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 assignments

Subject Matter	Division
Governance & Higher Education	Office of the President & Board of Trustees

Bethany J. Bridgham, Senior Associate General Counsel

Subject matter assignments

Subject Matter	Division
Commercial & Transactional Law	Office of Finance and Treasurer
Employee Benefits (Tax Related)	Human Resources
Environmental Law	Office of Facilities Management
Intellectual Property	Office of Sponsored Research
Taxation	Office of Finance and Treasurer
Trusts & Estates	Office of Advancement

Melanie Barr-Brooks, Associate General Counsel

Subject matter assignments

Subject Matter	Division
Faculty Employment	Office of Academic Affairs
Immigration	Office of the Provost
International Agreements	Office of Academic Affairs, Office of Student Affairs
Non-Discrimination	Office of the Provost
Student Conduct and Title IX	Office of Student Affairs
Tuition & Financial Aid	Office of Enrollment

Veronica Harsley-Dean, Associate General Counsel

Subject matter assignments

Subject Matter	Division
Campus Plan	Office of the President
Commercial & Transactional Law	Office of Finance and Treasurer
DC Regulatory Matters	Office of the President
Debt Collection & Bankrupty	Human Resources & Office of Finance and Treasurer
Real Estate & Environmental Law	Office of Finance and Treasurer

Hanieh Hoshiari, Staff Attorney 

Subject Matter	Division
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 assignments

Subject Matter	Division
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
Immigration	Human Resouces & Office of the Provost
Labor & Employment	Human Resources & Office of the Provost
Non-Discrimination	Office of Enrollment