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Mission Statement
猫咪社区app University's Office of General Counsel (OGC) is committed to providing excellent legal service to the university community that supports the university's growth and innovation in pursuit of its educational mission, as well as operational support to the Board of Trustees.
We do this by providing timely legal advice and counsel on the status of the law to empower our clients in their decision-making process. In our support of the AU community, we seek to ensure that our advice is responsive to our community's needs, reflects diverse perspectives, and helps ensure a collaborative approach that minimizes legal risk for the university. While identifying opportunities to reduce legal risk and exposure, we strive to deeply engage clients so that we can identify effective options to resolving issues within the broader university context. OGC achieves its commitment to excellence in governance by facilitating the Board's ability to fulfill its fiduciary responsibility and advance the University's mission, traditions, values and reputation.听听
Our Representation
The attorneys within OGC are licensed in the following states: District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Each attorney is responsible for providing legal support to specific divisions.
OGC represents 猫咪社区app University and may not represent individual students, faculty, or staff except when these individuals are named as defendants in litigation as a result of actions or omissions within the course and scope of their employment or institutional representation. For personal legal advice, employees and students should consult a private attorney.
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Subject Matter Assignments
Traevena Byrd, Vice President, General Counsel and Board Secretary
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Governance & Higher Education |
Office of the President & Board of Trustees |
Bethany J. Bridgham, Senior Associate General Counsel
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Commercial & Transactional Law |
Office of Finance and Treasurer |
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Employee Benefits (Tax Related) |
Human Resources |
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Environmental Law |
Office of Facilities Management |
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Intellectual Property |
Office of Sponsored Research |
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Taxation |
Office of Finance and Treasurer |
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Trusts & Estates |
Office of Advancement |
Melanie Barr-Brooks, Associate General Counsel
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Faculty Employment |
Office of Academic Affairs |
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Immigration |
Office of the Provost |
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International Agreements |
Office of Academic Affairs, Office of Student Affairs |
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Non-Discrimination |
Office of the Provost |
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Student Conduct and Title IX |
Office of Student Affairs |
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Tuition & Financial Aid |
Office of Enrollment |
Veronica Harsley-Dean,听Associate General Counsel
Subject Matter | Division | ||
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猫咪社区app Plan |
Office of the President |
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Commercial & Transactional Law |
Office of Finance and Treasurer |
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DC Regulatory Matters |
Office of the President |
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Debt Collection & Bankrupty |
Human Resources & Office of Finance and Treasurer |
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Real Estate & Environmental Law |
Office of Finance and Treasurer |
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Thi Nguyen-Southern, Senior Associate General Counsel
Subject Matter | Division |
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Athletics |
Athletics and Recreation |
Affirmative Action and Non-Discrimination |
Office of Enrollment |
Faculty Matters |
Office of the Provost |
Intellectual Property |
Office of University Communication & Marketing |
Labor and Employment |
Human Resources & Office of Student Affairs |
Telecommunications |
WAMU |
Hilda Soto Romero, Staff Attorney听
Subject Matter | Division |
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Immigration |
Human Resouces & Office of the Provost |
Labor & Employment |
Human Resources & Office of the Provost |
Non-Discrimination |
Office of Enrollment |
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Traevena Byrd, NACUA Chair
General Counsel Traevena Byrd will serve as 2024-25 chair of the National Association of College and University Attorney (NACUA) Board of Directors. NACUA is a 5,000+ member organization dedicated to the field of higher education law. Read more.
Melanie Barr-Brooks joins AU
Associate General Counsel Melanie Barr-Brooks joined AU in June. She has extensive experience in higher education and civil rights law and served as an enforcement attorney in the Office for Civil Rights at the 猫咪社区app Department of Education (OCR). At AU, Melanie handles matters related to faculty employment, student affairs, immigration, and non-discrimination. Learn more.