Campus Resources 

General Counsel
Saint Joseph’s University

As General Counsel, Marianne is responsible for overseeing all legal issues affecting the University. Her duties include: drafting and reviewing policies to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations; assisting in formulating and implementing institutional strategies for avoiding future legal problems; coordinating and managing litigation matters involving the University and retaining, coordinating and supervising outside counsel as required; drafting, reviewing and negotiating legal documents such as leases, sales and services agreements, settlement agreements and sponsored research agreements; advising on tax exempt status issues, charitable giving, and trusts and estates matters; providing advice with respect to internal dispute resolution and judicial proceedings, such as student disciplinary matters and employee grievances, suspension or termination matters; coordinating the response to subpoenas and other requests for information; and responding to administrative complaints and participating in administrative hearings, such as before the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Marianne received her J.D. from the Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law; her M.A. from the University of Scranton and her B.A. from Marywood University. Before becoming General Counsel at Saint Joseph’s University, she served for 10 years as General Counsel for Saint Mary’s College of California and, prior to that for 8 years as Trial Counsel in the Office of The General Counsel for The Regents of the University of California.

Prior to her practice in higher education law, Marianne was a partner in the Portland, Oregon law firm of Spears Lubersky (now Lane Powell). She is admitted to active practice in Oregon, California, New York and the District of Columbia, as well as before the Supreme Court of the United States and has applied to be admitted to active practice in Pennsylvania to serve as Saint Joseph’s General Counsel. Earlier in her career, Marianne taught high school in Pennsylvania and New York, worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and was employed as a Regulatory Affairs Specialist for the Clorox Company.

Among other professional volunteer activities, Marianne serves as a director of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) and as a member of the NCAA General Counsel Advisory Board. She is also a NACUA officer and has served as chairperson and vice-chairperson of various NACUA committees. In addition, she has been a speaker in various higher education settings, including NACUA, NACUBO, ACCU, CIC and AGB.