Staff Biographies
Eileen K. Jennings [back to top]
Eileen K. Jennings has been in the General Counsel’s office since 1980, and General Counsel since 1983.
She received her J.D. and her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska. She also has an M.A. in Counseling from the University of Oregon. Eileen’s previous work experience includes serving as a counselor at a Bureau of Indian Affairs school on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, and as Dean of Students at Castleton State College in Vermont.
Eileen is a member of the American, Michigan and Isabella County Bar Associations. She is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, has served on their Board of Directors, and has been Chair of the Editorial Board of the Association’s Journal and of the Publications Committee as well as a member of numerous other committees. She also continues as a member of the American College Personnel Association and the Michigan College Personnel Association.
Eileen’s professional interests center on policy development, the legal relationship between students and universities and the first amendment on campuses. Her personal interests include health care, Native American issues and international exchange programs.
E-mail address: jenni1e@cmich.edu
Mary Roy [back to top]
Mary Roy has been Assistant General Counsel since 2002. She specializes in Intellectual Property (patent, trademark, copyright), Internet, and computer law issues, as well as other legal issues relevant to higher education.
She is a native Michiganian; she was born and raised in the Detroit area and attended and graduated from Michigan State University. She received her law degree from Wayne State Law School. Prior to her arrival at CMU, Mary worked at The Dow Chemical Company, Amway Corporation, and Old Kent Financial Corporation.
When not working, Mary enjoys spending time with her three young children, participating in various sports, and watching the Detroit Red Wings.
E-mail address: roy1me@cmich.edu
Kathy A. Kelly [back to top]
Kathy A. Kelly has been a Legal Assistant with the Office of General Counsel since 1996.
She is a native of Traverse City, and graduated from CMU with a B.A. in Journalism. She became interested in the legal field as a career while working at an East Lansing law firm and earned her A.B. degree from the legal assistant program at Lansing Community College. Prior to returning to CMU, Kathy worked in a unit of the legal department at The Dow Chemical Company and as a legal assistant for a Saginaw law office.
Her duties as Legal Assistant include responding to subpoenas, record requests and Freedom of Information Act requests, investigating civil rights complaints and drafting responses to the appropriate agencies and performing research and special projects.
Kathy is a member of the University’s Accessibility and Disability Advisory Council and the P&A Council.
She enjoys photography, the outdoors and spending time with her dog. Kathy is also an avid Detroit Red Wings fan.
E-mail address: kelly1ka@cmich.edu
Dee Cline [back to top]
Dee Cline joined the Office of General Counsel as Administrative Secretary in March, 1989. She has been employed at CMU since 1972 in various clerk/secretarial positions, and is now the office manager/administrative assistant, including the School of Graduate Studies, Registrar’s Office and the Park Library.
At the General Counsel’s office, her duties include budget development and reconciliation, equipment and software purchases and. coordinating office operations and projects. She also answers the telephone, schedules appointments and manages the University Manual of Policies Procedures and Guidelines and the Board of Trustees Policy Manual.
A resident of Mt. Pleasant since junior high school, Dee’s extended family, including four grandchildren, all live in the Mt. Pleasant area. She and her husband enjoy bowling in the winter and boating on summer weekends.
E-mail address: cline1da@cmich.edu
Linda Wernette [back to top]
Linda Wenette began working in the Offices of General Counsel in February of 2008 as a Legal Secretary. Prior to joining CMU she worked for a Big Rapids law firm and in various real estate positions in Mecosta and Isabella Counties.
Along with general secretarial duties, she is responsible for notary functions, file organizations, processing invoices, maintaining library materials and ordering supplies.
A lifelong resident of Michigan, Linda lives in the community of Remus with her husband and two children. She enjoys attending her children's sporting events, swimming, bowling and raising her Labrador Retrievers.
E-mail address: werne1ll@cmich.edu