Summary
Melissa P. Barnard joined the Βι¶ΉΣ³» Office of the General Counsel in 2012 as Assistant General Counsel and later was promoted to Associate General Counsel. She is currently serving as Interim General Counsel. Melissa provides legal advice to University personnel and administration on a wide array of legal issues, including the First Amendment and free speech, civil rights, disability law, employment and faculty matters, student affairs, contract development and negotiation, gifts and trusts, administrative law, student issues, athletics, intellectual property, policy development and litigation.
Melissa has more than 30 years of government and private law firm experience. Prior to joining the OGC, Melissa advised clients on a wide range of matters including estate planning and probate matters, education, employment and intellectual property, and defended clients in both state, federal and appellate courts.
Melissa received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Reynolds School of Journalism at the Βι¶ΉΣ³» and a juris doctorate degree from Santa Clara University. Three generations of Melissa’s family have graduated from the Βι¶ΉΣ³» and she is a proud member of the Wolf Pack family.