UVU hires first ever general counsel
Jared Stirland | Staff Writer | [email protected]
On March 9 UVU announced the appointment of attorney Karen Clemes to their first ever general council position. Clemes’ resume includes years of professional work, most recently as associate general counsel for Ancestry.com and chief standards (ethics) officer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a member of UVU President’s Council her responsibilities will include providing legal and strategic guidance on various business and human relation issues that might arise from UVU’s growth.
Clemes is an expert in legal issues related to employment, benefits, ethics/compliance, risk management, investigations, drafting and negotiating commercial and other agreements, employee and management training, and litigation defense.
Karen Clemes, UVU general counsel
“Our search for a new General Counsel generated significant interest from a highly qualified and knowledgeable pool of applicants. Karen stood out because of her rich experience and understanding of the needs we face as a growing institution,” said UVU President Matthew S. Holland.
Clemes, a resident of Sandy, is an experienced academic whose achievements include a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature from BYU, a master’s in humanities from BYU, and graduating summa cum laude with a juris doctor from California Western School of Law. She is also an adjunct professor at BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School, and is the current International Chair of the Women in the Law Committee for the J. Reuben Clark Law School.
“I am honored and thrilled to join UVU at this exciting time of growth and transformation. I have been very impressed by UVU’s seriousness of purpose and its commitment to engaged learning, inclusion and student success. I am excited to be a part of the team that will help UVU maximize the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead,” said Clemes.
Clemes will begin her employment as UVU’s general council on April 1.