Holy Cross Appoints Two to Administrative Posts

Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J, president of the College of the Holy Cross, has announced the hiring of two new senior administrators at the College. Attorney Elizabeth Small will serve as the new general counsel, and attorney Elizabeth Canning will serve as director of Title IX Initiatives/Clery Act Compliance and Title IX coordinator.

Small has extensive experience practicing law within higher education and beyond. Most recently, Small served as general counsel at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Mass. for two years and prior to that as associate general counsel at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., for eight years. She has represented universities in connection with a wide variety of legal matters affecting higher education, including: regulatory compliance; Title IV and Title IX compliance, policy development; contract and grant review; litigation and student and employee matters.

“My 10 years representing institutions of higher education has afforded me the opportunity to develop deep and broad expertise in higher education law,” Small says. “I understand the collaborative nature of the higher education environment as well as the challenges that higher education currently faces.”

Small earned her B.A. from Georgetown University and her J.D. from Boston University School of Law, where she was a staff member of the Boston University Law Review. Following completion of her law degree, she was an associate for two years at the Boston firm of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault. She joined the law firm of Edwards, Angell, Palmer & Dodge LLP in 1996 and was named partner in 2001. Her work included representing public and private companies in all aspects of operation and development including: equity and debt financing; merges and acquisitions; joint ventures; licensing arrangements; and management and governance issues. She also represented private equity funds in fund formation and portfolio company equity investments, acquisitions, and dispositions.

Small is a native of Dartmouth, Mass. and lives with her husband and two children in Barrington, R.I.

Elizabeth Canning will serve as a director of Title IX Initiatives/Clery Act Compliance and Title IX coordinator. Canning received her B.A. from Harvard University and her J.D. from Boston College Law School. She has extensive experience working on issues of nondiscrimination, equity, and compliance in the higher education environment. She served as director of Equity and Compliance Services and the nondiscrimination coordinator and Title IX Coordinator at Johnson & Wales University following nearly six years of service as a public defender in Providence, R.I.

“I am looking forward to being a part of Holy Cross' commitment to supporting a safe and inclusive environment,” says Canning. “The College's focus on civility and mutual respect was influential in my decision as it is essential to the work in which I am engaged.”

Canning’s responsibilities as director and coordinator will be to foster a culture of respect on campus and ensure that the available resources are clearly communicated and accessible to the entire college community. Information and education sessions and training which help to ensure that policies and procedures are clear and consistently applied are available to students and employees. Canning will aid in the ongoing conversation not only regarding issues related to sexual misconduct, but also about the new policies and procedures and available resources.

She lives in Providence, R.I., with her husband and daughter.