Northern Illinois University
Ethics and Compliance Office
Office of the President

Various employees of the university serve different roles as it relates to the Sexual Misconduct Policy, in addition to their day-to-day duties. The Title IX coordinator manages, implements and administers the Sexual Misconduct Policy, including enforcement of sexual misconduct complaint procedures, providing oversight to the sexual misconduct training programs, and ensuring the prompt and appropriate resolution of sexual misconduct complaints.

There are also deputy Title IX coordinators throughout different areas at the university, investigators, hearing officers and appeal agents. Questions or concerns regarding sexual misconduct, Title IX or the Sexual Misconduct Policy may be directed to the Title IX coordinator.

Sarah Garner, J.D.
Ethics and Compliance Officer
Title IX Coordinator
Ethics and Compliance Office

Debra Boughton
Athletic Associate Director, Business Affairs Deputy
Title IX Coordinator for Athletics
Intercollegiate Athletics

Vernese Edghill-Walden
Chief Diversity Officer
Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Training
Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Omar Ghrayeb
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies
Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Academic Affairs
Executive Vice President and Provost

Lindsay Hatzis, J.D.
Director of Investigations
Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Investigations
Ethics and Compliance Office

Jeanne Meyer
Director, Student Conduct
Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Student Conduct
Student Conduct

Dan Pedersen
Senior Director of Housing
Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Housing
Housing and Residential Services

Theresa Melidis
Investigator
Ethics and Compliance Office

Manuel Valdez, J.D.
Investigator
Ethics and Compliance Office

Kristin Good, J.D.
Investigator
Ethics and Compliance Office

Beth Ingram
Executive Vice President and Provost
Appeal Agent
Office of Executive Vice President and Provost

Chad McEvoy
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Appeal Agent
Office of Executive Vice President and Provost

Darek Williams
Labor Relations Specialist
Hearing Officer
Human Resource Services

Training Materials for Personnel

From July through December 2020, the Ethics and Compliance Office held five virtual training sessions for sexual misconduct and Title IX personnel. All sexual misconduct and Title IX personnel were required to complete this training.

• Session 1: Foundations of the New Title IX Regulations - consisted of watching two U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights’ webinars and reviewing the new Title IX regulations.
  • U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights’ webinar: Title IX: An Introduction to the New Regulations.
  • U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights’ webinar: New Title IX Protections Against Sexual Assault. 
• Session 2: What is Sexual Misconduct? Terms You Should Know - consisted of watching a pre-recorded presentation by the Ethics and Compliance Office.
  • Presentation by Sarah Garner, Title IX coordinator; Lindsay Hatzis, deputy Title IX coordinator; and Theresa Melidis, Title IX investigator
• Session 3: NIU’s Complaint Resolution Process: Intake to Appeal - consisted of watching four U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights’ webinars, reviewing NIU’s revised Sexual Misconduct Policy and Complaint Procedures, reviewing the Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Investigations Flowchart, and watching a pre-recorded presentation by the Ethics and Compliance Office.
  • U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights’ webinar:
    • Due Process Protections under the New Title IX Regulations
    • How to Report Sexual Harassment under Title IX
    • The First Amendment and Title IX: An OCR Short Webinar
    • Conducting and Adjudicating Title IX Hearings: An OCR Training Webinar.
  • NIU Sexual Misconduct Policy and Complaint Procedures 
  • Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Investigations Flowchart 
  • Presentation by Sarah Garner, Title IX coordinator
• Session 4: Staying Relevant - consisted of a live presentation by Thomas O’Grady, assistant general counsel, Office of General Counsel
• Session 5: Serving without Bias or Conflict – consisted of a live presentation by Sarah Garner, Title IX coordinator, and Theresa Melidis, Title IX investigator

Additional Training

Below is a list of training completed since January 1, 2019, by one or more of the sexual misconduct and Title IX personnel:

• Chicagoland Title IX Consortium, The Title IX Hearing Process, April 9, 2021.
• D. Stafford and Associates, Advanced Investigations Course: Investigations of Sexual Misconduct, November 16-20, 2020. These materials are copyright of D. Stafford & Associates, LLC © 2020. All rights reserved.
• D. Stafford and Associates, Combined Course: Investigation of Sexual Misconduct and Dating Violence, Domestic Violence and Stalking, August 3-7, 2020. These materials are copyright of D. Stafford & Associates, LLC © 2020. All rights reserved.
• ATIXA, Civil Rights Investigator Training and Certification Level One and Two, January 22-25, 2019.