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Mission Statement
American 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.
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 |
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) |
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 |
Veronica Harsley-Dean, Associate General Counsel
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 & Bankrupty |
Human Resources & Office of Finance and Treasurer |
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Real Estate & Environmental Law |
Office of Finance and Treasurer |
Hanieh Hoshiari, Staff Attorney
Subject Matter | Division |
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Commercial & Transactional Law |
Office of Finance and Treasurer |
Intellectual Property |
Office of Sponsored Research |
Trusts & Estates |
Office of Advancement |
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
Subject Matter | Division |
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Affirmative Action and Non-Discrimination |
Office of Enrollment |
Immigration |
Human Resouces & Office of the Provost |
Labor & Employment |
Human Resources & Office of the Provost |
Student Matters |
Office of Student Affairs |
Robert (Ben) Walker, Associate General Counsel
Subject Matter | Division | ||
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International Agreements |
Office of the Provost & Office of Student Affairs |
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Labor and Employment Law |
Human Resources |
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Student Matters |
Office of Student Affairs |
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Tuition & Financial Aid |
Office of Enrollment |
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Trusts & Estates |
Office of Advancement |