The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Jacquie Rich Fredericks, Ed.D., J.D., as the university’s next vice president, general counsel and secretary to the Board of Trustees. Fredericks, who has worked for the Colorado Department of Law (DOL) for the past 11 years, will begin at UNC on Aug. 15.  

Fredericks began her professional law career as an assistant attorney general with the DOL, serving the civil litigation and corrections and public safety units for five years. During that time, she litigated more than 200 cases, including eight federal trials before the U.S. District Court of Colorado. In 2016, Fredericks became an assistant attorney general in the DOL’s state services section’s higher education unit, in which she worked with a number of different higher education institutions and litigated a variety of cases pertaining to issues colleges and universities face.  

In 2019, Fredericks was promoted to first assistant attorney general of the DOL’s higher education unit, the role she currently holds. In this position, Fredericks leads a team of seven dedicated legal professionals who provide advice, counsel and litigation support to all of Colorado’s public postsecondary institutions. For more than five years, she served as general counsel to Western Colorado University as well as the Division of Private Occupational Schools. Fredericks has also served as interim general counsel to Fort Lewis College, Colorado Mesa University, Adams State University, the Colorado Department of Higher Education and History Colorado. 

“I am excited to welcome Jacquie to the UNC community as our next vice president, general counsel and secretary to the board,” said UNC President Andy Feinstein. “Jacquie’s experience with the Colorado Department of Law’s Higher Education Unit makes this a seamless transition for her to step into this critical role at UNC. She is very familiar with the higher education landscape in the state and the types of issues that arise within any institution. As someone who has received high regards from her peers, I know she will be a valuable addition to our leadership team.” 

“I’m delighted to become a UNC Bear! I look forward to serving the entire campus community with integrity,” Fredericks said. “I am excited to work closely with the Board of Trustees and President Feinstein as they continue to steward this incredible institution forward as an inclusive and diverse educational resource for all of Colorado.” 

Fredericks received her bachelor’s degree from Ball State University, her Juris Doctor degree from Indiana University-Indianapolis School of Law and her doctorate in education from the University of Denver. Fredericks earned her Ed.D. in 2020, studying Diversity Leadership in Higher Education. As vice president, general counsel and secretary to the Board of Trustees, Fredericks will serve as the chief legal advisor to the university, working closely with the president and Cabinet members on university priorities and pressing issues. Dan Satriana, who has served in this role at UNC for the last 12 years, will be retiring this summer.