As a member of the Institutional Response Group, Maureen's practice is focused on helping educational institutions improve policies, procedures, and systems for preventing and addressing sexual assault, interpersonal violence, stalking, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, hazing, and other forms of prohibited conduct under Title IX, the Clery Act, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, and related federal and state laws.
Maureen helps schools design and implement effective institutional responses that integrate the complex federal and state regulatory framework with the unique dynamics of sexual and gender-based harassment and the impacts of interpersonal violence on individuals and communities. She provides hands-on assistance in writing policies and procedures, conducting investigations, serving as an external decision-maker, and developing and delivering training programs for Title IX Coordinators, Institutional Equity personnel, decision-makers, investigators, and other implementers and leaders.
Institutions regularly call upon Maureen to conduct external policy audits or reviews of institutional responses to current or historical reports of sexual and gender-based harassment and violence. She also assists schools in meeting federal compliance obligations and responding to investigations by the Office for Civil Rights and the Clery Compliance Division.
As a seasoned investigator, Maureen manages and conducts Title IX and civil rights investigations. She is also an external decision-maker in Title IX, discrimination, harassment, and related conduct cases. As part of her practice, Maureen advises on and serves as a facilitator for informal resolutions.
As an attorney in IRG, Maureen served as Interim Title IX Coordinator at Baylor University, helping to build Baylor’s Office of Institutional Equity; and Interim Director of Investigations at a large state university, restructuring their intake and investigative processes. She currently leads a team of IRG attorneys who serve as equity consultants for Michigan State University, reviewing policies, procedures, and case files and reporting on legal compliance and effective practices.
She is co-chair of the firm’s Education Team, helping identify, develop, and connect education leaders with legal advisors and experienced professionals within and outside Cozen O’Connor.