Office of the General Counsel Team
Blake Christensen, JD
General Counsel/Chief Compliance Officer/Risk Manager, Office of the General Counsel
As general counsel and chief compliance officer, Blake oversees all legal and compliance functions for Idaho State University. Blake counsels on a wide variety of higher education issues, among which are student and academic affairs, athletics, governance, employment, Title IX, constitutional law, contracting, privacy, public records, intellectual property, and university policy. In addition to providing legal advice and representation, Blake has supervisory responsibility over the university’s legal, athletics compliance, and risk management offices.
Blake joined ISU in July 2020 after serving as associate general counsel for Montana State University and working for a large law firm in southern Virginia. Blake graduated cum laude from the William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Contact Information
Administration Building, Suite 321
blakechristensen@isu.edu
phone: 208-282-3234
fax: 208-282-4821
Nick Tranmer, JD
Associate General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel
As Associate General Counsel, Nick works with the Office of General Counsel on all legal and compliance-related needs of Idaho State University. In addition to overseeing the University contracting process, Nick works on a wide variety of higher education issues, among which are student and academic affairs, athletics, governance, employment, Title IX, constitutional law, contracting, privacy, public records, intellectual property, and university policy.
Nick attended Idaho State University from 2006 to 2011 and graduated ISU with a B.S. in Political Science. Nick then attended the University of Idaho College of Law and obtained his J.D. Nick has a long history of working in Idaho public service as shown by his previous employment as a Canyon County Public Defender and a Bannock County Prosecutor. Nick joined ISU as Associate General Counsel in June of 2021.
Contact Information
Administration Building, Suite 321
nicholastranmer@isu.edu
phone: 208-282-3022
fax: 208-282-4821
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Sandi Rich-Scheetz
Paralegal, Office of the General Counsel
As the Paralegal for the Office of General Counsel, Sandi is responsible for reviewing, drafting, and negotiating affiliation agreement contracts for ISU’s various healthcare programs within the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Arts and Letters, and College of Technology Health Occupations. Affiliation agreements enable programs to place their students and Residents in clinical rotations at hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and schools around the country. Part of the affiliation agreement process includes student malpractice insurance, certificates of insurance, and student background checks.
Sandi holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Idaho State University and a Paralegal certificate from Boise State University.
Contact Information
Administration Building, Suite 321
richsand@isu.edu
phone: 208-282-2683
fax: 208-282-4821
Aubrie Nield, MPA
Assistant Risk Manager
Aubrie oversees the Risk Management Program and the Worker’s Compensation Program. Her role is to provide a safe environment for the campus community, as well as protect and preserve the University's assets from adverse effects of physical and financial loss. Aubrie handles the insurance needs for claims and accidents for the University.
Aubrie has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and is a recent graduate with her Masters of Public Administration Degree. Aubrie is a proud alumnus of Idaho State University. She has extensively studied Disaster Policy, Public Policy Analysis, Public Workplace Issues, and has completed research regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic as well as the Narrative Policy Framework in Disaster films. Aubrie currently serves on the board of a nonprofit scholarship program and is committed to public service.
Contact Information
aubrienield@isu.edu
phone: 208-282-5741
fax: 208-282-4821
Whitney Fenwick, MPA
Legal Programs Manager, Office of the General Counsel
Whitney serves as the Legal Programs Manager for the Office of the General Counsel. In this role she is responsible for the management and maintenance of University's public records request system. She oversees a variety of legal programs including the Legal Education Program and property leasing. In addition to these tasks, Whitney directs office administration, and records retention for the Office of the General Counsel.
Whitney has been with ISU since 2017. She Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History, from Idaho State University and a Masters in Public Administration. Amongst other educational achievements she is a Political Science doctoral student. Prior to working in the Office of the General Counsel Whitney worked as the Regulatory Affairs Specialist for eISU and has worked in public service for over five years.
Contact Information
Administration Building, Suite 321
whitneyfenwick@isu.edu
phone: 208-282-3234
fax: 208-282-4821
Joanne Hirase-Stacey, JD
HIPPA Compliance Officer, Office of the General Counsel
Contact Information
Administration Building, Suite 321
joannehirasestace@isu.edu
phone: 208-282-3022
fax: 208-282-4821
Cody Sparrow, MBA
Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance, Office of the General Counsel
Cody serves as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance for both the Office of the General Counsel and Athletics. In this role his responsibility is the day-to-day compliance of ISU's fifteen athletic teams; in accordance with the NCAA, Big Sky conference and Idaho State University's rules and regulations. He works with student athletes, coaches, university personnel and the community. Cody is the point of contact for athletics compliance, Overseeing: rules education, rules interpretations, violations, waivers, recruiting, certification and annual reports for NCAA, Big Sky conference and ISU. In other capacities, he is an adjunct instructor for the Human Performance and Sport Science Department, serves as the Title IX Investigator and representative for several committees at ISU and in the Big Sky conference.
Cody has been with ISU since 2014. Before working in athletics, he served as a Graduation specialist in the Office of the Registrar. Before joining ISU he worked at Utah Valley University as an Athletics Academic Adviser and Student Coordinator. He graduated from Idaho State University with a Bachelor's of Art degree in Physical education with an emphasis in Sports Management. He continued his education and received two graduate degrees from Idaho State University. A Masters of Physical Education in Athletic Administration in August of 2011, and A Master's of Business Administration in 2017.
Contact Information
Holt Arena 125-l
sparcody@isu.edu
phone: 208-282-2486
Blaise Burns
Assistant Athletics Compliance Officer, Office of the General Counsel
As the Assistant Athletic Compliance Officer, Blaise oversees many aspects of recruiting and playing seasons with all 15 of Idaho States Division 1 teams. He works with coaches and staff to understand and effectively use the FrontRush software to track recruiting contacts to playing logs and pass lists. He takes an active part in monthly Rules Education meetings to help the Athletic Department stay up to date on Big Sky Conference and NCAA legislation. Furthermore, he assists incoming Student-Athletes receive their certifications through the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Blaise started with ISU as a Compliance Office intern in 2016, then a Career Path Intern in the Sports Information Department in 2017. He has been in his current position since June of 2018.
Contact Information
Holt Arena
burnblai@isu.edu
phone: 208-282-3332
Pati Spotts, MS, MA, JD
Director of Research Contracts, Office of Research
Pati serves as the Director of Research Contracts for the Office of Research and works in close coordination with the Office of General Counsel. In this role, she provides legal oversight and management for the legal agreements and contracts with private and public entities that provide grants and other sponsored project funding. She also handles research subcontracts, MTAs, NDAs and similar instruments.
Pati has been at ISU since 2015. Before moving to Pocatello, she worked at the University of South Carolina as the Associate Director of Patent Management in the Office of Technology Commercialization working closely with Sponsored Awards Administration. Her other professional experience includes working as a Research Associate and Psychometrist at Vanderbilt University, and as a Biology Instructor at Purdue University.
Contact Information
Businesss & Technology Center 115E
spotpatr@isu.edu
phone: 208-282-3478
Libby Howe
University Policy Manager, Office of the President
Libby serves as the University Policy Manager for the Office of the President and works in close coordination with the Office of General Counsel. She is responsible for the management and maintenance of the University’s official policies and procedures. She is tasked with representing competing points of view on policies to the Administrative Council on behalf of all university constituency groups. She brings a transparent, open and empathetic approach to the policy process and focuses on mission in all policy development efforts.
Since 2001, Libby has served in a variety of positions in Idaho State University’s Office of Marketing and Communications. Her experience as the Director of University Relations brings valuable insight to the policy-making process, providing historical context for the operational processes and decisions that have been made at the University over the last two decades. Prior to her time at ISU, Libby held positions as a television news journalist in Idaho Falls and Pocatello.
Contact Information
Administration Building, Suite 321
libbyhowe@isu.edu
phone: 208-282-2930