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

Laurie Elish-Piper

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

Deborah Gettemy, J.D.
Investigator
Ethics and Compliance Office

Bárbara González
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Appeal Agent
Office of Executive Vice President and Provost

Theresa Melidis
Investigator
Ethics and Compliance Office

Kelly Olson
Assistant Dean of Students
Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Student Affairs
Division of Student Affairs

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

Alicia Schatteman
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Academic Affairs
Executive Vice President and Provost

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

Courtney Vinson
Senior Associate Athletic Director of Sports Administration
Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletics
Intercollegiate Athletics

Training Materials for Personnel

Throughout the fall 2023 semester, the Ethics and Compliance Office provided training for the university’s sexual misconduct and Title IX personnel. All sexual misconduct and Title IX personnel were required to complete this training. Below are the training components.

• SPARC Webinar –  Know More, Do More: Identifying and Responding to Stalking on College Campuses
• Recorded training on Sexual Misconduct Terminology and Grievance Procedures (PDF)
• Live virtual training on Serving Impartially
• Twelve Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) 20 Minutes to Trained webinars, chosen by attendee.
• Read The ATIXA Rubric for Addressing Campus Sexual Misconduct

Additional Training

Below is a list of training completed since August 2022, by one or more of the sexual misconduct and Title IX personnel:

• Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA).
  • Title IX Coordinator Five: Bias and Cultural Competencies, July 20-21, 2023.
  • Civil Rights Investigator One: Foundations, July 20-21, 2023.
  • Investigation Report Writing, Feb. 23, 2023.
  • Title IX Hearing Officer and Decision-Maker Training and Certification Course, June 2022.
  • Civil Rights Investigator Four Training and Certification Course, May 2022.
• National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals (NACCOP), Investigating Complaints of Past Misconduct: Challenges and Considerations for Title IX Coordinators and Investigators, Jan. 11, 2022. These materials are copyright of NACCOP © 2022. All rights reserved.
• Dan Schorr, LLC, Materials are available online.
  • Title IX Hearings: What’s in Store for 2024? Dec. 13, 2023,
  • Investigating Misconduct in Collegiate Athletics, Nov. 15, 2023.
  • Decision Makers: Procedural Requirements and Best Practices, July 27, 2023.
  • Title IX Advisors: Open Discussion, March 1, 2023.
  • We Need to Talk About Something: Title IX Investigations, Jan. 23, 2023.
  • We Need to Talk About Something: Title IX Hearings, Nov. 1, 2022.
  • Justice Delayed, Justice Denied: Conducting Timely Investigations and Hearings, Sept. 28, 2022.