Stacey L. Bennett named general counsel

President M. Duane Nellis has announced that Stacey L. Bennett has been named general counsel at Ohio University. She comes to Ohio University from Ohio State University, where she most recently served as associate vice president and senior associate general counsel.

“Ms. Bennett brings a keen understanding of the complex laws and regulations affecting higher education and how they are evolving, which will greatly benefit Ohio University,” said President Nellis. “I am confident that she is the right candidate to lead our Office of Legal Affairs.”

Bennett’s distinguished career includes serving as the section chief of business counsel for Ohio Attorneys General Richard Cordray and Mike DeWine, practicing in-house with Verizon Communications, serving as an enforcement attorney at the Federal Election Commission, and working in private practice with the Washington, D.C. office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. She also served from 2004-05 as clerk to the chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Federated States of Micronesia.

Bennett, who earned her Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School and a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College, will begin her new role in February 2020.

“I am very honored to be named Ohio University’s next general counsel,” Bennett said. “I look forward to working with the president, provost, senior staff and the Board, along with the excellent staff of the Office of Legal Affairs, to support the mission of the University.” 

President Nellis expressed his gratitude to Executive Vice President and Provost Chaden Djalali and Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration Deb Shaffer for their leadership in co-chairing the General Counsel Search Committee.

“I appreciate all of the members of the search committee for their insights and their dedication toward the search process.  Finally, let me express my sincere appreciation to Barbara Nalazek, who has served as interim general counsel since August 2019,” President Nellis said.