For Freedom of Information requests, please e-mail foiarequest@cmich.edu.
Responsibilities include:
academic dismissal, administrative policy content assistance, civil rights agency complaint responses, contract review, gifts to University, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), human subjects research, international education, real estate transactions, and subpoenas for appearance
Manuel R. Rupe joined CMU as General Counsel in June 2009. His past experience includes serving as Associate University Counsel at the University of Colorado (2006-2009), working with the Denver and Anschutz Medical Campuses. Manuel was the Assistant General Counsel at Ferris State University (2001-2006) in Big Rapids, Michigan and Associate Attorney at Kreis, Enderle, Callander & Hudgins, P.C. in Kalamazoo, Michigan (1998-2001).
Manuel has a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Leadership, with a concentration in higher education leadership, from Western Michigan University (2005), and earned his Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law in 1998. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Kalamazoo College in 1995 where he was President of student government, played saxophone in the jazz and concert bands, and was a four-year letterman in baseball and varsity team captain.
Manuel is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, the State Bar of Michigan, the Colorado Bar Association, and the Isabella County Bar Association. He is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He has also served on various governing boards of charitable organizations.
Responsibilities include:
academic dismissal, affiliation agreements, CMU name/logo issues, confidentiality agreements, copyright, contract review, easements, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), gifts to University, human subjects research, intellectual property/licenses, internet law, patent, research agreements, student discipline, subpoenas for appearance, trademark, and unemployment compensation
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.
Responsibilities include:
bankruptcy, civil rights agency complaint responses, contract review, evictions from University-owned apartments, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, office web page, raffles/lotteries, record requests, and subpoenas for records
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.
She enjoys photography, the outdoors and spending time with her dog. Kathy is also an avid Detroit Red Wings fan.
Responsibilities include:
administrative policy formatting, collections, notarizing documents, office computing/software, office operations (accounts, budget and purchasing), and office web page
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, including the School of Graduate Studies, Registrar’s Office and the Park Library, and is now office manager/administrative assistant.
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 five grandchildren, all live in the Mt. Pleasant area. She and her husband enjoy bowling in the winter and boating in the summer.
Responsibilities include:
invoice processing, notarizing documents, and real estate transactions
Linda Wernette 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 organization, 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.