Reneé Reifsteck McCarthy
Senior Associate University Counsel
Reneé originally joined the Office of University Counsel (OUC) in April of 1999 and served until 2016. She rejoined OUC in October of 2022. Reneé provides advice and counsel on a broad range of legal issues including claims of unlawful discrimination and harassment, and violations of due process, as well as policy and procedure development, compliance matters, the First Amendment, Title IX, FERPA, and FOIA. She has also provided advice and guidance to a number of campus and university-wide committees such as the UIC Student Response & Threat Assessment Teams, and the Presidential Task Force on Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and Violence. Reneé received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, where she served as an advisor and recruiter for the Office of Minority Student Affairs, and as a student advocate for the Illinois Clemency Project for Battered Women. She spent two years with the UIC College of Medicine establishing the position of Director of Medical Student Learning Environment and developing the Positive Learning Environment Policies and Procedures. She has also worked in private practice to provide advice and counsel to several other colleges and universities. Reneé is a certified mediator, is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and Northern District of Illinois (federal), and is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys. Reneé can be reached by email at rreifste@uillinois.edu or by phone at (312)996-7762.