New General Counsel

Dear Caltech community, 

I am pleased to announce that Stephanie Shea will join Caltech as general counsel, effective January 6, 2027. 

As a member of the Institute's senior administrative leadership group, Stephanie will oversee the Office of the General Counsel, providing strategic legal guidance across campus and JPL. She will also advise Caltech leadership and the Board of Trustees on legal issues critical to the Institute's research and education enterprise. 

In a robust national search, Stephanie distinguished herself as a highly accomplished legal and higher education leader whose breadth of experience, intellectual curiosity, and collaborative approach make her exceptionally well suited to Caltech. She brings a sophisticated understanding of the needs of faculty, students, and researchers, and a thoughtful perspective on legal counsel grounded in deep respect for the people and pursuits at the heart of the Institute. I am confident that she will be a trusted and valued partner to our leadership team, trustees, faculty, and staff.

Stephanie joins Caltech from Towson University, where she serves as senior vice president, general counsel, and chief of staff to the president. Since arriving to Towson as general counsel in 2024, her role has expanded to include additional responsibilities as a trusted advisor to the university's president. She currently leads the university's legal and compliance functions and works closely with senior leadership on a wide range of legal, strategic, and operational matters. 

Previously, Stephanie spent nearly a decade at Johns Hopkins University, advancing through a series of increasingly senior positions to become senior associate general counsel and chief compliance officer. At Hopkins, she helped guide one of the nation's leading university research enterprises through periods of growth, change, and an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment. Her broad portfolio encompassed federal research compliance, intellectual property, technology transfer, and institutional governance. 

Stephanie holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a bachelor's degree in politics from Princeton University.

I am grateful to the search committee for their diligent and thoughtful work throughout the process. My thanks to Dexter Bailey, vice president for Advancement and Alumni Relations who chaired the committee, and to its members: professors Ravi Ravichandran and Paul Sternberg; trustees Amy Schulman and Maria Hummer-Tuttle; Ken Lee, chief investment officer; and Lisa Haber, JPL chief of staff and director for Laboratory Administration. 

I would also like to express my appreciation to Jennifer Lum, who has graciously agreed to delay her retirement until January 5, 2027, to ensure a smooth transition. With 16 years of exceptional service to the Institute, Jennifer's leadership of the Office of the General Counsel has left a lasting mark on Caltech. I have benefited tremendously from her wise counsel and unwavering commitment to this community over these past few months and am grateful for her continued partnership. 

Please join me in thanking Jennifer for her service and welcoming Stephanie to the Caltech community.

Sincerely,

Ray Jayawardhana