Monica J. Allen, the vice chancellor and chief legal advisor at Washington University in St. Louis, will step down from her position on Nov. 3 after nearly two decades of dedication, as stated by Chancellor Andrew D. Martin.

Since 2016, Allen has held the position of WashU’s top legal officer after being elevated from her eight-year tenure as associate vice chancellor, deputy general counsel, and chief litigation attorney. She began her journey with the university in 2006 as senior counsel.

“We could not have wished for a more highly skilled, perceptive, and considerate leader to fill the role of WashU’s general counsel for almost the last ten years,” Martin remarked. “Beyond being a talented attorney, Monica is a person of exceptional integrity, infusing warmth and humanity into all her endeavors. She epitomizes the excellence of her profession and her alma mater. We will greatly miss her. I wish her the best as she embarks on her well-earned retirement this autumn.”

A three-time graduate of WashU, Allen received her undergraduate and graduate degrees, both in comparative literature, along with her Juris Doctor from the institution. Before her tenure at the university, she was a partner at Haar & Woods, where her focus was on intricate litigation, managing a diverse range of professional liability claims and business-related disputes. She has also worked as a senior attorney at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and was an associate at Shands, Elbert, Gianoulakis, and Giljum. Allen started her legal career as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Jean C. Hamilton and spent six years teaching comparative legal ethics and pretrial practices at the WashU School of Law.

Allen is affiliated with several professional associations, such as the National Association of College and University Attorneys and the Association of Corporate Counsel. Presently, she sits on the board of directors for the Judicial Learning Center, as well as the boards of the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival and Albion Theatre.

“It has been an extraordinary honor to represent Washington University, especially during this transformative period,” Allen shared. “I truly believe that collaborating with my skilled colleagues in the Office of General Counsel to serve the distinguished and committed WashU community has been the most rewarding role a lawyer could possibly hold. I am thankful to Chancellor Martin for this opportunity and eagerly anticipate witnessing WashU’s continued success.”

Chancellor Martin plans to commence a nationwide search for Allen’s successor. Further details regarding the search process will be announced later this spring.

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