215.895.6488
exler@drexel.edu

Michael Exler has been with the Office of the General Counsel since 2000. With a career spent in both private practice and in the non-profit education and healthcare sector, Michael has a wide range of experience in the business and legal affairs of universities and academic health centers. As Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Drexel University, Michael is responsible for advising the President, the Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff on a variety of matters in support of the University’s mission, goals and objectives. Prior to assuming the role of General Counsel in January 2008, Michael served as Deputy General Counsel and Chief Counsel for Drexel’s College of Medicine. Michael also served as Secretary of the Drexel University College of Medicine Board of Trustees from 2001-2008 and as Secretary of the Drexel University Board of Trustees from 2008-2018.

Prior to joining Drexel, Michael served as Senior Counsel for the Johns Hopkins Health System, where he also served as Board Secretary for four Hopkins-affiliated entities. Prior to that, he served as Associate General Counsel for the Allegheny Health, Education and Research Foundation based in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. His career in higher education followed seven years in the private practice of law with the Pittsburgh law firm of Kabala & Geeseman (now Fox Rothschild). Michael received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Dickinson College (1983) and his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law (1987), where he served on the editorial board of the Duquesne Law Review. Michael is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, the American Health Lawyers Association, and the Philadelphia Bar Association.

267.359.5808
dla73@drexel.edu

Dana Auguste joined the Office of the General Counsel in April 2017.  Dana is responsible for legal matters affecting the College of Nursing and Health Professions, the LeBow College of Business, the School of Public Health, the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, the School of Education, and the Academy of Natural Sciences. In particular, she provides legal counsel and support on student issues, policy matters and various types of contracts.

Dana began her legal career in private practice.  Prior to joining Drexel, she served as Assistant General Counsel and Director of Risk Management at University of the Sciences.

Dana received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from University of the Sciences (formerly Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science).  Dana earned her J.D. from Howard University School of Law.  She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  She is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA).

267.359.5810
John.Gyllenhammer@drexel.edu

John Gyllenhammer joined the Office of the General Counsel in 1997. As Chief Counsel for the Health Sciences, John is responsible for all legal matters affecting the College of Medicine, College of Nursing and Health Professions and the Dornsife School of Public Health.  He also provides legal support to the College of Computing and Informatics, Institutional Advancement and Office of Research and Innovation. He provides legal counsel and support to senior management, department chairs, faculty and staff in a wide variety of areas including contracts and business transactions, healthcare law, litigation prevention and management, faculty and student affairs, sponsored research, patient safety, regulatory compliance and employment law matters. Prior to joining the Office of the General Counsel, John spent five years in the Legal Affairs Office at George Mason University in Virginia, from which he received his Juris Doctorate. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

215.895.2427
rl694@drexel.edu

Rebecca Lacher joined the Drexel University Office of the General Counsel in September 2020.  Rebecca represents the University in a variety of matters, with a focus on real estate, construction, athletics, commercial contracts and transactions.  Prior to joining Drexel, Rebecca was an attorney at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in the Real Estate Practice Group where she focused on real estate transactions including leasing, development, financing, acquisitions and dispositions of commercial and multi-family properties.

Rebecca began her legal career clerking for the Hon. J. William Ditter, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, then practiced as a litigator with a national law firm, and subsequently focused her practice in real estate and higher education law.  Rebecca is a graduate of Penn Law and Brandeis University.  She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA).

215.895.1226
jl464@drexel.edu

JuHwon Lee joined the Office of the General Counsel in May of 2005.

JuHwon is the Office’s primary attorney in labor and employment matters, providing counsel and representation to various departments, including the Human Resources Department, Office of Equality and Disability, and Student Affairs. He provides education instruction to clients to increase awareness and availability of alternate dispute resolution processes available to clients within the University to resolve potential legal claims.

Prior to joining Drexel, he spent five years in private practice representing various local universities (including Drexel University) and two years in the City Solicitor’s Office in the Civil Rights Unit representing the police department.

He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the United States District Courts for the Middle and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania. JuHwon is also active in the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania (APABA-PA).

215.895.2538
tjr45@drexel.edu

Tim Raynor joined the Office of the General Counsel in October 2006.

He represents the University on a wide variety of matters, including intellectual property protection and licensing, research compliance and administration, policy drafting and interpretation, benefits administration, and internet and computer law matters. He also works with various University colleges and departments on initiatives to grow relationships with corporate and government entities.

Prior to coming to Drexel, Tim served as Director of Intellectual Property for the University of Pennsylvania.

He received both his Bachelor of Science degree (with high distinction) and Master of Science degree from the Pennsylvania State University, and his law degree from the Temple University Beasley School of Law. He is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA).

215.895.2065
sugarman@drexel.edu

Nicole Maltz Sugarman joined the Office of the General Counsel in March 2013. Nicole represents the University on a wide range of issues including academic and student affairs, employment law matters, athletics, and litigation. Nicole also negotiates and provides counsel on various business transactions, including institutional governance, vendor services, use of facilities, and affiliations. Prior to joining Drexel University, Nicole served as an attorney in the General Counsel’s Office at both the University of Delaware and Johns Hopkins University, and as an associate at Ballard Spahr in the Labor & Employment and Higher Education Practice Groups.

Nicole holds a B.A. from Duke University and an M.A. from the Department of Education, Policy, and Social Analysis at Columbia University's Teachers College, where she studied the ways in which governance institutions, political ideologies, and competing interests, both within and outside of the education community, influence the content, form, and functioning of schooling. Nicole received her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she served as Managing Editor of the Journal for Law & Social Change. She is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys.

215.895.6286
tlw52@drexel.edu

Tami Wible joined the Office of the General Counsel in October 2009

Tami represents the University in a wide range of legal matters including student affairs, human resources, employment law matters and litigation, and provides legal support on a wide variety of contracts and business transactions. She advises University officials, department chairs, faculty and staff on contracts, faculty and student issues, policies and procedures, litigation prevention and management and other legal issues affecting higher education institutions. Prior to joining the Office of the General Counsel, Tami's legal career was spent in private practice in Philadelphia, concentrating in employment law and complex commercial litigation. She was the Assistant General Counsel at a large Philadelphia law firm prior to joining the OGC.

Tami received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and her law degree from Temple University School of Law (now known as Temple University Beasley School of Law), where she was among a group of law students who founded the Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review, for which she served as the first co-Executive Editor.

Tami is active in the Temple American Inn of Court.   She has previously served as a hearing committee member of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board and an arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.  She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the United States Supreme Court. She is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and the Association of Corporate Counsel.

215.895.6852
mccardka@drexel.edu

Kelly McCardell joined the University in 1989. She has been with the Office of the General Counsel since its formation in 1996 and has over 30 years of risk management experience in higher education.

As Associate Vice President of Risk Management, Kelly is responsible for the procurement and overall management of the University’s insurance portfolio, oversight of claims, risk financing, and advising senior leadership on a variety of matters in support of the University’s strategic initiatives. Kelly also advises University departments regarding their various programs including the identification of risks, risk transfer/mitigation recommendations and other ways to protect the University.

Kelly and her team are also responsible for providing risk management programs and services to the University’s subsidiaries including the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Academic Properties, Inc. and Drexel University Online, LLC. Prior to joining the Office of the General Counsel, Kelly served as a Financial Analyst in the Treasurer’s Office. Kelly was an Examiner at the Philadelphia Stock Exchange prior to joining Drexel.

Kelly received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Financial Management from the University of Delaware.

 

267.359.6250
sap383@drexel.edu

Sara Potter joined the Office of Risk Management in June 2017. Sara has a wide range of experience in risk management, insurance, and claims. As Director of Risk Management, her primary responsibilities include managing Drexel’s medical professional liability insurance program and claims and Drexel’s clinical research insurance. She advises faculty and staff within the College of Medicine, College of Nursing and Health Professions and the School of Public Health to identify, prevent and control risks. She also works with programs throughout the University that provide health-related services. Her responsibilities also include managing contract review and risk analysis of agreements between Drexel’s Health Science Departments and external parties. She is COO of the University’s captive insurer.

Prior to joining Drexel, Sara was Senior Director of Risk Management for The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Corporate Director of Risk Management for Einstein Healthcare Network.

Sara received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Gwynedd-Mercy College and her Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Villanova University. Sara holds a designation of Associate Risk Management (ARM) from the Insurance Institute of America and a certification in Healthcare Quality from the National Association for Healthcare Quality (CPHQ).

215.895.2292
quinnla@drexel.edu

Leslie began her career at Drexel University in 1996 where she worked in the President’s Office and then the Office of the Sr. Vice President for Finance and Treasurer before joining the Office of the General Counsel in 2002.

As Director of Risk Management, Leslie’s primary responsibilities include managing contract review and risk analysis of agreements between the University (non-health sciences departments) and external parties, managing aspects of the budget administration process and of the insurance renewal for policies under our property and casualty insurance program.  She also provides risk management advice and recommendations to University departments and affiliates regarding their programs and new initiatives.

Leslie received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Frostburg State University, and an Associate in Risk Management designation (ARM) from the Insurance Institute of America.

 

267.359.6268
gms35@drexel.edu

Gail Schlemback has been with the Office of Risk Management since June 2003. Her responsibilities include assisting in the operations of the medical professional liability insurance program, claims management, and advising and providing recommendations to physicians and administrative staff in matters related to patients and risk management. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Services Administration from Drexel University College of Nursing & Health Professions.

 

267.359.5805
td26@drexel.edu

Tina Dwyer joined the Office of the General Counsel in May 2000. She is the Assistant Director of Contracts and Records Management responsible for administration of the contract protocol review processes and records management functions for the University.  She provides legal support to the Deputy General Counsel and Chief Counsel for Health Sciences. She assists attorneys in the delivery of legal services with initial review of contracts, contract management and legal research. She also manages the production and documentation for Bankruptcy, and Class Action litigation.

Tina is a member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). She received an Associate of Science Degree from MCP Hahnemann University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Drexel University.

215.895.0228
dmd442@drexel.edu

Dawn Finizio joined the Office of the General Counsel in April 2017.  She is the Paralegal in the Office of the General Counsel providing litigation support and working on various matters regarding discrimination complaints and lawsuits, discovery, conducting legal research and handling subpoenas.  She works closely with various departments, executive officers, management, faculty, and administrative support staff within the University, as well as, government agencies, consultants, and outside legal counsel.  She provides direct legal support to the Associate General Counsel and Chief of Litigation Services.  She assists the Director of Legal Administration and Assistant Director, of Contracts and Records Management on special projects.   

Before joining Drexel University, she worked as a legal assistant and paralegal.  She has been in the legal field for 25 years.

Dawn has been a bonded, insured and commissioned Pennsylvania Notary Public since 2002.

 

 

215.895.6871
bcp29@drexel.edu

Brenna Martin is an experienced higher education administrator, leader, and client-focused manager. Starting her career at Drexel University in 2007, Brenna earned her MS degree in Higher Education & Organizational Management in 2010 and a BA in 2004 from Albright College in Reading, PA. 

As Director of Legal Administration for the Office of the General Counsel, Brenna supports the Senior Vice President and General Counsel, serves as the department manager, and oversees the office’s administrative, financial, and operational tasks.   In addition, Brenna helps to support the Board of Trustees quarterly meetings, maintaining required information and resources related to the Trustees and the Board.

Prior to joining the Office of the General Counsel, Brenna worked at Drexel’s College of Computing & Informatics (CCI) supporting faculty affairs, college operations and executive administration.

215-895-1433
mckeevl@drexel.edu

In May 2024, Vicki decided to return to the excitement of the Office of the General Counsel after her initial retirement in 2022. Originally joining OGC since its formation in 1996, she was hired by Drexel in 1985 and brings a wealth of university experience to our department.

Vicki provides administrative legal support to the Managing Attorney and two other Associate General Counsels in the office.  Assisting in the daily operations of the office, contract support, and fielding general inquiries, Vicki provides client support as a forward-facing member of the Office of the General Counsel administration team. 

Vicki received her Bachelor of Science degree from Temple University.