Hirschfeld Kraemer partner honored with ‘First Decade Award’

Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP partner Natasha J. Baker was honored with the 2018 “First Decade Award” by the National Association of College and University Attorneys. She received the award on June 25 as part of NACUA’s annual conference in Minneapolis.

The award is given annually by the association to a member in her first 10 years of membership who has “made a significant innovative contribution to NACUA or provided outstanding service to the association and to the practice of higher education law.”

Baker, who serves as legal counsel to administrators at both private and public institutions, advises on matters including labor, employment, student affairs, accreditation, mergers and compliance issues. According to the firm, she has been actively involved with NACUA throughout her career, including serving on its board of directors from 2014 to 2017 and as an online instructor.

Currently, Baker is a member of the association’s continuing legal education committee and a frequent presenter to NACUA’s members on topics that range from employment issues, campus sexual assault and investigations into Title IX. She also chaired NACUA’s Conference on Campus Sexual Violence.

Baker also co-chairs the Higher Education Council of the Employment Law Alliance and is the co-founder of “Title IX ASAP,” a college and university program for administrators on recognizing and responding to sexual assault on campus.

“This award reflects Natasha’s career-long dedication to NACUA and to the mission of partnering with higher education institutions to ensure compliance and help navigate the complex regulatory and operational environments they face,” said Stephen J. Hirschfeld, co-managing partner of Hirschfeld Kramer, in a news release.