Title IX Roles and Team
Roles
There are many roles within the process for responding to incidents of sex or gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct. The following are brief descriptions of the roles involved who work with the Title IX Coordinator to ensure prompt, thorough, impartial, and fair response.
Select a title below to learn a little more about that role and the part they play in our process.
The Title IX Coordinator oversees implementation of the University's Policy on Sex-Based Harassment for all students, employees, and third-parties. The Title IX Coordinator has the primary responsibility for coordinating the University's efforts related to the intake, investigation, resolution, and implementation of supportive measures to stop, remediate, and prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation prohibited under this policy.
Deputy Title IX Coordinator(s) provide support to the Title IX Coordinator with the efforts related to intake of reports and implementation of supportive measures to stop, remediate, and prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation prohibited under this policy. Deputy Title IX Coordinator(s) also assist with prevention and educational measures to the campus community.
Investigators are University staff trained to gather facts about an alleged violation of sex or gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, or sexual misconduct. Investigators conduct interviews and collect and synthesize evidence, compiling this information into an investigation report and file of directly related evidence. Investigators are not the decision-makers in the process and have no part in the deliberation or determination of responsibility of violation of policy. Investigators receive annual training on topics specific to investigation and interview skills and topics related to sex and gender discrimination in order to conduct investigations impartially and safely for the parties.
Hearing Panelists/Decision-makers are University staff who have the decision-making and sanctioning authority within the University's formal grievance process. Panelists are trained to analyze evidence and assess credibility of the parties and use a preponderance of the evidence to make responsibility of violation of policy determinations. Hearing Panelists also make sanctioning decision in the event an alleged person is found responsible of violating this policy. Panelists receive annual training on specific topics to credibility assessments, analyzing evidence, relevancy assessments, and conducting hearings. Hearing Panelists are never the same persons as the Investigators or Appeals Panelists in the same matter.
Appeals Panelists are University staff who have the decision-making authority to determine if an appeals request meets the merits for grounds of appeal and what course of action will take place to cure any granted appeals. Appeals Panelists receive annual training on specific topics to reviewing evidence, the rubrics for determining merit, and the procedures and processes within the policy available for recourse of a matter. Appeals Panelists are never the same persons as the Investigators or Hearing Panelists in the same matter.
When a complainant and/or respondent do not select an advisor of their choice, the University will provide an advisor for the party(ies). An advisor may be present at any meeting or proceeding as part of the grievance process at the discretion of the party (e.g., investigation interviews). An advisor must be present for the purposes of the question-asking ("cross-examination") at the hearing and cannot be dismissed or refused by a complainant or respondent if they do not have an advisor of their choice present. University provided advisors are trained in the USF policy and procedures and will have training on the relevancy and types of questions for cross-examination. Advisors may not speak on behalf of a party when answering questions, but may consult and support throughout any meeting or proceeding. University provided advisors are never the same persons as the Investigators, Hearing Panelists, or Appeals Panelists in the same matter.
All employees of the University of San Francisco (including student employees such as Resident Advisors), with the exception of those who are designated as Confidential Resources, are Mandatory Reporters and must promptly share with the Title IX Coordinator all known details, including names, of a report made to them in the course of their employment.
A confidential resource is a person, or office, that will not generate any report regarding sex or gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, or sexual misconduct to the Title IX Office when disclosed by a student, employee, or third-party unless specifically requested to do so by that person. At USF the following are confidential resources:
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and
- Ordained Clergy acting as a faith advisor are confidential resources.
CAPS staff and Clergy members will maintain confidentiality when acting under the scope of their licensure, professional ethics, and/or professional credentials, except in extreme cases of immediacy of threat or danger, or abuse of a minor/elder/person with a disability, or when to disclose by law or court order.
Staff
Title IX Coordinator: Emily Gove
Emily Gove began serving as the Title IX Coordinator at the University of San Francisco (USF) in July 2024. Prior to this role, she worked in Student Conduct offices at USF, Oklahoma State University (OSU), and the University of Kansas. While at OSU, Emily played a key role in the Title IX process, conducting intake meetings, investigating cases, managing hearing documentation, and ensuring timely communication with all parties involved. She also led the recruitment and coordination of the university’s hearing panel, including the facilitation of annual trainings for panel members.
Emily manages the University Policy on Non-Discrimination Based on Sex & Gender, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct and serves as the main point of contact for reports. She approaches Title IX work with a holistic and trauma-informed lens, emphasizing clear communication, access to support resources, and procedural fairness. She is committed to centering the rights of all parties throughout each stage of the process.
Emily holds a Master of Science in Education from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the Pacific. Outside of work, Emily spends time with her kitties, cooks new recipes, serves as a Fantasy Football league commissioner, and explores the beautiful city of San Francisco by foot.
Deputy Title IX Coordinator: Katrina “Trina” Garry
Katrina “Trina” Garry joined the Title IX team at USF in April 2021. She brings experience from Yale University, where she spent three years working in the Yale College Dean’s Office as a Student Affairs Associate. There, she supported the Office of Gender and Campus Culture and the Alcohol and Other Drugs Harm Reduction Initiative. Trina helped lead the Communication and Consent Educator (CCE) program—a student-led initiative promoting a healthier social and sexual climate through peer education, workshops, and interventions. Trina is a former student athlete, and has researched and published on challenges and best practices for sexual violence prevention for Divison I athletics departments in the Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics.
At USF, Trina continues this work with a commitment to prevention, education, and equitable processes for all campus community members. She is the director of the REPS (Resources, Education, Prevention, Support) initiative and manages the undergraduate team of REPS interns. Trina leads the REPS Advisory Board.
Trina earned her Master of Science in Education in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelor of Arts from Yale University. Outside of work, she enjoys running in the park, reading, surfing, and exploring new ice cream spots.