Email: tskinner@SanDiego.edu
Office: HC-320
Chief Legal Officer and Advisor to the President and Board of Trustees
In his role as General Counsel and Advisor to the President, Tom serves as the principal legal officer for the university, with overall responsibility for the vision and leadership of the legal strategy. He serves as an advisor and counselor to the President, the senior leadership team (of which he is a member), and the Board of Trustees, and serves as a strategic thought partner on all critical matters involving the university. He also leads, manages and oversees the Office of General Counsel.
Tom has more than 30 years of in-house, government and private law firm experience, including working with and/or for universities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the global law firms Jones Day, Mayer Brown, and Winston & Strawn. He started his legal career as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Charles P. Kocoras, former Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois.
Tom most recently served as Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel for Louisiana State University (LSU), a major public research institution. He was legal advisor to the Board of Supervisors and the President, managing in-house and outside counsel, directing action on public records and open meetings matters, and working closely with the government affairs staff on legislative and executive branch issues.
Tom earned his J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review, and his B.A. with honors from Lawrence University.
Tom has more than 30 years of in-house, government and private law firm experience, including working with and/or for universities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the global law firms Jones Day, Mayer Brown, and Winston & Strawn. He started his legal career as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Charles P. Kocoras, former Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois.
Tom most recently served as Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel for Louisiana State University (LSU), a major public research institution. He was legal advisor to the Board of Supervisors and the President, managing in-house and outside counsel, directing action on public records and open meetings matters, and working closely with the government affairs staff on legislative and executive branch issues.
Tom earned his J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review, and his B.A. with honors from Lawrence University.