General Counsel

Traevena served as vice president, general counsel, and board secretary at American University (AU) where she has spent the last eight years leading the university’s legal team and providing strategic legal counsel to its presidents, trustees, and other senior leaders. Traevena brings extensive experience with the District’s complex regulatory and political landscape and a deep commitment to higher education, with more than two decades leading and serving on the legal teams at AU, Towson University, and Ithaca College. In each of these roles, Traevena demonstrated an ability to align legal strategy with broader institutional priorities, all while bringing a people-centered approach that fosters professionalism, mutual respect, and collaboration.

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides legal guidance and helps resolve legal disputes on a broad range of matters affecting the university. OGC advises on legal and regulatory questions associated with the university’s activities, represents the interests of the university in administrative and judicial proceedings, and supervises the activities of outside counsel.