Colorado investigator, a UW alum, will be next Title IX coordinator

Lauren Hasselbacher has been hired as UW–Madison’s new Title IX coordinator.

Hasselbacher, a UW–Madison graduate, will take over for David Blom, who has been the university’s Title IX coordinator since August 2015 and will retire at the end of May. Hasselbacher’s first day will be May 22.

“We are excited to have someone with Lauren’s experience serve as our next Title IX coordinator,” says Cathleen Trueba, director of the Office of Compliance at UW–Madison. “Her extensive background working in the community and in higher education to ensure gender equity and compliance with the protections afforded by Title IX will be a tremendous asset to the campus.”

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. The Title IX coordinator is responsible for coordinating the university’s efforts to prevent sex discrimination from occurring and responding promptly and appropriately if it occurs; and establishing procedures for receiving and responding to complaints of sex discrimination.

Hasselbacher most recently worked as a senior investigator in the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder), where she investigated allegations of discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct on campus.

During her time at the OIEC, Hasselbacher worked collaboratively with campus partners, including the Office of Victim Assistance, the Office of Student Conduct, and Student Support and Case Management, to provide ongoing safety and support to students during Title IX investigations.

Hasselbacher also assisted in forming and drafting a memorandum of understanding between the OIEC and campus law enforcement and helped revise relevant campus policies to ensure their compliance with state and federal regulations.

After graduating from UW–Madison with a degree in legal studies and a certificate in women’s studies, Hasselbacher worked at Domestic Abuse Intervention Services in Madison as a legal advocate before moving to Colorado to attend law school at CU Boulder.

While earning her law degree, Hasselbacher worked in a variety of legal and advocacy settings that addressed issues related to sexual assault, domestic violence and illegal discrimination, including Colorado Legal Services and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Following law school, she practiced at a Denver employment and civil rights law firm.