As Associate General Counsel, Michelle is responsible for advising on a range of matters related to regulatory compliance. She also manages responses to government investigations and provides knowledgeable counsel on university processes and policies.
Michelle received her Bachelor of Arts from Emory University in Political Science and Sociology, where she was a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society. She obtained her Juris Doctor from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. While in law school, Michelle was a recipient of the Dean’s Award for outstanding service to the school community. She also served as a Note and Comment Editor for the CommLaw Conspectus and as a Student Attorney for the Columbus Community Legal Services Clinic.
Prior to joining Vanderbilt University’s Office of the General Counsel, Michelle served as a Senior Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Educational Opportunities Section. While there, Michelle led investigations to enforce civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination in schools and represented the United States in complex civil rights litigation. She also regularly advised Federal agencies on the enforcement of civil rights laws and assisted in the drafting of regulations. Before working at the U.S. Department of Justice, Michelle worked as a General Attorney at the U.S. Department of Education, Office of the General Counsel, where she advised the Office for Civil Rights, the Federal Student Aid Office, and the Office of Postsecondary Education, on a variety of legal, regulatory, and policy matters.
Michelle is a member of the American Bar Association and the National Association of College and University Attorneys. She is admitted to practice law in Washington, D.C. and Maryland (inactive).
In her free time, Michelle enjoys spending time with family and friends, travel, and film.
Assistant Contact: MJ Bush, MJ.Bush@Vanderbilt.Edu, 615-343-3804