Denise Barton serves as the Chief Deputy General Counsel for the University of Massachusetts (“UMass”), bringing more than three decades of legal experience to the Office of General Counsel (“OGC”). In that role, she helps oversee legal counsel and representation for UMass’ five-campus system, which includes more than 22,000 employees, over 75,000 students, and a broad range of academic programs, including the Commonwealth’s only public medical school.  Known for her collaborative leadership style, Denise works closely with General Counsel David Lowy to oversee a team of more than twenty attorneys advising on a wide range of issues impacting higher education, including litigation, labor, intellectual property, immigration, compliance, contracts, data privacy, and cybersecurity. Together, they have helped strengthen legal and operational support across the UMass system while also contributing to broader higher education efforts throughout the Commonwealth, including pandemic response, mental health initiatives, and support for legal challenges involving governmental actions that conflict with the rule of law. Before joining UMass, Denise was a partner in a Nevada-based litigation firm, focusing her attention on complex commercial issues in state and federal court. At the BBA, she serves as Co-Chair of the College & University Law Section and previously served as Chair of the Higher Education Conference. Denise holds a Doctor of Law, with honors, from the University of Akron School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Bates College.