Office of General Counsel Legal Staff

Jay Rosselló

Jay Rosselló is a graduate of Yale University (B.A., 1993), the Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 1996), and Suffolk University's Sawyer School of Management (M.B.A, 2003).

Mr. Rosselló has been practicing law for more than twenty-five years, primarily in the fields of higher education and collegiate sports. Mr. Rosselló is responsible for the management and oversight of UMD's broad and complex legal duties and obligations and the administration of its Office of General Counsel.

Previously, Mr. Rosselló served as Chief Legal Officer at the University of Texas at San Antonio, as General Counsel & Secretary at a consortium of ABA-accredited law schools, as Director of Legal Affairs and Enterprise Risk, Ethics & Compliance at the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and as Associate General Counsel at West Virginia University. Mr. Rosselló also has professional experience as a partner and an associate at two different law firms, as in-house counsel at a publicly held company, and as a judicial clerk at the United States Court of Appeals.

Mr. Rosselló has expertise in a number of areas relevant to public institutions of higher education, including, academic and accreditation matters, athletics, business transactions, human resources, intellectual and real property, litigation and dispute resolution, open records, campus safety and security, research and regulatory compliance, and student affairs.

Jen Gartner

Jen Gartner is a graduate of the University of Delaware (B.A., 1998); the George Washington University Law School (J.D., 2001), where she served as Senior Managing Editor of the Public Contract Law Journal; and Norwich University (M.P.A., 2005).

Before joining the University in April 2013, Ms. Gartner was the Director of Grants & Contracts and an adjunct professor for the University of Colorado Denver's School of Public Affairs, where she taught courses in administrative law, negotiations, and federal contracting. She is formally trained as a government contracts attorney and has worked with military, aerospace, and nonprofit contractors for many years, first at the law firm of Morgan Lewis in Washington, DC, and later at the Space Science Institute, home to the NASA's Cassini Imaging Team, in Boulder, Colorado.

Ms. Gartner’s portfolio includes sponsored research, technology transfer, regulatory compliance, risk management, health law, university policies and practices, and other transactional matters.

Laura Anderson Wright

Laura Anderson Wright is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received her Juris Doctorate from Washington & Lee University School of Law.

Mrs. Wright joined the University of Maryland in March 1995; her portfolio includes student affairs, residency classification, and risk management. This work is in addition to serving as the University's Public Records Officer. Finally, she is also a certified mediator and engaging public speaker.

Licensed in Maryland and the District of Columbia, Laura is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) and Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC).

Devin J. Doolan, Jr.

Devin J. Doolan advises and supports University clients, including the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, vice presidents, deans, department heads, human resources, athletics, public safety, faculty, and staff. His areas of concentration include employment, labor, civil rights, discrimination, disability, harassment and misconduct, faculty, staff and student affairs, public safety, campus governance, regulatory compliance, risk management, privacy, policies and procedures, and contracts.

Before joining the University, Devin was a partner in the Baltimore and Washington, DC offices of a regional law firm, where he was a member of the firm's Business and Finance Department and Labor, Employment, & Employee Benefits Practice Group. Mr. Doolan graduated from Fairfield University (B.A.) and The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law (J.D., cum laude), where he was a member of the Law Review and earned a joint Certificate in Law & Public Policy.

Tracey E. Skinner

Tracey E. Skinner serves as real estate counsel for a number of the University's departments and divisions, including the Office of Administration and Finance, Facilities Management, Student Affairs and Dining Services. As real estate counsel, she is responsible for a wide variety of matters, including acquisitions and dispositions, leases, licenses, intergovernmental agreements, and special projects involving community revitalization and development. Tracey previously held the position as real estate counsel in the Office of Law of Howard County, Maryland and in private practice.

Tracey has served as Chair of the Real Property Section of the Maryland State Bar Association and as President for the Baltimore Chapter of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women).

Tracey graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law, where she served as Editor in Chief of the Law Forum.

Janet Benson Forville

Janet Benson Forville is a graduate of Virginia Tech and the College of William & Mary School of Law, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Bill of Rights Journal.

Janet has extensive experience providing legal support to nonprofit, educational and cultural institutions. Before joining the University in 2019, she served as Associate General Counsel at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and handled complex business transactions at the Smithsonian Institution. 

As Senior Associate General Counsel, Janet provides advice and guidance to University clients on a wide array of business transactions and intellectual property issues. Janet's portfolio includes procurement and other contracts, copyright and trademark issues, art and entertainment law, library and archival matters, licensing, information technology, environmental safety and risk management, gifts and fundraising, and other transactional matters.

Christopher Bowie Lord

Christopher Bowie Lord advises and supports University clients on a wide variety of matters, including employment and personnel matters, civil rights, student affairs, public safety, University policy and practices, and contracts. Mr. Lord also serves as a point of contact for and supports Assistant Attorneys General who represent the University in litigation matters.

Before joining the University, Chris served as Deputy Chief, Litigation in the Higher Education Division of the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland. In that capacity, Chris oversaw the team of OAG litigators who represent the University, as well the other public universities and colleges in Maryland, in connection with all legal claims and lawsuits against the institution. Mr. Lord personally handled several complex cases against the University and other universities. Mr. Lord also provided advice to universities on a wide range of issues, including personnel and faculty disputes, questions regarding student disciplinary proceedings, tort claims, subpoenas and PIA requests, collective bargaining agreements, and university police matters.

Prior to joining the Office of the Attorney General, Chris was an associate and partner in the Baltimore office of a regional law firm, where he was a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation Department. In that capacity, Chris litigated a wide variety of business and commercial real estate disputes.

Mr. Lord is a graduate of Kenyon College and the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

Daniel L. Kaiser

Daniel L. Kaiser is a graduate of the Ohio State University (BS 1999 in Allied Medical Sciences; J.D. 2008). Before joining the University of Maryland in 2017, Mr. Kaiser served as General Counsel and Director of Operations for a web-based legal intelligence software development company based in Washington, D.C. with a focus on transactions, security, and compliance.

Daniel joined the University of Maryland in 2017 and serves as an Associate General Counsel with a focus on transactions, privacy, software, international agreements, academic collaboration agreements, trademarks and licensing, UMD’s energy program, and the general support of university personnel. 

Emily Bolyard Leigh

Emily Bolyard Leigh provides legal counsel to University clients in a variety of areas, including non-discrimination and equal opportunity, Title IX, faculty and staff employment, student affairs, First Amendment and expressive activity, and Clery. In these areas, she also provides legal advice and support with respect to University policies and practices, compliance, administrative complaints, litigation, and business transactions. 

Before joining the University in 2019, Emily served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Higher Education Division of the Office of the Maryland Attorney General, where she provided legal counsel to University System of Maryland institutions. Emily is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park (B.A., 2012), and the University of Maryland School of Law (J.D., 2015), where she was a member of the Order of Barristers and the Moot Court Board as well as Executive Editor of the Journal of Health Care Law and Policy. 

Bryan Sanders

Bryan Sanders is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park and received his Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Law.

In the Office of General Counsel, Bryan assists with real estate matters including, leases, licenses, and various other contracts. Prior to joining the University, he worked at a general civil firm in Rockville, MD where he focused on litigation and real estate transactions.

Valerie H. Bonham

Valerie H. Bonham is a graduate of Rice University (B.A.) and the University of Virginia School of Law (J.D.).  She is a lawyer and bioethicist with over twenty-five years advising academic health and science organizations, including senior officials in higher education and government.

Previously, Ms. Bonham served as Vice President & General Counsel at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Counsel in the national law firm of Ropes & Gray, Senior Attorney at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Executive Director for the President’s Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues. She served also in senior policy positions with the NIH – including Deputy Director in the Office of Research Support and Compliance, Acting Director for Data Sharing, and Senior Advisor in the NIH Director’s office.

Ms. Bonham is a member of the Board on Life Sciences of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a contributor to the Artificial Intelligence Code of Conduct initiative of the National Academy of Medicine.  Her expertise includes research security, privacy protection, dual use research, scientific integrity, conflicts, human subjects protection and animal care and use.  She is skilled in all areas of the law affecting research and academic health care institutions, including public-private partnerships, transactions, technology transfer, litigation, clinical care and accreditation.  She is a member of the Research Transactions & Regulatory Law group in the Office of General Counsel.

Peyton Nicole Farley

Peyton Nicole Farley graduated from Hampton University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Upon graduation, Ms. Farley started her career as a Contract Specialist at NASA Langley Research Center in the Mission Services Directorate. Peyton earned her Juris Doctorate from Regent University School of Law, where she received the “Community Changer” award in recognition of her commitment to excellence and integrity by a selfless pursuit of public service and community involvement.

Preceding Peyton joining UMD's Office of General Counsel, she served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Doris Henderson Causey, Court of Appeals of Virginia. Prior to clerking for Judge Causey, she was a transactional attorney at Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black in Norfolk, VA where she represented businesses in various corporate related matters and assisted families with protecting their legacies through effective estate planning.

Passionate about serving her local and legal communities, Peyton has served as a member of the Norfolk Civil Service Commission and on the Board of Governors for the Environmental Law Section of the Virginia State Bar.

Nora M. Coaxum Dozier

After transferring from Lincoln University, Nora M. Coaxum Dozier, received her B.S. and M.A. from Bowie State University. Nora brings over 20 years of executive and administrative services not only from an educational environment, but also the private and corporate sectors to the Office of General Counsel (OGC). She supports the Vice President for Legal Affairs & General Counsel and provides administrative support to the attorneys and paralegals. In addition, she manages the daily office operations and oversees various programs in the Office of General Counsel.

Angela M. Rainey

Angela Rainey earned her B.S. from Penn State University as well as a B.S. from UMD Global College in Psychology.  Along with her administrative assistance experience within Anne Arundel County Schools, she has several years of experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant in a private law firm.  Her past work experience and studies helps assist all the attorneys in the office.  Angela is responsible for the overall coordination of a broad range of services/resources that allow the organization to operate efficiently.  She provides subpoena support and is a notary in the Office of General Counsel. 

Erika Chicas

Erika Chicas received her B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland, College Park.  She has several years of experience working as a Senior Paralegal in private law firms, focusing primarily in Civil and Criminal Law.  Erika assists the attorneys with the University’s responses to internal and external information requests, such as supporting Public Information Act (PIA) process and similar matters handled by Office of General Counsel.  Erika also serves the University as a notary public.