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Harvard appoints new top lawyer to lead responses on antisemitism lawsuits, federal probes

Jennifer O’Connor previously provided her legal skills to aerospace company Northrop Grumman Corp. and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Harvard University
Harvard University. Credit: Pixabay.

Jennifer O’Connor has been appointed as vice president and general counsel at Harvard University on July 29, where she will focus on leading the school’s response to lawsuits and federal investigations resulting from a surge of antisemitism following the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Alan Garberm, interim university president after Claudine Gay resigned in January in part because of failing to address anti-Jewish rhetoric, said in an announcement: Widely admired among her colleagues for her collaborative style, strategic insight and dedication to public service, [O’Connor] brings with her an abiding commitment to Harvard and its mission.”

O’Connor previously provided her legal skills to aerospace company Northrop Grumman Corp. and the U.S. Department of Defense.

A 1987 graduate of Harvard who was born in Cambridge, Mass., she earned her legal degree at Georgetown University.

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