Liz DeChellis

Partner & Title IX Program Director, AWI-CH

Liz DeChellis, AWI-CH, is a Partner with Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation. Her practice focuses on conducting workplace investigations as well as Title IX investigations and hearings. She is available as an expert in evaluating Title IX and sexual harassment matters.

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Liz serves as Van Dermyden Makus’ Title IX Program Director, overseeing all Title IX investigations and hearings.  She also frequently conducts Title IX trainings as a faculty member of T9 Mastered. 

Trained in Trauma Informed Forensic Interviewing, Liz is also an experienced investigator in Title IX sexual misconduct claims.  Liz understands best practices in the Title IX arena, and the challenges facing schools and parties when sexual violence allegations surface.  She has conducted investigations for K-12 Districts, as well as higher education institutions.

Liz is an expert in conducting Title IX Hearings.  She has served as a Hearing Officer for multiple schools, applying a variety of policies and practices, and is familiar with both “new regulation” cases and cases falling outside the new regulations. In this role, Liz serves as the final adjudicator, completing the complaint and investigation process.  She also serves as an Appeal Officer when students challenge the process, the outcome, and/or the sanction.  Liz has overseen cases involving dating violence, drug abuse, sexual assault, and incapacitation. She has experience questioning parties using trauma-informed techniques, making admissibility and relevance decisions, and issuing well-reasoned, thorough decisions.

Liz is also an experienced workplace investigator, investigating allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other types of misconduct.  She conducts trainings for staff and management on a variety of legal issues, including sexual harassment and discrimination prevention, as well as how to conduct effective investigations.  Additionally, Liz is a part-time faculty member for the Association of Workplace Investigators. 

Liz graduated from McGeorge School of Law in 2012 and earned an undergraduate degree from UC Davis. She is licensed to practice law in the State of California, and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

CA State Bar No. 286431

+ Professional Degrees, Certifications, Awards and Organizations

  • Juris Doctor, McGeorge School of Law, 2012
    • Dean’s Honor Roll
    • Dean’s Scholarship recipient
  • Bachelor of Arts, History, University of California, Davis, 2004
  • Member, State Bar of California
  • Member, State Bar of California, Labor & Employment Section
  • T9 Mastered, Faculty
  • Member, National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)
  • Member, NACUA Web Page Legal Resources Library Committee
  • Member, Association of Workplace Investigators
  • AWI Certificate Holder, AWI Training Institute (AWI-CH)
  • Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), 2015
  • Trained in Trauma Informed Forensic Interviewing
  • Completed APSAC Advanced Forensic Interview Institute, December 2019
  • Completed FETI Methodology Course, February 2020
  • Recipient, Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Women Worth Watching® in Leadershisp Award (2024)

+ Notable Speeches and Presentations

  • “Responding to Complaints: A Blueprint for Efficient, Effective, and Defensible Investigations” – CalGovHR Conference, Sonoma, CA (March 12, 2024)
  • Panel 6: “K-12 and Higher Education" – Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality & Anti-Discrimination Law: New Developments in Gender Discrimination, Harassment, and Violence in Employment and Education, (January 5, 2024)
  • “Gathering Facts on Dating Violence, Partner Violence, and Stalking” – T9 Mastered (September 13, 2023)
  • “The New Title IX Regulations: Navigating Staff, Faculty, and Student Complaints” – ACHRO Annual Conference (October 26, 2022)
  • “Navigating the Workplace Sexual Assault Investigation from an Internal and External Perspective” – AWI Annual Conference (October 14, 2022)
  • “Putting Facts Into Focus: Title IX Writing” – T9 Mastered (September 21, 2022)
  • “Title IX Regulations: Managing the Changes” – T9 Mastered (March 31, 2022)
  • “Hearing Officer Training” – T9 Mastered (January 18 to 21, 2022)
  • “Consent: Gathering the Essential Facts” – T9 Mastered (November 9, 2011)
  • “Using Trauma-Informed Techniques in Workplace Investigations” AWI September 2021 Journal
  • "New Title IX Regulations: What Changed?" – American Association of School Personnel Administrators (October 13, 2020)
  • T9 Mastered's "Hearing Officer Training" (September 24-29, 2020)
  • Webinar: "Elevating the Remote Interview – Conducting Effective Remote Interviews" – Van Dermyden Maddux Law Corporation (July 9, 2020)
  • Webinar: "Conducting Remote Hearings – Ensuring Consistency, Competence, and Compassion" – T9 Mastered (May 13, 2020)
  • “Lessons Learned in The #MeToo Era” – HR West 2020 in Oakland, CA (March 10, 2020)
  • “Lessons Learned in The MeToo Era” – 2019 CALPELRA Annual Training Conference in Monterey, CA (November 18-22, 2019)
  • “Trauma-Informed” – What is it and why does it matter? – Association of Workplace Investigators Annual Conference in Marina Del Rey, CA (September 26-28, 2019)
  • “Workplace Investigations – Mastering the Basics” – Next Concept HR Association, Sonoma Harvest in Vacaville, CA (September 18, 2019)
  • T9 Mastered’s “Essential 3-Day Training for Campus Investigators” – Pasadena, CA (June 4-6, 2019)
  • T9 Mastered’s “Training for Hearing Officers” – Sacramento, CA (May 29-30, 2019)
  • T9 Mastered’s “Essential 3-Day Training for Campus Investigators” – Pasadena, CA (March 12-14, 2019)
  • T9 Mastered’s “Essential 3-Day Training for Campus Investigators” – Pasadena, CA (November 13-15, 2018)
  • T9 Mastered’s “Essential 3-Day Training for Campus Investigators” – Seattle, WA (September 25-27, 2018)
  • “Conducting Effective Sexual Harassment Investigations In The #MeToo Era.” – Sacramento Employer Advisory Council Workshop at the Citrus Heights City Hall (April 18, 2018)
  • “Workplace Investigations – Mastering the Basics” – Next Concept HR Association’s HR Business Leader Regional Series (Solano/Yolo) (March 22, 2018)
  • T9 Mastered’s “Advanced 2-Day Training” – Westin Sacramento, CA (February 27-28, 2018)
  • “Conducting Effective Investigations: Navigating The Difficult Witness” – CALPELRA’s 42nd Annual Training Conference, in Monterey, CA (December 8, 2017)
  • “Using Trauma-Informed Techniques in the Workplace” – Third National Workplace Bullying Coalition online conference (October 19, 2017)
  • “Conducting Investigations While Maintaining Your Sanity” – Northern California Human Resources Association Regional Meeting (Solano/Yolo) in Fairfield, CA (July 13, 2017)
  • T9 Mastered UC Training for Campus Investigators – A three-day Title IX intensive training course in Newport Beach, CA (March 7-9, 2017)
  • T9 Mastered CSU 3rd Annual Title IX/DHR Investigator Training – San Francisco State, San Francisco, CA (August 1-2, 2016)
  • T9 Mastered Training for Campus Investigators – A three-day Title IX intensive training course in Orange, CA (June 14-16, 2016)
  • T9 Mastered Training for Campus Investigators – A three-day Title IX intensive training course in Sacramento, CA (February 16-18, 2016)
  • “Supervising in a Union Environment” – University of California, Davis (Ongoing Staff Development Training, 2012 to 2015)
  • “Navigating Personnel Policies” – University of California, Davis (Ongoing Staff Development Training, 2012 to 2015)