Melissa Carleton advises higher education entities in a variety of areas, including student affairs, student conduct, disability accommodations, student confidentiality, policies, contracts, governance, accreditation, and employment matters. Melissa takes a practical and proactive approach to legal issues. She particularly enjoys working on collaborative matters between educational entities. Melissa holds the CIPP/US credential as a certified information privacy professional.

Melissa has a great deal of experience in guiding the institutional response to allegations of sexual abuse. She regularly works with colleges, universities, career-technical schools, K-12 school districts, and private elementary and secondary schools to comply with Title IX and, where applicable, the Clery Act, as well as implementing guidance and regulations. Melissa is available to conduct impartial investigations, as well as to provide reviews of policies, procedures, and case files from a neutral perspective. Melissa trains administrators, staff members, and other investigators using real-world examples to help learn how to navigate the trickiest situations with regard to sexual misconduct. More information on Title IX training can be found in our Title IX Resource Center.

Melissa also works with religious entities to address allegations of sexual abuse in a manner that is respectful of the parties and their privacy, is transparent and fair, and is attentive to religious beliefs and the safety needs of the community.

Education

University of Pennsylvania, J.D. (2009); James Wilson Scholar, Associate Editor, Journal of Constitutional Law

The Ohio State University, B.A. Music Education, magna cum laude (2002); School of Music Undergraduate Outstanding Achievement Award

Distinctions

Rising Star, Super Lawyers®, part of Thomson Reuters® – Ohio, Schools & Education (2018–2021)

Participant, Columbus Bar Association Barrister Leadership Program (2012)

Listed, The Best Lawyers in America® – Education Law (2025)

Professional Activities

Member, National Association of College and University Attorneys

Member, Ohio Association of College and University Business Officers

Member, Columbus Bar Association

News

Resource Centers

Blog Posts

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Additional Items

• Presenter, FERPA Certificate Program, Stetson University College of Law (2020–Present)
• Panelist, “Introduction to Sexual Misconduct Issues: Title IX, Title VII, and the Courts,” Lawyers New to Higher Education Workshop, NACUA Annual Conference (2023)
• Presenter, “FERPA Update,” National Conference on Law and Higher Education (Stetson) (March 2023)
• Panelist, “The Legal Implications of Dobbs for Student Affairs Professionals,” NASPA Annual Conference (2023)
• Panelist, “In the Meantime: What To Do While You’re Waiting for the Final Title IX Regs,” National Association of College and University Attorneys, Winter Virtual CLE Workshop (2023)
• Panelist, “Gender Identity and Title IX,” Education Law Association Conference (November 2022)
• Panelist, “Hot Topics in Higher Ed,” Education Law Association Conference (November 2022)
• Panelist, “Pregnancy Discrimination Updates,” NACUA Webinar (October 2022)
• “Post-Bostock Collection of Demographic Data on Sex and Gender Identity,” NACUA Note (July 2022)
• Association for Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio, Collaborators Conference, Presidential Panel Moderator (2022)
• Presenter, “Where Are We With Title IX?” Association for Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio (2022)
• Presenter, “Emergency Removal in Sexual Harassment Cases,” Association for Student Conduct Administrators (2022)
• Presenter, “Emergency Removal in Sexual Harassment Cases,” Association for Student Conduct Administrators, Best of ASCA Virtual Conference (2022)
• Presenter, “Title IX Dismissals to Student Conduct Process” Association for Student Conduct Administrators Region 8 Conference (2022)
• Presenter, “FERPA Update,” National Conference on Law and Higher Education - Stetson (March 2022)
• Panelist, “Foundations of Issues in Ethics & Professionalism for Higher Education Attorneys,” National Conference on Law and Higher Education - Stetson (March 2022)
• Adjunct Professor, "Title IX and Issues Unique to K-12 Institutions," Tulane Law School Title IX Certificate Program (September 2020–2022)
• Co-Presenter, "Title IX Takes Up Residency: Addressing Sexual Misconduct Under the New Regulations," Ohio Hospital Association Annual Meeting (June 2021)
• Op-Ed, “The Education Department's New Clery Act Guide Raises New Questions", Higher Ed Dive (November 2020)
• Panelist, “IX on IX", SUNY SPECTRUM Conference (August 2020)
• Podcast Guest, "Episode 27: Implications of Title IX Regulations for K-12 and Higher Education with Melissa Carleton", The Law and Higher Ed Podcast (June 2020)
• Author, "Confidentiality Throughout the Investigation, Hearing, and Disciplinary Process for Campus Adjudication of Sexual Misconduct." In C. Renzetti, & D. Follingstad (Eds.), Adjudicating Campus Sexual Misconduct and Assault: Controversies and Challenges. San Diego: Cognella (2019)
• Co-Presenter, COVID-19 and Higher Education Webinars (March-April 2020)
• Co-Presenter, “Title IX Update: Planning for the Regulations Online Workshop,” AICUO (April 2020)
• Presenter, “FERPA in the Middle,” National Conference on Law and Higher Education - Stetson (March 2020)
• Panelist, “Title IX: A View from the Trenches,” Washington D.C. Bar Association (February 2020)
• Co-Presenter, “Two-Day Title IX Investigator/Adjudicator Training,” Bricker & Eckler LLP (January 2020)
• Co-Presenter, “Advanced Title IX Investigator Training,” Ohio Department of Higher Education (November 2019)
• Co-Presenter, “Webinar: Title IX Litigation Update,” (September 2019)
• Co-Presenter, “Two-Day Title IX Investigator, Adjudicator, and Hearing Panel Training,” Indiana University (September 2019)
• Co-Presenter, “Civil Rights Investigator/Adjudicator Training,” Bricker & Eckler LLP (September 2019)
• Co-Presenter, “Title IX Investigator/Adjudicator Training,” Ohio Department of Higher Education (September 2019)
• Co-Presenter, “Two-Day Title IX Conference: Investigator Training,” Five Colleges of Ohio (June 2019)
• Presenter, "Down the Rabbit Hole: Entering the World of Student Mental Health and Threat Assessment," National Association of College and University Attorneys (June 2019)
• Presenter, "The Business Implications of Title IX," Ohio Association of College and University Business Officials Annual Meeting (April 2019)
• Presenter, “Policies and Procedures regarding Sexual Abuse of Minors,” Leadership Conference of Women Religious Region 6 (March 2019)
• Presenter, “Title IX Litigation Update,” Legal Issues and Student Affairs Drive-In, Oberlin College (February 2019)
• Presenter, “Webinar: Overview of Submitted Comments to the Proposed Title IX Regulations: Perspectives for Higher Education,” (February 2019)
• Presenter, “Webinar: Changing Standards – Is Preponderance Right for Your Campus?” Ohio Department of Higher Education (February 2019)
• Presenter, Civil Rights Coordination and Investigation Training for K-12 School Administrators, (December 2018)
• Presenter, “Webinar: Title IX Proposed Regulations – Hot Takes for K-12 Administrators,” (December 2018)
• Presenter, “Webinar: Title IX Proposed Regulations – Hot Takes for Higher Ed,”(November 2018)
• Presenter, “Webinar: Title IX & Due Process: Case Law Updates,” Ohio Department of Higher Education (November 2018)
• Presenter, Two-Day Title IX Investigator Training Workshop, Michigan State University (October 2018)
• Presenter, Two-Day Title IX Investigator Training Workshop, The Ohio State University (October 2018)
• Presenter, Civil Rights Coordination and Investigation Training for K-12 School Administrators (September 2018)
• Presenter, Civil Rights Coordination and Investigation Training for K-12 School Administrators, Bowling Green City School District (August 2018)
• Presenter, “The State of Civil Rights,” Ohio Associate for Career and Technical Education (July 2018)
• Presenter, Two-Day Title IX Investigator Training and Advanced Discussion Workshop, Five Colleges of Ohio (August 2018)
• Presenter, Association for Student Conduct Administration Ohio Drive-In, Oberlin College (June 2018)
• Presenter, Civil Rights Coordination and Investigation Training for K-12 School Administrators (June 2018)
• Presenter, Two-Day Title IX Investigator Training Workshop, University of Findlay (May 2018)
• Presenter, Student Handbook Bootcamp – Higher Ed (March 2018)

Queen of All Trades — Melissa loves genealogy, reading, art projects that do not require any skill or talent, and listening to classic rock — especially Queen. Melissa lives with her husband, also an attorney, and their two children in Upper Arlington, Ohio.