With an educator-first mindset, Eric strives to provide schools with the creative legal solutions necessary to support dynamic and meaningful opportunities for students.   

Dr. Eric T. Butler, a member of Bricker Graydon’s Higher Education team, advises colleges and universities on compliance, governance, accreditation, and policy development, bringing a deep understanding of institutional operations and regulatory frameworks. Eric has extensive experience in higher education law, civil rights, administrative law, and public policy.

Prior to joining the firm, Eric served as Associate General Counsel to the Secretary of the Air Force, where he was the Air Force General Counsel’s lead counsel to the U.S. Air Force Academy. In that role, he advised senior leadership on academic program development, athletics, government ethics, fiscal law, and legislative policy. He also played a key role in facilitating major institutional initiatives, including the $90 million renovation of Falcon Stadium and the development of federal administrative policy on copyright for academy civilian faculty members.

Eric also previously served as Assistant Attorney General for Higher Education in Colorado, where he provided legal counsel to public postsecondary institutions, focusing on Title IX compliance, civil rights, and litigation. Additionally, he has held leadership positions at John Carroll University and the University of Denver, where he oversaw Title IX compliance, developed institutional policies, and led strategic initiatives on gender equity.

Eric earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from Texas Tech University, his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Northern Kentucky University, and his Bachelor of Arts in International Politics, summa cum laude, from The University of Akron. His insights on higher education law and policy have appeared in publications such as The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, and Colorado Public Radio.

Education

• Texas Tech University, Ph.D., Higher Education (2022); Phi Kappa Phi honor society
• Northern Kentucky University, J.D., cum laude (2013)
• The University of Akron, B.A., International Politics, summa cum laude (2010)

Professional Activities

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Colorado Bar Association
• Member, National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)

Speaking Engagements

Additional Items

• Speaker, “Federal Law Summary for Lawyers New to Higher Education,” National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) (2024)
• Author, Alexander v. Yale: The Transformative Power of Social Forces to Bend Legal Doctrine, The Journal of College and University Law (2024)
• Speaker, “Current Issues in Student Employment,” National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) (2023)
• Speaker, “Leveraging the General Counsel/Housing Relationship to Problem Solve,” National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) Student Affairs CLE Workshop (2023)
• Contributor, Colorado School Safety: A Legal Manual, Revised Edition, Colorado Department of Law (2022).
• Speaker, “Training Process Advisors in the Title IX Hearing Process,” Ohio Department of Higher Education (2020)
• Speaker, “The Uncertain Future of Title IX,” The City Club of Cleveland (2019)
• Speaker, “Panel on Title IX Investigations and Sexual Violence Prevention,” Stetson University 39^th National Conference on Law and Higher Education (2018).

Outside of work, Eric enjoys playing outdoors in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Some of his favorite activities include running, hiking, cycling, and skiing with his family. He also enjoys volunteering for his local public school district and serving on the national board of directors for the University of Akron Alumni Association.