Caltech Names Stephanie Shea General Counsel

Stephanie Shea, a seasoned legal and higher education leader with extensive experience advising academic and research institutions, has been named Caltech's next general counsel. Shea, who currently serves as senior vice president, general counsel, and chief of staff to the president at Towson University, will begin her tenure on January 6, 2027.

"Stephanie distinguished herself among an impressive field of candidates for her breadth of experience, intellectual curiosity, and collaborative spirit, as well as a clear understanding of what makes Caltech such a special place," said President Ray Jayawardhana, the Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair and professor of astronomy. "She brings keen insight into the opportunities and challenges facing a leading research institution and a deep respect for the people whose ideas and discoveries drive our mission. I am delighted to welcome her to Caltech and look forward to the expertise and perspective she will bring to the Institute."

As general counsel and a member of the Institute's senior administrative leadership group, Shea will lead the Office of the General Counsel, provide strategic legal guidance to colleagues on campus and at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and advise Institute leadership and the Board of Trustees on matters central to Caltech's success. She succeeds Jennifer Lum, who will retire on January 5, 2027, after 16 years of service in the Office of the General Counsel.

"I am thrilled to join Caltech, an institution small in size but breathtakingly large in scientific impact," Shea says. "The Institute's commitment to its mission and fidelity to scientific rigor are inspiring, and I look forward to advancing the work of Caltech's brilliant faculty, students, and staff."

At Towson, Shea leads the university's legal and compliance function as head of the Office of General Counsel, overseeing a team of attorneys, compliance professionals, investigators, and administrative staff. She has also taken on increasing responsibilities in university leadership, serving as a close strategic advisor to the president and, most recently, as chief of staff.

Before Towson, Shea spent nearly a decade at Johns Hopkins University, advancing through a series of increasingly senior positions to become senior associate general counsel and chief compliance officer.

Shea holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a bachelor's degree in politics from Princeton University.

"Stephanie stood out among a very strong field because of her very broad experience in two universities," says Paul Sternberg, a Bren Professor of Biology and the William K. Bowes Jr. Leadership Chair for the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering. Sternberg was one of two faculty members on the Institute's search committee. "Her talent and extensive legal and operational experience will make her an effective partner for our president as Caltech embraces an era of change."

Shea was selected following a national search led by a committee chaired by Dexter Bailey, vice president for Advancement and Alumni Relations. The committee also included trustees Amy Schulman and Maria Hummer-Tuttle; professors Sternberg and Ravi Ravichandran, the John E Goode, Jr. Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering; Ken Lee, chief investment officer; and Lisa Haber, JPL chief of staff and director for Laboratory Administration.

Caltech Media Relations ([email protected])

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