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Mission Statement
The Office of General Counsel (OGC) of American University is committed to service, knowledge of the law, and facilitating the educational mission of American University. It is our function to provide, manage, and coordinate all legal services for the university and to minimize legal risks and costs efficiently, reliably, and professionally.
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 American 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.
Subject Matter Assignments
Traevena Byrd, Vice President, General Counsel and Board Secretary
| Subject Matter | Division | ||
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Governance & Higher Education |
Office of the President & Board of Trustees |
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Bethany J. Bridgham, Senior Associate General Counsel
| Subject Matter | Division | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Commercial & Transactional Law |
Office of Finance and Treasurer |
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Employee Benefits (Tax Related) |
Payroll Office |
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Environmental Law |
Office of Facilities Management |
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Taxation |
Office of Finance and Treasurer |
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Trusts & Estates |
Office of Development |
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Qwendolyn Brown, Associate General Counsel-Real Estate and Business
| Subject Matter | Division | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Campus 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 & Bankruptcy |
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, Associate General Counsel
| Subject Matter | Division | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Employment Law |
Human Resources & Office of Campus Life |
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Faculty Issues |
Office of the Provost |
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Immigration |
Office of the Provost & Office of Campus Life |
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Intellectual Property |
Office of Sponsored Research |
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Telecommunications |
WAMU |
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Justin Perillo, Associate General Counsel
| Subject Matter | Division | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Athletics |
Athletics |
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Commercial & Transactional Law |
Office of Finance & Treasurer |
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Intellectual Property |
Office of Sponsored Research |
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Scientific Research |
Office of Sponsored Research |
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Student Issues |
Office of Campus Life |
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Robert (Ben) Walker, Associate General Counsel
| Subject Matter | Division | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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International Agreements |
Office of the Provost & Office of Campus Life |
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Labor and Employment Law |
Human Resources |
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Student Issues |
Office of Campus Life |
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Tuition & Financial Aid |
Office of Enrollment |
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Trusts & Estates |
Office of Development |
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