General Counsel Staff

Joan serves as office manager with responsibilities over all four locations (Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and Martin). Joan also is assigned to support Deputy General Counsel Rachel Powell, with her duties related to overseeing the University’s litigation.

Denise primarily provides support to Lela Young, Associate General Counsel, with her work on faculty matters and research compliance issues, and Aziz Ahmad, Associate General Counsel with his broad business and transactional practice concerning sponsored research, research compliance, policy, and intellectual property matters.

Tina provides litigation support to Rachel Powell, Deputy General Counsel, Mike Fitzgerald, Associate General Counsel, and Esther Henry, Associate General Counsel. In addition to litigation, Tina provides support on a broad spectrum of matters, including employment, student affairs and faculty immigration.

Diana is primarily assigned to support Josh Walker, Associate General Counsel, with his litigation before the Tennessee Claims Commission, and Harold Pinkley, Associate General Counsel, in his litigation in federal and state court and before the Tennessee Claims Commission. She also assists in preparing credentialing letters for current and former resident physicians from the Graduate Medical Education Program located at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, and the Chattanooga and Erlanger Health System, as well as other faculty MD’s and nurse practitioners employed by the State who have staff privileges at those entities.

Tina is primarily assigned to support Ryan Stinnett, General Counsel, Katie Lane, Deputy General Counsel, Frank Lancaster, Associate General Counsel, and Caitlyn Elam, Associate General Counsel. These attorneys primarily handle transactional work, though Caitlyn also handles litigation. Tina also works in the General Counsel’s Policy Office and maintains the University’s policy website as well as the tracking of new and updated policies in the University’s policy software.

Karah is primarily assigned to support Rebecca Tuttle, Associate General Counsel, with her litigation before the Tennessee Claims Commission, and Walt Schuler, Associate General Counsel, with his work in healthcare compliance, regulation & contracting, faculty practices and business ventures related to healthcare, and healthcare regulatory matters. Karah and Latasha Franklin share responsibility for preparing credentialing letters for current and former resident physicians from the Graduate Medical Education Program at UTHSC, and other UTHSC faculty and staff.

Latasha is primarily assigned to support Associate General Counsel Heather Colturi, with litigation before the Tennessee Claims Commission, and Melisa Moore, Associate General Counsel, with her work FERPA issues, student discipline and accommodations, Title IX, and other employment, academic, and student affairs matters. Latasha and Karah Bartlett share responsibility for preparing credentialing letters for current and former resident physicians from the Graduate Medical Education Program at UTHSC, and other UTHSC faculty and staff.