As a member of Cozen O'Connor's Institutional Response Group, Elizabeth utilizes her unique background in both higher education and the legal field to assist institutions with policy, compliance, investigations, and governance issues. She is skilled in balancing compassion with impartiality, respecting client wishes within the parameters of institutional policies and expectations, asking questions and holding space for answers, and, most importantly, cultivating a foundation of trust and safety.
For the past seven and a half years, Elizabeth has held several roles within a prestigious private research university in the Midwest, where she honed her skills in facilitating conflict resolution (investigative and alternative) and developing and implementing strategic initiatives in collaboration with leadership and community members. In 2021, she was tapped to lead the university's inaugural team tasked with preventing and responding to harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct, focusing on doing so in a human-centered, equitable and fair, transparent, and trauma-informed manner. In her previous roles, including as deputy Title IX coordinator, she helped to implement changes to non-discrimination and resolution policies and facilitated restorative justice workshops and community-building circles across campus.
Before entering higher education, Elizabeth began her legal career as an associate with a global law firm, representing corporate clients in state regulatory, state tort, and commercial matters. She also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Rebecca R. Pallmeyer, of the Northern District of Illinois, interned for multiple civil and human rights organizations, and holds several professional certifications in conflict resolution, creative leadership, ombudsman practice, creative coaching, and restorative justice facilitation and leadership.
After earning her B.A., summa cum laude, from Valparaiso University, Elizabeth earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School, where she was the managing executive editor of the Michigan Journal of International Law.
In recent years, Elizabeth has found purpose and healing as a professional coach, using her personal and professional experience to help others through grief and loss to find clarity, purpose, and connection in their lives.