, pan-institutional Clery program within Liberty using modern technology measures and efficiencies within the nuanced world of Clery. In Ashley’s current role, she works closely with Finance, Human Resources, Academic Affairs, Athletics, the Office of Legal Affairs, Internal Audit, Risk Management and other stakeholders and subsidiaries to oversee Liberty University’s overall compliance efforts.

In her spare time, Ashley enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her husband of 16 years, Peter, their 6-year old son, Theodore, and Goldendoodle, Moses.

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.

Manager of Risk Research
United Educators Insurance

Heather A. Salko is the Manager of Risk Research at United Educators Insurance (UE). An attorney, Heather oversees Risk Management content created by UE. She concentrates her own research, writing, and presentations on employment issues, student discipline, Title IX, student mental health, and artificial intelligence issues. Heather oversees the creation of – and often hosts – UE’s risk management podcast, Prevention and Protection.

Heather joined United Educators in 2002. For thirteen years she was a Senior Claims Counsel during which time she worked with member institutions and outside counsel to manage litigation in New England. She turned her focus to risk management and advising UE members in promising risk reduction practices in 2015.

Before joining United Educators, Heather was a litigator in Philadelphia where she concentrated on insurance coverage and employment matters. Heather is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and Villanova University Law School. She is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA).

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.

Professor of Law
University of Richmond Law School

Roger V. Skalbeck is a Professor of Law and the Associate Dean of Library & Information Resources. He teaches Legal Research, Copyright Law and Comics + the Law. He is a frequent presenter on legal technology, and he writes about libraries, technology, AI and intellectual property. Dean Skalbeck is a member of the Virginia Access to Justice Commission’s Committee on Self-Represented Litigants, and is actively involved in access to justice initiatives. He was formerly an Adjunct Professor and Associate Librarian at Georgetown Law Center, where he co-taught a seminar on Technology Innovation and Law Practice. At the University of Richmond, Dean Skalbeck heads the university’s Faculty Technology Committee.

Director of Consulting Services
Grand River Solutions

Andrea Stagg is Director of Consulting Services at Grand River Solutions. She has extensive experience consulting, writing, and training on Title IX, the Clery Act, and other equity and safety matters impacting schools and institutions of higher education. Before joining Grand River, Andrea was Deputy General Counsel and Director of Government Relations & Compliance at Barnard College and was previously 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 and response. Andrea graduated from Rutgers University and The George Washington University Law School.

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.

Counsel
Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC

Kristen Thorsness is of counsel with the law firm of Bond, Schoeneck & King, where she concentrates on compliance and defense in Title IX athletics gender equity matters. She won an Olympic gold medal as part of the first U.S. women’s rowing team ever to win Olympic gold. She also won three World Championship silver medals and numerous U.S. national championships. Kristen is also an arbitrator for the international Court of Arbitration for Sport – she was a CAS arbitrator at the 2024 Olympic Games — and for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

As well as her sport-related work, Kristen works as a litigator in employment and labor law. She has practiced in both the private and public sectors, before state and federal courts, and has extensive experience before the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the NY State Division of Human Rights.

Kristen’s lifelong experience as an athlete at all levels of competition, her legal practice, and her experience working with national and international athletic bodies allows her to provide practical guidance to universities, colleges and school districts navigating Title IX’s regulatory requirements for their athletic programs.

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 Brightspace a 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 is approved for 12.5 General Credit hours of continuing legal education for 2024. 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 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday), 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