Provost Garnett Stokes announced Wednesday that Ellen Eardley will be the university’s new Title IX administrator and assistant vice provost.

Eardley is a partner at Mehri & Skalet, PLLC in Washington, D.C., and an adjunct faculty member at American University’s Washington College of Law. She will take office April 20 to replace Linda Bennett, MU’s interim Title IX coordinator.

“I am honored to join the University of Missouri’s leadership team,” Eardley said in a [news release](http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2015/0225-provost-appoints-eardley-as-title-ix-administrator-assistant-vice-provost/). “I look forward to working with students, faculty and staff to continue to implement Mizzou’s gender equity policies and to prevent discrimination, harassment and assault from occurring in the first place. I invite open and honest discussion on these issues of utmost importance.”

Stokes said she wants MU to work to be a model for Title IX compliance in higher education.

“We’re excited that Ellen will be joining us at MU and taking on this crucial responsibility,” Stokes said in the news release. “Our very top priority is providing a safe and healthy learning and working environment for our students, faculty, staff and visitors. This means an environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity or sexual orientation, and includes sexual harassment or misconduct of any kind.”

Eardley holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s degree and Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati. She has worked at the National Women’s Law Center on a case related to Title IX. She has also trained community organizers on Title IX and published reports analyzing laws relating to sex discrimination in education.