Affinity Groups

The Benefits of Affinity Groups

Affinity groups are self-organized and self-governing groups external to NACUA that meet based on a commonality of regional, institutional, or other interests. These groups gather informally to discuss issues regarding their particular region, institutional type, or area of professional or personal interest.

Some affinity groups hold quarterly calls to discuss issues pertinent to the group and ways members can be involved in NACUA. Other groups meet in person on a quarterly, monthly, or annual basis. Many groups utilize their NACUANET communities to exchange ideas and ask questions around their group’s area of focus. If you want more information about other groups and how they function, please  contact us.

Criteria for NACUA Affinity Groups:

Membership should consist primarily of NACUA members
Meetings should be open to all NACUA members who wish to attend
Group leaders, who must be NACUA members, will serve as the main contact and will be listed in the NACUA Affinity Groups list.
Group leaders and members are responsible for promoting and inviting members to join their group.

NACUA provides Affinity Groups with:

List of members to invite
NACUANET discussion group
Space to meet if desired at the NACUA Annual Conference, based on availability
NACUA will not post group publicity messages to the website or in member communications, but group leaders and members are encouraged to post notices in their NACUANET communities

Interested in creating a new affinity group?

If you are a member of a NACUA Affinity Group you can request to create a NACUANET discussion group. Contact us to get started.

Institution Types Practice Interests Regions Identity-Based Groups

Institution Types

NACUA Affinity Groups	Contact Information	NACUANET Join the Discussion
Christian Colleges and Universities	Janet Stiven Vice President & General Counsel Moody Bible Institute Paula Victor General Counsel Biola University
Community Colleges	Augustin Rivera Jr. General Counsel Del Mar College District	Join the Discussion
Historically Black Colleges and Universities	Melissa Holloway General Counsel and Vice Chancellor, Legal Affairs, Risk, and Compliance North Carolina A&T State University	Join the Discussion
Independent Law Schools	Sarah Luke General Counsel Brooklyn Law School	Join the Discussion
Jesuit Colleges and Universities	Rebecca Cull General Counsel and Secretary to the Board Xavier University	Join the Discussion
Military Colleges	Mark Brandenburg General Counsel The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina	Join the Discussion
Religious and Church-Related Colleges and Universities	Bryan M. Seiler General Counsel Wheaton College (IL)	Join the Discussion
Small Private Liberal Arts Colleges	Jamey P. Leahey Vice President for Legal Affairs and Gift Planning Centre College	Join the Discussion

Practice Interests

NACUA Affinity Groups	Contact Information	NACUANET Join the Discussion
Athletic Compliance Issues	Nathan LaVallee Deputy General Counsel University of Connecticut	Join the Discussion
Cannabis Research and Related Issues	Andrew Zehner Associate General Counsel University of Vermont	Join the Discussion
China Activities and Programs	Shirley (Xinning) Liu President XL Law & Consulting P.A	Join the Discussion
Compliance and Risk Management Programs	Robert Roach Senior Export Compliance Officer University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Judy W. Spain Chief Compliance Officer Georgia Independent College Association Paige Smith Chief Compliance and Risk Officer University of Wisconsin System	Join the Discussion
Data Privacy Issues	Emma Bahner Associate XL Law & Consulting PA	Join the Discussion
Deputy General Counsel	Blake Billings Deputy General Counsel Kansas State University	Join the Discussion
Endowment/Investment Issues	Angelica Ortiz Associate General Counsel New York University	Join the Discussion
eSports Issues	Erin Butcher Attorney Bricker Graydon LLP	Join the Discussion
Healthcare Law & Academic Medical Centers	Stephen J. Owens Senior Counsel Husch Blackwell LLP	Join the Discussion
Immigration Law	Leigh P. Cole Chair, Education Practice Dinse P.C.	Join the Discussion
International Issues	Vinita Mehra Director and Leader, Global Business and Global Education Kegler Brown Hill & Ritter LPA	Join the Discussion
New and Recently Appointed General Counsel	Allison Newhart Vice Chancellor and General Counsel North Carolina State University	Join the Discussion
Real Estate Law	Heidi Klosterman Assistant Vice Chancellor & Associate General Counsel Washington University in St. Louis Robert Roesener Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Rutgers University	Join the Discussion
Scholarships & Financial Aid Issues	Stacia Boden General Counsel Wichita State University Lucia Padilla General Counsel Colorado Mountain College	Join the Discussion
Solo & Small General Counsel Offices	Anne Bilder University General Counsel University of Northern Iowa	Join the Discussion
Sponsored Research Issues	Michael D. Vernick Partner Jenner & Block LLP	Join the Discussion
Tax Policy Issues	Alexander Reid Partner Baker Hostetler	Join the Discussion
Teachers of Higher Education Law Courses	Laszlo Szabo Associate VP of Research Compliance, Chief Research Compliance Officer Rowan University	Join the Discussion
Title IX and Related Issues	Alysa Christmas Rollock Vice President for Ethics and Compliance Purdue University Elizabeth Conklin Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity Access, and Belonging Yale University	Join the Discussion
Young Attorneys in Higher Education	Codi Meixner Assistant General Counsel Georgetown University Cori Smith Associate Reed Smith LLP	Join the Discussion

Regions

NACUA Affinity Groups	Contact Information	NACUANET Join the Discussion
Alabama Attorneys	Amber M. Fite-Morgan General Counsel University of North Alabama	Join the Discussion
California Attorneys	TBD	Join the Discussion
DMV Attorneys (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia)	Stephanie J. Gold Partner Hogan Lovells US LLP Syma Siddiqui Associate General Counsel Johns Hopkins University	Join the Discussion
Florida Attorneys	Karen Stone Vice President and General Counsel University of North Florida	Join the Discussion
Georgia Attorneys	Joshua I. Bosin Partner Holland & Knight Jonathan R. Poole Associate General Counsel Emory University	Join the Discussion
Illinois Attorneys	Stephanie Mills Graham Vice President and General Counsel Northwestern University Scott Warner Partner Husch Blackwell LLP	Join the Discussion
Indiana Attorneys	James Nussbaum Partner Church Church Hittle + Antrim John Maurovich Associate General Counsel Butler University	Join the Discussion
Louisiana Attorneys	Alyse R. Latiolais Of Counsel Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP	Join the Discussion
Massachusetts Attorneys	Gregory A. Manousos Partner Morgan, Brown & Joy, LLP	Join the Discussion
Michigan Attorneys	Miles J. Postema Vice President and General Counsel Ferris State University	Join the Discussion
Minnesota Attorneys	Melitta Drechsler Assistant General Counsel Minnesota State College and Universities	Join the Discussion
Missouri Attorneys	Lindsay Chapman General Counsel University of Central Missouri	Join the Discussion
New England Attorneys/NECOC	Nathan LaVallee Deputy General Counsel University of Connecticut	Join the Discussion
New York Attorneys	Jane Sovern Member Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC Dana HC Lee, JD, MPA Senior Counsel Albert Einstein College of Medicine E. Katherine Hajjar Senior Counsel Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC	Join the Discussion
Ohio Attorneys	Joshua D. Nolan Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary Oberlin College	Join the Discussion
Oklahoma Attorneys	TBD	Join the Discussion
Pennsylvania Attorneys	Robert Farrell General Counsel and University Secretary University of Scranton Karin Rilley Vice President, General Counsel and Chief of Staff Bucknell University	Join the Discussion
Tennessee Attorneys	Corey Harkey Associate General Counsel Austin Peay State University
Texas Attorneys	Damon C. Derrick Vice President and General Counsel Stephen F. Austin State University	Join the Discussion
WACO	Art Lee Chief Campus Counsel Stony Brook University	Join the Discussion

Identity-Based Groups

NACUA Affinity Groups	Contact Information	NACUANET Join the Discussion
African American Attorneys	Melanie Barr-Brooks Associate General Counsel American University	Join the Discussion
Asian/Pacific Islander Attorneys	Shirley (Xinning) Liu President XL Law & Consulting P.A	Join the Discussion
Jewish Attorneys	Lisa Brauner Partner Whiteford Law Gabrielle Lincoff Deputy General Counsel and Chief Risk Management Officer Case Western Reserve University	Join the Discussion
Latino Attorneys	Genevieve Aguilar Counsel Massachusetts Institute of Technology Herberth Melendez Associate General Counsel Brooklyn Law School	Join the Discussion
LGBTQA+ Attorneys	Norden S. Gilbert Life Member Becca Gose Vice President and General Counsel Oregon State University	Join the Discussion
Middle Eastern/North African (MENA) Attorneys	Laila Maher Dean, Student and Alumni Affairs Columbia University Sunanda Holmes General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer American University in Cairo	Join the Discussion

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