Overview
Learn from Leading Experts and Build New Connections
The upcoming conference will be held on October 28 – 30, 2024, and will focus on the diverse legal issues impacting all aspects of higher education. The program will feature leading experts in:
- Higher Education Law
- Student Affairs
- Campus Public Safety
- And much more
Through interactive sessions and panel discussions participants learn practical approaches to complex legal situations.
Participants acquire the knowledge to implement best practices, policies and programs; and develop a network of peers to serve as connectors and advisors who continue to serve as problem-solving resources after the conclusion of the conference.
A conference worth attending
A majority of attendees surveyed rated the conference as excellent.
- 86% of attendees would recommend the conference to their colleagues
*2022 survey of conference attendees
What sets the Legal Issues Conference at UVM apart
Build a Network
Professionals in the legal field and in student affairs have the opportunity to make lasting connections and support each other to problem-solve long after the conference is over.
Stay Ahead of Issues
Our attendees regularly tell us that the breadth and depth of higher education issues covered at the conference is unparalleled.
Vermont in the Fall
While you’re here enjoy all Vermont has to offer from our spectacular fall foliage to the famous Church St. in downtown Burlington.
Featured Resources
Explore news from our blog on the latest issues in higher education
This is an important conference as it brings together a mixture of people from all over campus, unlike any other conference I am involved with. Individuals working in academic and administrative departments, as well as those working directly with legal issues, will offer diverse perspectives on the issues, including remote learning.
Seth Gilbertson, Senior Counsel, Bond Schoeneck & King Attorneys, 13 years of attendance
Agenda
Three days of keynote speakers, concurrent sessions, and roundtable discussions
Sample topics include:
- New Title IX Regulations and Implementation
- Academic Freedom and Campus Speech
- Hazing: Legislation, Litigation, and Prevention
- Student and Employee Accommodations
- DEI, Affirmative Action, and Bias Response
- Students in Crisis: Mental Health on Campus
- International Students and Study Abroad
Explore the Conference Schedule:
Learn moreHere are more samples of topics regularly covered each year
- Current Legal Trends
- Title IX
- Speech on Campus
- Mental Health
- Student Conduct
- Employment and Labor Law
- OCR Enforcement
- Athletics
- Contracts
- Gender and Identity
Due to the changing nature of legal topics impacting higher education and speaker schedules, all topics and schedules are subject to change.
Registration
Conference Fees
- General Registration – $1,225
- Group Rate (3 or more) – $980 (per person)
- Early Bird Webstream – $279
- Webstream (after June 30) – $349
- UVM Faculty/Staff/VT Resident – $349
Webstream Option
Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference will be available to view via webstream this year if you are unable to attend in person. If you choose to project the conference sessions at your home institution, many participants can view together from one computer login.
The conference will be available via Zoom Webinar, and you will be able to access conference materials on Brightspace. You will be sent instructions on how to access the conference 2-4 business days prior to the start of the conference.
Why CAE Deputy Executive Director Tricia Fechter Gates Attends
“Take the time for your own professional development. The last few years have been hectic and it’s worth the time to invest in yourself and your own learning…much has changed over the past few years and the legal issues conferences gives you access to all the experts and information you need to be successful.”
Patricia Fechter Gates, Ph.D., CAE Deputy Executive Director, ACPA – College Student Educators International
Housing & Travel
Conference room blocks are available at the Courtyard by Marriott Burlington Harbor, Hotel Champlain Curio Collection by Hilton, and Hotel Vermont.
We encourage you to make hotel reservations early since the conference takes place during our popular fall foliage season. See the descriptions below for booking deadlines.
Courtyard by Marriot Burlington Harbor
Rates at the Courtyard by Marriot Burlington Harbor, located at 25 Cherry Street, Burlington, VT, are $279.00 plus taxes, fees, and parking. If calling for a reservation, reference “The UVM Legal Issues in Higher Education Group Block” (902-864-4700). Reservations must be made by September 26, 2024, to secure the conference rate. The number of rooms available at the conference rate is limited.
Hotel Champlain, Curio Collection by Hilton
Rates at Hotel Champlain, Curio Collection by Hilton, located at 60 Battery Street, Burlington, VT, are $299.00, plus taxes, fees, and parking. If calling for a reservation, reference “Legal Issues in Higher Education” when making your reservation (1-800-HILTONS or 1-800-445-8667). Reservations must be made by October 4, 2024, to secure the conference rate. The number of rooms available at the conference rate is limited.
Hotel Vermont
Rates at the Hotel Vermont, located at 41 Cherry St., Burlington, VT, are $309.00, plus taxes, fees, and parking. If calling for a reservation, reference “Legal Issues in Higher Education” when making your reservation (855-650-0080). Reservations must be made by September 26, 2024, to secure the conference rate. The number of rooms available at the conference rate is limited.
Transportation
Shuttle buses will be provided from the Hilton Burlington and Courtyard Marriott/Hotel Vermont to the Davis Center each of the conference days. For more information, please visit Shuttle Information in the FAQ.
Things to do in or near Burlington
Burlington, Vermont offers excellent shopping & dining on the Church Street Marketplace, and spectacular views of New York’s Adirondacks and Vermont’s Green Mountains.
Nearby recreational opportunities abound. Cruise on Lake Champlain, arrange a bike trip to see the fall foliage, or explore nearby attractions.
- Spirit of Ethan Allen Cruise
- The Vermont Teddy Bear Company
- The Shelburne Museum
- Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream
- Ethan Allen Homestead
- Shelburne Farms
- Shelburne Vineyard Tastings & Tours
- ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
- Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
- Church Street Marketplace
- City Brew Tours
- Vermont Brewers Association – Brewery Trails
- State of Vermont Tourism
Sponsors & Partners
Sponsors and partners play an essential role in making the Legal Issues in Higher Education conference possible by providing financial support, valuable resources, and expertise to the event. Without their generosity and collaborative efforts, organizing such an event can be challenging and would not have been successful.
To register as a Sponsor or Exhibitor, select Register Now and select the category of your choice. For further information or questions, please contact Professional and Continuing Education at learn@uvm.edu or call (802) 656-2085. We look forward to working with you to create a high quality learning opportunity for our conference participants.
Sponsor Packages:
Participants include attorneys, consultants, and upper-level administrators with job titles like: president, chancellor, provost, vice president, dean, director, and coordinator, in areas such as student life, risk management, human resources, public safety, compliance, as well as general counsel, Title IX Coordinator, and other officers.
$10,000 Event Sponsor
- Recognition as the event sponsor throughout conference
- Logo included within web-conference space throughout the conference and recorded for future viewing
- Signage throughout the conference
- Distribute promotional materials throughout the conference
- One conference registration
- Exhibitor table in designated vendor space throughout conference
- Full-color logo acknowledgment on conference website
$7,500 Breakfast Sponsor
- Recognition as a sponsor of the daily conference breakfasts (3)
- Signage in the breakfast area daily throughout the conference
- One conference registration
- Exhibitor table in designated vendor space throughout conference
- Full-color logo acknowledgment on conference website
$6,000 Lunch Sponsor:
- Recognition as a sponsor of the daily networking lunches (2)
- Signage in lunch area daily throughout the conference
- Exhibitor table in designated vendor space throughout conference
- One conference registration
- Full-color logo acknowledgment on conference website
$3,500 Welcome Reception Sponsor: SOLD OUT
- Recognition as a sponsor of the Monday night Welcome Reception
- Signage in reception area
- Exhibitor table in designated vendor space throughout conference
- One conference registration
- Full-color logo acknowledgment on conference website
$2,500 Exhibitor Package:
- Exhibitor table in designated vendor space throughout conference
- One conference registration
- Full-color logo acknowledgment on conference website
Bond, Schoeneck & King
Bond, Schoeneck & King is a full-service law firm with 275 lawyers and offices across New York State as well as offices in Boston; Kansas City; Naples; West Palm Beach and Red Bank, New Jersey. The higher education attorneys of Bond provide a full range of services to over 100 higher education clients, in addition to the many additional institutions they represent in NCAA compliance and athletics matters through its collegiate sports practice.
Services routinely cover academic, business and student affairs issues; financing and construction matters; NCAA and athletics issues; commercial real estate and environmental matters; labor and employment, employee benefits and immigration matters; as well as charitable giving and development issues. Bond attorneys are active members of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), having served as President and in many other leadership roles within that group.
Bond attorneys are established leaders in the higher education sector, having served as faculty members, in-house counsel and administrators (including interim President, Provost and Dean) at several institutions, giving them a unique perspective on institutional needs. Their participation on the editorial boards of the Journal of College and University Law and NACUANOTES, and as speakers and authors for NACUA, ACE, NACUBO, Educause, NASPA, and CUPA on a variety of subjects of special interest to colleges and universities ensures that they are always familiar with the cutting-edge issues confronting higher education in the 21st century.
Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 925 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels’ clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 33 offices across two continents. Cozen O’Connor’s Institutional Response Group delivers holistic responses to institutions confronting sexual and gender-based harassment and violence, child abuse, safety and security issues, and other forms of misconduct. We represent colleges, universities, K-12 educational and other child-serving institutions, as well as corporations, hospitals, religious institutions, and not-for-profit organizations, in connection with policy, compliance, investigations, and governance issues.
Faulkner Legal
Faulkner Legal is a boutique law firm specializing in employment, education and disability law. Faulkner Legal works with colleges, universities, academic medical centers, non-profits, and education vendors. Faulkner Legal provides practical legal advice as outside counsel, drawing on more than twenty years as in-house counsel. Faulkner Legal provides assistance to organizations with leanly-staffed legal offices or no general counsel, including secondments for interim vacancies. Janet Elie Faulkner regularly serves as an independent investigator for claims involving employment, Title IX, discrimination, disability, promotion and tenure, athletics, and scientific research issues. Janet also serves as an adjudicator and advisor in Title IX and sexual misconduct processes. Janet Faulkner is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, Vermont, and New York.
Grand River Solutions, Inc.
Grand River Solutions, Inc., is dedicated to providing services that help campuses, communities, and workplaces develop effective, practical, and sustainable approaches to equity issues including Title IX, Title VII, VAWA, ADA/504, DEI, and Clery Act compliance. We provide a broad range of consulting services to support and assist an institution in achieving its equity goals. Grand River Solutions’ founders and practitioners come from a background of education, law, human resources, DEI, student conduct, technology, and non- profit service. Our hands-on approach is highly collaborative and unique to each institution. We embrace the individual mission, values, resources, and culture of each school and community, and help lead them to economical solutions that maximize existing resources.
SUNY Student Conduct Institute (SCI)
The SUNY Student Conduct Institute (SCI) trains staff and faculty at public and private institutions of higher education on how to fairly and equitably investigate and adjudicate conduct violations and disclosures. SCI members access Live@Distance (webinar) trainings, a large catalog of on-demand training courses and more. Training is tracked by individual and institution to make compliance and education more efficient and accessible. Training topics include due process, trauma-informed investigations and adjudications, questioning and weighing of evidence, and other crucial best practices in the investigation and conduct process that comply with Title IX, the Clery Act, and other relevant federal and New York State laws.
University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA)
Founded in 1969, University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA) is uniquely dedicated to the advancement of the profession of risk management in higher education. URMIA provides community, education, and resources to an international community of almost 3,000 members. This includes practicing professionals at more than 825 institutions of higher learning, as well as more than 100 affiliate companies and partner organizations that serve the needs of higher education risk management. URMIA is headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana.
Nearpass & Koegel PLLC
Nearpass & Koegel PLLC is a law firm dedicated to providing independent and impartial services to clients including colleges and universities, nonprofits, municipalities and for-profit companies. The Firm’s services include campus and school investigations, workplace investigations, hearing officer/Title IX adjudication, gap coverage for Title IX coordinators and other managers of internal investigations, informal resolution facilitation, and training.
Nearpass & Koegel provides timely, thorough, and impartial investigations into complaints of discrimination, harassment, and other misconduct. The firm’s investigation services are essential to institutions when senior leadership is accused of wrongdoing; when there is likely to be publicity around a claim; when highly sensitive matters (such as allegations of sexual assault) arise requiring an investigator with specialized training; or when overflow support for internal staff is needed.
In addition to investigation services, the Firm also has a robust Title IX practice, including regularly adjudicating Title IX hearings and appeals and serving as interim Title IX coordinators.
University of Vermont Partners
College of Education and Social Services
Professional and Continuing Education
Office of General Counsel
Advisory Board
Associate Professor & Program Coordinator of Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESAA)
University of Vermont
Dr. Tracy Arámbula Turner (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration at the University of Vermont. Her
scholarship has been published in the Review of Educational Research, Harvard Educational Review, Teachers College Record, Professional School Counseling, College Student Affairs Journal, Journal of School Leadership, The School Community Journal, School Psychology Review, Improving Schools, International Journal of Research & Method in Education, Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, and New Directions for Institutional Research. She teaches an Honors College D1 Seminar on (In)equality in P-16 American Education, and masters-level courses in Higher Education Organization and Administration, Social Justice and Inclusion in Higher Education, and Higher Education Law. Dr. Turner was named a 2019 Faculty Fellow with the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. She is also engaged with the Association for the Study of Higher Education and the American Educational Research Association and serves on the editorial boards of the Review of Educational Research, the Journal of Higher Education and the Journal of the First-Year Experience & Students in Transition. Dr. Turner is the recipient of the NASPA Region I Outstanding Contribution to Literature and/or Research Award, the UVM CESS John Dewey Educator’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the NASPA Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community Outstanding Faculty Award
Senior Associate Counsel
Albany Medical Health System
Charles F. Carletta, Sr. has been admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Military Appeals and all local federal and New York State courts.
Upon graduation from law school in 1969, he served as a Deputy Staff Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force. In addition to criminal prosecution and defense litigation, he became a primary civil rights officer for the Air Force and participated in the formulation of the United States Armed Forces’ first inter-active training program on civil rights.
After military service, Mr. Carletta joined a law firm in the Capital Region of New York where he practiced law for twenty-seven years, both as a litigator and a practitioner specializing in the laws regarding banking, commercial real estate, hospitals, news media, and higher education.
During this time, he served as outside general counsel to several private and public, two and four-year institutions of higher education. He also published a chapter in a book on legal issues in higher education as well as over fifty papers or articles regarding education law and practice. He currently serves on two national professional boards centered on the interrelationship of law and higher education including as a founding director for the University of Vermont’s annual conference on Legal Issues in Higher Education. He enjoys presenting regularly as an adjunct professor or guest lecturer at various colleges.
In 2000, Mr. Carletta became the first Secretary of the Institute and General Counsel for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a position he maintained for sixteen years. During this time, he served for several years as one of twelve nationally chosen attorneys to advise the General Counsel of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Upon retirement from RPI, Mr. Carletta assumed the role of Senior Associate Counsel at the Albany Medical Center. During leaves of absence from that position, he has served as the Vice-President and Chief of Staff at Siena College and then served as the Chief Operating Officer at The College of Saint Rose. He is back as Senior Associate Counsel at the Albany Medical Health System.
During his career, Mr. Carletta has served as a trustee on two hospital boards and the board of a medical college. He has also served as a director on the boards of two captive insurance companies as well as several not-for-profit or charitable organizations.
Mr. Carletta is the proud father of four children and grandfather of four grandchildren.
Vice President of Student Life & Dean of Students
Washington & Jefferson College
Eva Chatterjee-Sutton joined W&J as the Vice President of Student Life & Dean of Students in July of 2013. Dean Eva earned her BS in Sociology and Political Science at Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS) and her MA in College Student Development with a minor in Organizational Change & Development at the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA). Upon completion of her graduate work, Dean Eva assumed a position at the University of Maryland – Baltimore County (UMBC) where she held several positions within the Office of Residence Life. In the summer of 1997, Dean Eva joined Bennington College, first as the Associate Director of Student Life and later transitioned to the Dean of Students at Bennington, a role she held for 7 years.
In her tenure at Bennington College, Dean Eva’s commitment to creating a student experience with a strong foundation in student development theory, a deep commitment to community development, and a dedication to creating support structures to provide students the opportunity to realize their full potential was realized. Dean Eva grew the student affairs operation from having a limited focus to an operation that encompassed a broad range of supports and services for students. In addition to the work at Bennington, Dean Eva grew the connection of Bennington College to the neighboring communities through partnerships and programs with community agencies and her own commitment to education and community development.
In 2006, Dean Eva was elected to the School Board of North Bennington, VT and served in that capacity until 2011 when she transitioned to leading the Board of Directors of The Village School of North Bennington. The Village School of North Bennington is only the second school in the nation to transition from a public school or an independent school. The process of this change was led by Dean Eva with support from a committee of citizens form the North Bennington community. This work, 5 years in duration, encompassed a highly political and community based process which received state and national attention both during and at is successful conclusion.
Now at W&J, Dean Eva has continued her commitment to creating a holistic and robust student experience. To date this has been marked in part by creating a team in the Division of Student Life whose work resonates with the values of student and community development. She is working to create connections and collaborations across the campus to assist in this effort. Dean Eva serves as a member of President John Knapp’s cabinet and leads a division of over 80 dedicated staff members who are deeply committed to the mission of W&J. In addition, Dean Eva serves on several non-profit boards. She resides in Washington, PA with her husband, two daughters and several rescued animals.
Founder
Title IX Consult, LLC
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.
Megan is a recognized expert in education compliance and frequently speaks at education conferences nationally, including the Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference, University Risk Management Insurance Association Annual Conference, and the National Ombudsman Association meetings.
She provides training on topics such as Internal Investigations, Diversity and Bias in Education, and Restorative Justice in Title IX Actions and frequently serves as a mediator of education-related disputes.
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.
Senior Counsel
Bond Schoeneck & King Attorneys
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.
Associate Dean of Students
Collin College Preston Ridge Campus
Cheri Jack is the Associate Dean of Students and Title IX Investigator for Collin College, which is a multi-campus community college district serving more than 59,000 students. Her role is to advocate for student success, support the teaching and learning environment, address discipline issues, investigate Title IX complaints, and serve as a member of the Strategies of Behavioral Intervention (SOBI) team.
Cheri currently serves as a board member for the University of Vermont Legal Issues in Higher Education conference. She has worked in higher education for more than thirty years at both community colleges and four-year institutions. Her background includes professional experience in the areas of discipline, Title IX Investigation, advocacy, academic advising, student life, counseling, student unions, career services, housing, and leadership. In addition, she has taught as an adjunct faculty member for ten years, and conducts faculty and staff training and development seminars.
She has presented at regional and national conferences including: the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the Association of College Unions International (ACUI), the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers (GLACUHO), the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH), the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA), the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the Texas Higher Education Law Conference, and the University of Vermont Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference. Cheri earned a M.S in Counselor Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and she has a B.S. with a double major in psychology and communication from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Dean of Students
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Adam serves as the Dean of Students for University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Before UWM, Adam was the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Conduct/Community Standards 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 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, and soon to be Wisconsin.
Senior Vice President for Administration & Finance
Herkimer College
Nicholas F. Laino is currently serving as the Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance at Herkimer County Community College in Herkimer, NY. He served as Interim President for one year in 2014-2015 and as Officer in Charge for four months in 2014 and six months in 2008. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority in Syracuse, NY and Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committee. He also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at SUNY Polytechnic Institute at Utica/Rome, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Herkimer County Community College. Mr. Laino also served as a Former Treasurer for the Utica City School District and Former Councilman for the City of Utica – elected at age 23.
Mr. Laino received a Master of Science in Business Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business and Public Management from SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome and an Associate in Applied Science in Business Administration from SUNY College of Technology at Delhi.
Mr. Laino’s Professional Affiliations include President Emeritus for the New York State Community College Business Officers Association where he formerly served as the President, Vice President and Chairman of the Education Committee, Evaluator for Middle States Commission on Higher Education, former Member of the SUNY Shared Services Steering Committee, and former Member of the SUNY Strategic Planning “Group of 200”
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.
Retired General 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.
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 has more than 30 years of experience representing clients in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Mr. Nolan has successfully argued many cases that created favorable precedent in the higher education and employment contexts.
In client-sponsored and public venues, Mr. Nolan has trained thousands of education, human resources and law enforcement professionals throughout the country on best and promising practices in Title IX/Clery Act compliance, witness-centered/trauma-informed fair investigations, how to conduct hearings under Title IX regulations, threat assessment and management, ADA issues and other education and employment law issues.
Mr. Nolan advises clients on threat assessment practices, which use a proven methodology to assess and manage potential risks of targeted violence in the higher education and workplace settings.
Mr. Nolan also provides independent investigations of sensitive campus and workplace issues, such as reports of alleged sexual misconduct, intimate partner violence or stalking, alleged sexual harassment, faculty misconduct and other workplace misconduct. Jeffrey Nolan is a Certified FETI® Practitioner (CFP-B).
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, Kim 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.
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.
Before coming to UVM, Jennifer served as a tax law clerk for the American Cancer Society, Inc.’s Office of Corporation Counsel in Washington, DC, and a research assistant to Peter Lake in the writing of Beyond Discipline: Managing the Modern Higher Education Environment (Hierophant Enterprises, Inc., 2009). Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree from Elon University, a J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, as well as an LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center, with a focus on tax exempt organizations.
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.
General Counsel, Chief of Staff, and Secretary to the Corporation
Middlebury College
Hannah Ross was appointed as the first General Counsel of Middlebury College on December 1, 2016. She serves as the General Counsel to the liberal arts college in Vermont, as well as the Middlebury Institute for International Studies in Monterey, California, the Bread Loaf School of English, and Middlebury’s Language Schools and Schools Abroad. She provides legal and strategic advice to the President, the Board of Trustees, and senior administrators. Ms. Ross has worked in higher education since 2003, when she joined Princeton’s Office of the General Counsel. Ms. Ross supervises litigation and provides advice and counsel on a number of state and federal regulatory and compliance matters. She has particular expertise in issues of student health and safety, including threat assessment, harm reduction strategies, managing students in crisis, and self-harming situations, as well as issues of open expression, campus speech and protest, governance and policy development, privacy, and copyright.
Ms. Ross is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, regularly writing and speaking on higher education legal issues. She was elected to the NACUA Board of Directors (2018-2021) and received NACUA’s Distinguished Service Award (2022). Hannah also serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Vermont (UVM) Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference, one of the nation’s premiere yearly conferences focusing on the diverse legal issues impacting all aspects of higher education. In the past, Ms. Ross served on the Steering Committee of Higher Education Real Estate Lawyers (HEREL) and hosted the 8th HEREL conference in 2010. As Middlebury’s Chief of Staff, Hannah serves as an advisor and thought partner to the President and her senior leadership team, organizing, coordinating, and translating initiatives and plans into action. Prior to working in higher education, Ms. Ross was in private practice as a civil litigator and employment lawyer with Hill & Barlow, P.C. and Goulston & Storrs in Boston. After law school, she clerked for Justice Denise Johnson of the Vermont Supreme Court. Ms. Ross received her J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School and her B.A., summa cum laude, from Yale University.
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.
Dean of Students
Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Science
Dr. Bill Stackman is currently the Dean of Students at Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Science. He previously served for Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean at the University of Missouri, and for seven years as the Associate Vice President for Student Services Notre Dame University. Dr. Stackman has been working in student affairs for 40 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, a master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in Positive Coaching, 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 Social Work and plans to graduate in May. Dr. Stackman will be joining the Industrial-Organizational master’s degree program at Harvard University, June 2024 with an expected graduation date of December 2024.
Bill enjoys spending time with his children, Laurel and Reed, and his 2 years old Yellow lab, Mac. He loves to bike daily, run, hike, swim, and serve others as a positive coach.
Associate Dean of Students
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Dr. Douglas Stoves is the Associate Dean of Students for Student Rights and Responsibilities at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He has served students for over 35 years in higher education in the private, public and community college settings. Over the course of his career, Dr. Stoves has filled leadership roles that include Dean of Students, Director of Housing and Residential Life, Collegiate Athletics, Federal and State Compliance, Judicial Affairs and overseeing a 3-Time Champion Collegiate Chess program. Most recently, he served as Chair of the Directorate for the Commission for Student Conduct and Legal Issues for ACPA, a Certified Clery Compliance Officer, Deputy Title IX Coordinator and adjunct faculty. Dr. Stoves values civic duties and leadership as well and has served in as a City Councilor, President of the Humane Association for the City of Ashland, Wisconsin, and currently serves as a facilitator for a ‘” Live Yes” group for the Arthritis Foundation for the Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Stoves earned a Baccalaureate in Biology, a Masters in Counseling and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on Higher Education. Dr. Stoves lives in Harlingen, Texas, with his wife Eileen and their seven dogs and two cats.
Presenters
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.
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.
Director
Department of Risk Management
Katie Haining joined the Department of Risk Management at the University of Vermont in 2017 and was promoted to Director in 2022. Katie and her team are responsible for managing the university’s property and casualty insurance program which includes claims management. Through collaboration with campus stakeholders, she makes recommendations for effective mitigation and management of risk. By providing guidance and responding to inquiries about the university’s insurance coverage, Katie serves as a resource for her colleagues and communicates key insurance terms. Katie combines analytical skills and a collaborative approach to manage risk on and off campus.
Prior to coming to the University of Vermont, Katie worked as a Claims Associate at Paul Frank + Collins PC where she managed two captive insurance liability claims programs and conducted claims audits of Third-Party Administrators of property, casualty, and specialty insurance programs for London Market clients. Katie is a graduate of the University of Vermont and holds multiple professional designations including the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM).
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.
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.
Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, and Senior Advisor to the President
University of Vermont
Sharon Reich Paulsen currently serves as Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, and Senior Advisor to the President at the University of Vermont. She came to UVM with both law practice experience and experience in academia.
After clerking on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Ms. Paulsen served as a trial attorney at U.S. Department of Justice, primarily engaged in constitutional litigation. She later joined the business litigation department of Faegre & Benson (now Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP) in Minneapolis, where she handled a wide range of business and employment disputes, until she entered academia as Associate Dean at the University of Minnesota Law School. As Associate Dean, Ms. Paulsen supervised writing and litigation courses and programs, oversaw administrative operations, and co-authored three litigation-related texts. Teaching responsibilities included Conflict of Laws, Trial Practice, and a variety of experiential courses. Other higher education experience includes work as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief of Staff to the Provost of the University of Minnesota, and Chief of Staff to President at UVM.
Ms. Paulsen taught law in China and Sweden, and has traveled several times to Uzbekistan to engage in rule of law work. She earned her BA in Economics from Yale University, and her JD from Stanford Law School, where she was note editor of the Stanford Law Review.
She is a member of the American Law Institute and the American Bar Foundation.
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.
FAQ
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
October 28-30, 2024 will mark the final opportunity to participate in the Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference at UVM. The conference will not run in 2025 and beyond.