External Investigator

Jess is an experienced attorney who investigates discrimination, harassment, and workplace misconduct matters under Title IX, Title VI, Title VII and other institutional and workplace policies. She takes a strategic and trauma-informed approach to high-stakes matters across the education, nonprofit, and employment sectors. Jess has investigated matters for K-12 institutions, independent schools, colleges and universities, nonprofits, law firms, and other businesses in the private sector.

Jess is a certified Title IX Investigator who approaches every matter with rigor, neutrality, and a trauma-informed lens grounded in best practices and evolving regulatory guidance.

Prior to beginning her legal career, Jess earned a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, an academic foundation that enhances her ability to assess complex narratives, evaluate competing accounts, and navigate the nuanced interpersonal and institutional dynamics that often arise in higher education and mission-driven environments.

Jess’s litigation background and advanced scholarly training inform her exceptional writing and analytical skills. She is highly adept at synthesizing complex factual records into clear, well-reasoned written analyses and investigative reports that are precise and accessible to multiple stakeholders.

Appeals and Decision-Making

Jess also brings experience serving as a neutral decision-maker and appeals officer in Title IX and related grievance processes. Drawing on her investigative and litigation experience, Jess ensures that decisions and appeal outcomes are analytically rigorous, helping institutions navigate complex post-investigation challenges with clarity and confidence.

Trusted Advisor

Jess provides individualized, student-centered advising to participants in Title IX proceedings at institutions of higher education. She regularly serves as an institution-appointed advisor to students navigating investigations and hearings, offering clear, steady guidance through complex procedural frameworks. Jess helps students understand their rights and responsibilities, prepares them for interviews and hearings, and conducts cross-examination on their behalf.

Additional Experience

• Complex civil litigation

• Legal Intern at the Maine Office of the Attorney General

• Legal Intern at Pine Tree Legal Assistance

• Legal Intern at The Jackson Laboratory

• Assistant Instructor at Princeton University

• Volunteer for the Twin Villages Foodbank Farm

Education

JD, Northeastern University School of Law
PhD, Princeton University
MA, Princeton University
BA, University of California, Berkeley

Admitted to Practice

• State of Maine