In her role as Deputy General Counsel, Michelle is responsible for providing strategic counsel to the university and its senior leaders, helping to navigate significant legal and operational challenges. As part of the Office of the General Counsel leadership team, Michelle sets strategic goals, supervises and manages the distribution of legal work among the subject-matter expert attorneys on the Legal team, and oversees collaborative relationships with outside counsel and key campus partners across the university.
Michelle received her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, where she served as an intern in the Yale University Office of General Counsel. Michelle received her Bachelor of Arts, Phi Beta Kappa, in Cognitive Science and Sociology from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining Vanderbilt University’s Office of the General Counsel, Michelle worked in the education practice at the international law firm Hogan Lovells, where she advised on high-profile transactional, complex litigation, government investigation, and regulatory compliance matters for universities and education-industry clients.
Michelle is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), and she has proudly served on several NACUA committees, including the Committee on Program for the Annual Conference. Michelle is admitted to practice law in Tennessee, the District of Columbia, and Maryland (inactive).
Michelle enjoys traveling to explore new locations far and wide: to date, she has visited 47 of the 50 states. Closer to home, Michelle likes to try new foods, and she recommends the lunch bowls at the Kissam Kitchen on campus. She also enjoys squirrel-watching with her dog, Toast, on Peabody Lawn.
Assistant Contact: Crystal Nguyen-Fuss, crystal.nguyen-fuss@vanderbilt.edu, 615-343-7032