Staff Directory
Vice President and General Counsel
Robert Hochman
Vice President and General Counsel
Robert (Rob) Hochman was appointed Vice President and General Counsel for the University of Chicago on June 16, 2025. He oversees the Office of Legal Counsel and is responsible for providing legal and strategic advice to the members of the University community on the broad range of issues our work involves. Prior to joining the University, Rob was the co-head of the Supreme Court, Appellate, and Litigation Strategies practice at Sidley Austin LLP.
Executive Assistant: LeeAnn Bartolomei
lbartolomei@uchicago.edu ι 773-702-8873
Attorneys
Leigh Bonsall
Assistant General Counsel
Leigh Bonsall joined the Office of Legal Counsel in 2022. She works primarily in the areas of litigation, labor and employment and student matters.
773-702-5799
lbonsall@uchicago.edu
Stephanie Felicetty
Associate General Counsel
Stephanie Felicetty joined the Office of Legal Counsel in 2023. She works primarily in the areas of intellectual property, technology transfer, and commercialization.
773-702-0923
sfelicetty@uchicago.edu
Russell Herron
Senior Associate General Counsel
Russell Herron joined the Office of Legal Counsel in 2001. His primary areas of practice include corporate law and governance and transactional matters.
773-702-7241
rherron@uchicago.edu
Cynthia Okechukwu
Assistant General Counsel
Cynthia Okechukwu is an Assistant General Counsel who joined the office in 2019. Her primary areas of practice include corporate, transactional, and tax matters.
773-702-0988
cokechukwu@uchicago.edu
Stefan Quick
Associate General Counsel
Stefan H. Quick is an Associate General Counsel who joined the office in 2012. His primary areas of practice include technology transfer, intellectual property, data privacy and data security, and research related matters.
773-702-0923
quick@uchicago.edu
Robert Rush
Associate General Counsel
Robert Rush returned to the University as Associate General Counsel in 2016 after serving as Associate General Counsel for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and Museums. His primary areas of practice relate to commercial real estate, corporate law and governance, civic engagement, art and museum law, and commercial transactions.
773-702-1976
rhrush@uchicago.edu
Elizabeth Shanin
Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel
Elizabeth L. Shanin joined the Office of Legal Counsel in 2007. She provides counsel in areas including litigation, compliance, design and construction law, and student matters.
773-702-0820
eshanin@uchicago.edu
Smita Singh
Associate General Counsel
Smita Singh joined the Office of Legal Counsel in 2015. Her primary areas of practice are corporate and international matters, research and employee benefits.
773-702-7239
smitasingh@uchicago.edu
Theodore Stamatakos
Senior Associate General Counsel
Theodore Stamatakos has been with the Office of Legal Counsel since 2004. He works primarily in the areas of labor and employment law, litigation, student life, security matters, and risk management.
773-702-7516
stamatak@uchicago.edu
Ellen Wetmore
Associate General Counsel
Ellen Wetmore joined the Office of Legal Counsel in 2015. Her primary areas of practice include litigation, employment, and student matters.
773-702-5839
ewetmore@uchicago.edu
Administrative Professionals
Mitchell Kittlaus
Paralegal and
Budget Manager
773-795-3530
mkittlaus@uchicago.edu
LeeAnn Bartolomei
Executive Assistant to:
Rob Hochman
Stephanie Felicetty
Stefan Quick
Liz Shanin
Smita Singh
773-702-8873
lbartolomei@uchicago.edu
Melissa Johnsen
Executive Assistant to:
Leigh Bonsall
Russ Herron
Cynthia Okechukwu
Rob Rush
Ted Stamatakos
Ellen Wetmore
773-795-1641
mjohnsen@uchicago.edu