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Attorneys

Peter G. McDonough, General Counsel

◦  Executive Assistant: Sanja Ippoliti, 609-258-1610

Since 1990, Peter McDonough has provided legal advice and representation to the University in connection with various matters, including faculty and student affairs, athletics, employment, litigation and dispute avoidance, academic and research misconduct, technology transfer, construction, purchasing, and risk management. He was named General Counsel in 2002.  Mr. McDonough is active in the National Association of College and University Attorneys, and has served on its Board of Directors. Prior to coming to Princeton from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius' New York office, Mr. McDonough practiced as a litigator and trial lawyer in federal and state courts, as well as in various arbitration forums. He holds an A.B. (in Economics) and a J.D., both from Georgetown University.




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Lorraine A. Sciarra, Senior University Counsel

◦  Assistant: Bhuvan Shori, 609-258-2506

Lorraine Sciarra has over twenty years of experience in taxation and not-for-profit law. Within the context of a broad portfolio, she provides primary support to the Office of Development, as well as to the Provost, Human Resources and the Office of the Dean of the Faculty regarding the structure and application of the University's benefits plans.  Prior to coming to Princeton in 1989, she was associated with the Washington, D.C. office of Morrison & Foerster, and also worked for and represented several not-for-profit organizations including Bay Area Lawyers for the Arts in San Francisco and Vajrakilaya Foundation in Chicago. She clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York. Ms. Sciarra is a former chair of the ABA's Exempt Organizations Education Subcommittee. She received her undergraduate degree from Pomona College, her law degree from Boston University and a Masters of Law in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center.




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Sankar Suryanarayan, University Counsel

◦ Assistant: Bhuvan Shori, 609-258-2506

Sankar Suryanarayan joined Princeton's Office of the General Counsel in 2001. He provides advice in a variety of areas, including employment, litigation, insurance, risk management, campus security, athletics, and student affairs. Previously, Mr. Suryanarayan worked in American University's Office of University Counsel and as a litigation associate in Chadbourne & Parke's New York and Washington, D.C. offices. He received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Georgetown University.




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Clayton K. Marsh '85, University Counsel

◦ Assistant: Michelle Glazier, 609-258-2507

Clayton K. Marsh joined the Office of the General Counsel in 2002. His primary substantive areas of responsibility include intellectual property, information technology, licensing, sponsored research, and construction. Prior to becoming University Counsel at Princeton, Mr. Marsh practiced as a litigator in New York City at Sullivan & Cromwell as well as Cravath, Swaine & Moore. He received his law degree from the University of Michigan. He also holds a Ph.D. in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University, and a B.A. from Princeton. 

 

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Hannah S. Ross, University Counsel

◦ Assistant: Sanja Ippoliti, 609-258-1610

Hannah Ross joined the Office of the General Counsel in 2003, and provides advice in a variety of areas including privacy, disabilities and accommodations, compliance, risk management, real estate, health services and contracts (both formation and disputes). Prior to coming to Princeton, Ms. Ross spent three years as a litigator and employment lawyer with Hill & Barlow, P.C. and Goulston & Storrs in Boston. Before private practice, she clerked for a Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her B.A. from Yale University. 

 

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Robert C. Berness , University Counsel

◦ Assistant: Michelle Glazier, 609-258-2507     

Robert Berness joined the Office of the General Counsel in July 2007.  He provides advice in various areas, including development and charitable giving, trusts and estates, contracts, and government affairs.  Prior to becoming University Counsel at Princeton, Mr. Berness was an associate in the Trusts and Estates Group at Debevoise & Plimpton in New York City.  He received his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law-Newark and his B.A. from Rutgers College.

 

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Courtney K. Lang, Assistant University Counsel

◦ Assistant: Michelle Glazier, 609-258-2507     

Courtney Lang joined the Office of the General Counsel in September 2006. Her portfolio is varied, with particular emphasis on charitable giving, compliance, and contractual issues. Previously, Ms. Lang clerked for a judge in the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court.  Ms. Lang received her B.A. from Rice University and her J.D. from Pepperdine University, where she worked in its Office of General Counsel during law school. 

 

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Visa Services

◦  Assistant: Roberta Jupiter, 609-258-1445

◦  Applications Administrator : Nancy Goodstein, 609-258-1726

Mary F. Idzior, Director of Visa Services

Mary Idzior has been the Director of the Office of Visa Services at Princeton University since July 1998.  She is responsible for providing immigration advising to the University’s international scholar population (post-docs, lecturers, visiting fellows, and international employees) which numbers about 700 per year.  Ms. Idzior came to Princeton with many years of experience having worked at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Syracuse University and the University of New Haven.  She is an active member in the professional organization NAFSA:  Association of International Educators.  She holds Bachelors, Masters and J.D. degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo. 

 

Mladenka Tomasevic, International Graduate Student Advisor

Mladenka Tomasevic joined  the Office of Visa Services in August 2006. She provides immigration advising and information for Princeton international graduate students on student (F-1 and J-1) visas. Previously, Ms. Tomasevic worked with international students at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Montenegro. She received her B.A. in International Relations and Politics from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, and her M.A. in Communications/Public Relations from Washington State University.

 

Paralegals

W. Joshua Opdyke, Trusts & Estates Administrator

◦  Assistant: Michelle Glazier, 609-258-2507

Sandy Voelcker, Legal Information Administrator

◦  Assistant: Bhuvan Shori, 609-258-2506

 

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Office Staff

Sanja Ippoliti, Executive Assistant to the General Counsel

Loretta Rice, Systems/Office Administrator    

Roberta Jupiter, Visa Secretary

Michelle Glazier, Legal Secretary

Bhuvan Shori, Legal Secretary