UW Law Days

Monday (2/23/26)

9:30 AM – 10:45 AM

FMLA Update & Administration

This webinar will provide practical guidance on administering FMLA within a public university, including eligibility, intermittent leave, medical certifications, concurrent leave, and coordinating with ADA/504. Includes recent developments and FAQs for supervisors and HR.

Presenters: Matt Lind

11:15 am – 12:30 pm

Religious Accommodations at UW

This webinar will cover how to assess and implement employee and student religious accommodations including scheduling, dress and grooming, and academic considerations.

Presenters: Rachel Jeris & Craig Fischer

1:00 pm – 2:15 pm

DOJ Employment Training

This webinar includes training led by Wisconsin DOJ focusing on current employment law enforcement priorities for public employers and how UW entities can align policies and practices.

Presenters: Jeff Simcox

3:00 pm – 4:15 pm

Federal Litigation Update

This webinar will cover significant federal cases impacting higher education.

Presenters: Jennifer Herzog, Lissa Koop, & Amy Kasper

Tuesday (2/24/26)

9:30 am – 10:45 am

Public Records Compliance Essentials

This webinar will cover when the Wisconsin Public Records Law applies, common exemptions, the balancing test, record retention, and best practices for intake, search, redaction, and response.

Presenters: Aaron Dumas & Katie Patten

11:15 am – 12:30 pm

Open Meetings: When and How to Comply

This webinar will cover the core requirements of Wisconsin’s Open Meetings Law—defining a meeting, notice, agendas, closed sessions, and minutes.

Presenters: Duane Harlow & Jennifer Herzog

1:00 pm – 2:15 pm

Investigations: Practical Skills for Administrators

This webinar will cover the investigation process from intake to report: planning, interviewing, credibility assessment, documentation, and report drafting; coordination with HR, Title IX/EEO, and law enforcement when applicable.

Presenters: Haley Hintz & Claire Edwards

3:00 pm – 4:15 pm

Ethical Responsibilities of In‑House Counsel

This webinar will cover the Wisconsin Rules of Professional Conduct for in-house counsel: who is the client, confidentiality and privilege in the public sector, conflicts, and dealing with represented/unrepresented persons.

Presenters: Timothy Samuelson & Francis Sullivan (OLR)

Wednesday (2/25/26)

9:30 am – 10:45 am

Federal Anti-Discrimination

This webinar will provide an overview of Title VI obligations for institutions receiving federal funds and how they intersect with campus initiatives, with practical tips on policy, training, and complaint response.

Presenters: Wade Harrison

11:15 am – 12:30 pm

Digital Accessibility / Title II

This webinar will cover ADA Title II/Section 504 obligations for digital accessibility (web, LMS, documents, media), procurement considerations, and creating sustainable remediation workflows.

Presenters: Ruben Mota, Mark Whittaker, & Noah Brisbin

1:00 pm – 2:15 pm

Navigating Evolving Risks in Higher Education

This session will provide a high-level overview of existing and evolving risks facing higher education, the impacted operational areas, and some practical approaches to enhance university resilience.

Presenters: Paige Smith & Joseph Rayzor

3:00 PM – 4:15 PM

Due Process & Hearsay in University Proceedings
This webinar will cover due process checkpoints in student/employee proceedings; evidentiary basics and the role of hearsay in administrative hearings under UWS and state administrative practice.

Presenters: Quinn Williams & Rachel Pings

Thursday (2/26/26)

9:30 am – 10:45 am

Foreign Source Income Reporting

This webinar will cover the requirements and processes for identifying and reporting foreign source income and gifts, with risk areas, internal controls, and coordination across departments.

Presenters: Amy Missinne & Matt Lind

11:15 am – 12:30 pm

What to Expect in an Administrative Hearing

This webinar will provide a judge’s perspective on preparing for administrative hearings: pleadings, prehearing conferences, evidence, witness preparation, and hearing etiquette before DHA.

Presenter: Sally Pederson

1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) – Legal Landscape

This webinar will cover the current NIL landscape for intercollegiate athletics, third-party collectives, pay-for-play concerns, state law developments, and institutional guardrails.

Presenters: Noah Brisbin & Brian Vaughan

3:00 pm – 4:15 pm

Policy Development at UW

This webinar will cover how policy is proposed, vetted, and approved at Universities of Wisconsin; drafting best practices, aligning with SYS/RPD, stakeholder engagement, and implementation.

Presenters: Sarah Ebben & Quinn Williams

Universities of Wisconsin

Noah Brisbin, Senior System Legal Counsel, Office of General Counsel

Noah E. Brisbin, System Legal Counsel, joined the UW System Office of General Counsel in 2016. He advises campuses on employment, contract, student affairs, and other higher education issues. Previously, Noah represented the North Dakota University System and its institutions from 2012 to 2016, serving in-house and in the North Dakota Office of the Attorney General. Noah graduated with distinction in economics and English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he was the problem writer for the Moot Court Board.

Sarah Ebben, Policy Analyst, Division of Finance and Administration

Sarah Ebben received her Master's in Public Affairs from the La Follette School at UW-Madison in 2021. She has worked for Universities of Wisconsin Administration (UWSA) for six years, the first two as a graduate fellow while pursuing her MPA. Following graduation, she returned as a permanent employee coordinating the UW System Administrative policy process and participating in various policy-related initiatives with the Office of General Counsel. As part of that role, she has been fortunate enough to directly supervise three graduate fellows in the same fellowship program that she participated in. Sarah received the Eugene Craven Academic Staff award in 2024 and is in her second term as an Academic Staff Representative on the UWSA Academic Staff Committee.

Claire Edwards, Investigator, Office of Compliance and Integrity

Claire Edwards completed her undergraduate degree at the State University of New York - Albany in Criminal Justice and Sociology. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2018. Since then, she has practiced as a criminal defense attorney for the Wisconsin State Public Defender's Office. In that role, she represented both adult and juvenile clients in a variety of different cases and proceedings and conducted hundreds of investigations. Claire's caseload addressed issues related to sexual assault, discrimination, and domestic violence. Claire joined the Office of Compliance & Integrity in January 2023.

Aaron Dumas, System Legal Counsel, Office of General Counsel

Aaron G. Dumas joined the UW System Office of General Counsel in April 2022. Aaron previously practiced law at Pines Bach LLP, representing clients in a variety of civil litigation and other legal contexts, and frequently handling matters involving state and local government actors and policy. Before starting his career in law, Aaron worked in project management in health care IT and as a legislative aide in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Aaron earned his B.A. cum laude in government from Harvard University in 2003, and both a J.D. cum laude and an M.P.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2015. During law school, he worked as a law clerk for the Office of General Counsel.

Duane Harlow, Senior System Legal Counsel, Office of General Counsel

Senior System Legal Counsel Duane Harlow joined the UW System Office of General Counsel in June 2024. Prior to joining the Universities of Wisconsin, Duane was an Assistant Attorney General with the Wisconsin Department of Justice. During his 18 years with WisDOJ, Duane worked in the Civil Litigation Unit defending the State of Wisconsin in a variety of complex civil litigation matters. During his time in the Civil Litigation Unit, Duane tried to verdict dozens of cases in both state and federal courts. In 2017, Duane was appointed Director of the WisDOJ’s Public Protection Unit, where he supervised staff engaged in the civil enforcement of Wisconsin’s environmental protection, consumer protection, and antitrust laws. Duane has also served as the Attorney General’s designee on the Wisconsin Judicial Commission and as the Chairperson for the Wisconsin Claims Board. Duane earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and his law degree from the Capital University Law School.

Wade Harrison, Senior System Legal Counsel, Office of General Counsel

Wade Harrison joined the UW System Office of General Counsel in July 2014. Wade focuses in the areas of employment law, student affairs, diversity issues, health care, real estate, bankruptcy and training. Prior to joining UW System, Wade worked at the law firm of Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. and his practice involved advising and representing both private and public employers in a variety of labor and employment, education and health law matters. Wade has appeared before the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, United States Department of Education - Office of Civil Rights, Wisconsin state courts, United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin and the United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Wade received his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Loyola University, Chicago, graduating cum laude with minors in Women's Studies and African American Studies. Before starting his career in law, Wade worked in California and Chicago gaining experience in international trade and human resources.

Haley Hintz, Investigator, Office of Compliance and Integrity

Haley Hintz earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminology from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Haley earned her Master of Legal Studies with a Sports Law and Criminal Law Emphasis from Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. Haley previously worked for the State Public Defender System as an Investigator in Colorado and Wisconsin for six years. In that role, Haley conducted and participated in hundreds of investigations on a variety of subject matters such as sexual misconduct, juvenile mitigation, and administrative hearings. Haley joined the Office of Compliance & Integrity in spring 2023.

Amy Kasper, Senior System Legal Counsel, Office of General Counsel

Amy Kasper joined the UW System Office of General Counsel in February 2025.  Prior to this role, she served as the Director of Compliance and Title IX Coordinator at UW-Platteville.  Earlier in her career, Amy held a variety of roles in Wisconsin state government, including chief legal counsel for a former Wisconsin Governor and at the Wisconsin Department of Administration.  Amy graduated magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School and received a B.A. in Communication Arts and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Matt Lind, Senior System Legal Counsel, Office of General Counsel

Matthew J. Lind, System Legal Counsel, joined University of Wisconsin System’s Office of General Counsel in September 2010. He received a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School and joined the Wisconsin bar in 2010. During law school, he worked as a law clerk for the Office of General Counsel. He was also a member of the Wisconsin Law Review and the Moot Court Board. Before law school, he taught elementary and secondary Spanish and Latin for seven years at a private school in Charlottesville, Virginia. He received a M.Ed. in Foreign Languages from the University of Virginia in 2007 and a B.A. in Classical Languages from Calvin College in 2000.

Amy Missinne, Ethics & Compliance Specialist, Office of Compliance and Integrity

Amy Missinne serves as the Ethics and Compliance Specialist within the Office of Compliance and Risk Management (OCRM). As the Compliance Administrator, Amy's areas of focus include ethics and integrity, conflicts of interest, high risk compliance risk mitigation, compliance, and state authorization of distance learning. Prior to joining the Universities of Wisconsin Administration in June 2023, Amy spent over 10 years at UW-Superior serving in various roles including Compliance Officer, Ethics Officer, Title IX Coordinator, Precollege Liaison, Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Federal Compliance Leader, and Executive Administrative Officer to the Provost. Amy holds a M.S. in Training and Development (Human Resources Development) and a B.S. in Service Management from UW-Stout, as well as the professional designation of Senior Certified Professional from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP).

Katie Patten, Public Records/Records Management Specialist, Office of Compliance and Integrity

Katie Patten joined UW System’s Office of General Counsel in April 2018 and became a member of the Office of Compliance & Integrity when it was formed in 2019. Katie graduated from UW Madison in 2011 with a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies. She also completed a Post Baccalaureate Paralegal Degree from Madison Area Technical College in 2013. Katie previously worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources from 2013 to 2018, the last three years as the agency’s lead coordinator on public records issues; developing new policies, procedures, and tracking mechanisms for public records requests.

Joseph Rayzor, Risk Management Director, Office of Risk Management

Joseph Rayzor serves as the Director of Risk Management for the Universities of Wisconsin. His prior experience includes serving as Director of Risk Management at the University of Northern Iowa, holding multiple positions within the Office of Risk Management at Iowa State University, and practicing law with Great West Casualty Company. Joseph earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee.

Paige Smith, Chief Compliance and Risk Officer, Office of Compliance and Integrity

Paige Smith serves as the Chief Compliance and Risk Officer for the Universities of Wisconsin Administration. In this role, she oversees the Office of Compliance and Risk Management. Paige has served in this role since January of 2022. Prior to that, she served in a variety of roles for the Universities of Wisconsin between 2010 and 2022, including Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration (UW-Platteville), Chief Institutional Compliance Officer and Adjunct Lecturer (UW-Whitewater) and Senior System Legal Counsel (UW-System Administration). Paige has twenty years of experience in higher education and is a licensed attorney in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois. Paige received her J.D. and B.S. degree in Administration of Justice from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

Quinn Williams, General Counsel, Office of General Counsel

Quinn Williams has served as General Counsel for the University of Wisconsin System since December 2017. Quinn graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2002 with a B.A. degree and earned his law degree from Marquette University Law School in 2006. Quinn served as a Staff Attorney at the Department of Natural Resources from 2007 to 2012, then as an Attorney Section Supervisor from 2012 to 2015, and finally as a Chief Counsel from 2015 to 2017, with a wide area of focus, including the statutory and constitutional framework and federal and administrative regulations applicable to the operation of public agencies, litigation management, employment, real estate, trademark, copyright, intellectual property, ethics, contract and procurement, public records, open meetings, risk management, disability, discrimination, bankruptcy and collections.

UW-Milwaukee

Jennifer Herzog, Interim Deputy Chief Legal Counsel, Office of Legal Affairs

Jennifer joined UWM’s Office of Legal Affairs in January 2013. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2002, and graduated cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2005. Jennifer then served for two years as law clerk to the Honorable James E. Shapiro, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Subsequent to her clerkship, Jennifer worked with the corporate team at Godfrey & Kahn, S. C. as a member of the Business Finance and Restructuring Group. In that capacity, Jennifer conducted significant litigation and transactional work.

UW-Madison

Craig Fischer, Associate University Legal Counsel

Craig Fischer joined the Office of Legal Affairs in 2019 and currently serves as Associate University Legal Counsel. Craig’s practice areas include the First Amendment, employment, copyright, and trademarks. His employment practice includes advising on employment relations matters, assisting with misconduct investigations, employee disability and leave issues, and hearings before administrative bodies such as the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division. Craig also provides advice, training, and guidance regarding copyright issues, as well as trademark registration and infringement. Craig also advises campus on a variety of First Amendment issues and teaches the UW-Madison undergraduate course Political Science 470, a course dedicated to the study of the First Amendment. Before joining the Office of Legal Affairs, Craig received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and graduated cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Rachel Jeris, Senior University Legal Counsel, Office of Legal Affairs

Rachel Jeris is Senior University Legal Counsel. Her primary areas of practice are employment law and legal issues relating to student affairs. Rachel represents the University in proceedings before administrative bodies, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, and the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division. Prior to joining OLA in 2011, Rachel clerked for the Honorable Karen Nelson Moore, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and spent several years in private practice representing colleges and universities in litigation and counseling matters. Rachel graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University in 2000, and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2003, where she was a member of the Illinois Law Review and selected for the Order of the Coif.

Lissa Koop, Senior University Legal Counsel, Office of Legal Affairs

Lissa Koop is Senior University Legal Counsel. Lissa provides legal advice in the areas of sponsored research contracting and other transactional matters, research policy and compliance, intellectual property, data privacy, and environmental health and safety.  She serves as an advisor to UW-Madison’s Institutional Biosafety Committee, Biosecurity Task Force, Select Agent Program, and Chemical Safety Committee.  Prior to joining the Office of Legal Affairs in 2022, Lissa spent five years as in-house corporate counsel to a large, publicly traded utility, where she handled a range of regulatory, commercial, and compliance matters. Prior to that, Lissa spent eleven years in private practice at Perkins Coie LLP and Heller Ehrman LLP, where she focused on patent litigation, other complex commercial litigation, and political law counseling and litigation. Lissa graduated magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2005 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History, with distinction, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2003.

Ruben Mota, ADA Coordinator

Ruben serves as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator, collaborating and coordinating with university partners to ensure UW-Madison is continually striving for access and inclusivity for individuals with disabilities. Prior to joining the Office of Compliance, Ruben served as an Associate Director in the university’s McBurney Disability Resource Center. Previously, Ruben worked overseas in Switzerland.
Ruben holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from American University, a Master in Teaching with special education endorsement from the University of Washington, and a Doctorate from Capella University in leadership and educational administration. Ruben is a member of the National ADA Trainer Leadership Network (TLN) in association with the Great Lakes ADA Center.

Brian Vaughan, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs

Brian joined the Office of Legal Affairs in 2008 and serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs. In addition to managing aspects of the office, he provides advice and counsel primarily in areas of employment law; personnel investigations; employee disability and leave issues; scientific misconduct; and governance. Brian also serves as a member of the Chiefs of Staff briefing group. Prior to joining the Office of Legal Affairs, Brian served as Deputy Attorney General in the California Office of the Attorney general in Los Angeles where he practiced employment litigation in the state and federal trial and appellate courts. He earned his J.D., from the University of Wisconsin Law School and his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Political Science.

Mark Whittaker, Deputy ADA Coordinator

Mark serves as the Deputy Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Coordinator for Digital Accessibility. Prior to this role, Mark worked as the Digital Accessibility Program Manager for HP Inc. Previously, Mark worked for several years as the Senior Web Developer for Southern Utah University.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology from Utah Tech University, a Master of Interdisciplinary Science from Southern Utah University. He is also a certified Section 508 Trusted Tester.

Wisconsin Division of Hearings and Appeals

Sally Pederson, Senior Administrative Law Judge

Sally Pederson earned a B.A. with distinction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1986. After receiving her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School, Sally returned to Wisconsin to engage in private practice, representing public school districts in special education and employment matters, as well as handling family law cases. In 1994, she began working for the Wisconsin State Public Defender as Deputy Legal Counsel and was subsequently promoted to the position of Chief Legal Counsel. She has also worked as a special education school administration consultant for the Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

Since 2002, Sally has been an administrative law judge (ALJ) at the Division of Hearings and Appeals, handling hearings for a variety of state agencies, including DPI, the Department of Corrections (DOC), the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, and the Department of Safety and Professional Services. In 2019, she was promoted to the position of Senior ALJ, responsible for training and mentoring ALJs, advising management, and drafting DOC appeal decisions. Her current caseload concentrates primarily on special education due process hearings for DPI and Title IX and non-Title IX hearings for the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Rachel Pings, Assistant Administrator

Rachel Pings began her legal career in private practice focusing on employment and labor law. She joined DHA’s Milwaukee Office in 2008 as an ALJ in the revocation and general government units. She also served as Senior ALJ and transitioned to the Madison Office in 2014.

In 2018, Rachel was promoted to an Assistant Administrator position. In that role, she supervises ALJs in the Madison Office who conduct revocation and general government hearings.

Rachel received her law degree from the University of Wisconsin.

Office of Lawyer Regulation

Timothy Samuelson, Director

Timothy Samuelson is the Director of the Office of Lawyer Regulation. The Wisconsin Supreme Court appointed Samuelson to serve as OLR Director in August 2021. He was formerly the Civil Chief Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Wisconsin, an Assistant Attorney General with the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and a Dane County Circuit Court Judge. Samuelson worked in private practice in Chicago for 14 years before moving to Wisconsin in 2012. He graduated from Valparaiso University (B.A., 1995) and Indiana University School of Law (J.D., 1998).

Francis Sullivan, Deputy Director

Francis X. Sullivan is the Deputy Director (Litigation) for the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation. He previously served as an assistant attorney general in the Wisconsin Department of Justice, concentrating on civil litigation in a variety of practice areas. Before that, he was an associate at the Madison firm of Bell, Moore & Richter, where his wife Sheila is a partner. He has been a NAAG Training faculty member since 2012.

Wisconsin Department of Justice

Jeff Simcox, Unit Director, Civil Litigation

Jeffery Simcox has served as Unit Director of the Civil Litigation Unit at the Wisconsin DOJ since October 2023, overseeing major civil suits, trial strategy, and supervisory functions. He joined the DOJ as an Assistant Attorney General in April 2019, representing the state in a range of civil matters.

Prior to that, Jeff worked as a Staff Attorney at the Disability Law Center of Utah (2015–2019), specializing in disability rights advocacy, and as an Equal Opportunity Consultant for the University of Utah (2011–2015). He began his legal career as a contract attorney with Strindberg & Scholnick in 2011.