University of Arizona Welcomes New General Counsel with Extensive Legal Expertise
The University of Arizona has named Clifton “Cliff” Iler as its new general counsel, following a comprehensive national search, as announced by President Suresh Garimella. Iler will be at the helm of the university’s Office of the General Counsel, where he will lead a team of in-house attorneys and offer legal guidance to President Garimella and other top executives. With a rich background spanning 30 years in higher education and health care law, Iler steps into the role previously held by Laura Todd Johnson, who retired after a remarkable 23-year tenure at the university.
President Garimella expressed confidence in Iler’s capabilities, stating, “Cliff’s deep expertise in critical areas of the law and his experience make him uniquely well qualified for this leadership role. His background working in complex academic health care settings and overseeing legal affairs for one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious public universities will enable the U of A to pursue our goals strategically and with the excellent legal counsel we need for continued success. I look forward to his joining our team.”
Currently, Iler is university counsel and senior assistant attorney general at the University of Virginia. Unlike the University of Arizona, where the general counsel reports directly to the president, the senior legal adviser at UVA reports to the state’s attorney general. Iler’s legal proficiency encompasses a variety of domains, including higher education governance, research compliance, health care law, employment, faculty matters, as well as First Amendment and constitutional issues.
Expressing his enthusiasm about the new role, Iler remarked, “I’m excited to join President Garimella’s team and serve an institution whose mission and impact reach every corner of Arizona and far beyond. The U of A’s commitment to student success, groundbreaking research and engagement with its community reflects the very best of the public university ideal. I look forward to supporting that work and helping advance the university’s strategic imperatives in the years ahead.”
Before his tenure at the University of Virginia, Iler served at the University of Kentucky as deputy general counsel for faculty, students, and research, and as associate general counsel for health care. His earlier career also included roles at MCG Health Inc., affiliated with the Medical College of Georgia, and Alston & Bird LLP in Atlanta, focusing on products liability and litigation and trial practices.
Iler holds degrees in English and economics from Centre College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law. He is set to assume his new position in November.
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