The University of Vermont announced the appointment of Trenten Klingerman today as vice president for legal affairs and general counsel. As the university’s top lawyer, Klingerman will provide legal counsel and strategy to the administration, lead the Office of the General Counsel, and serve as assistant secretary of the UVM Board of Trustees.
“I am confident that the broad scope of Trent’s legal experience combined with his deep understanding of higher education will be valuable assets to UVM,” said President Suresh Garimella. “As we continue our upward trajectory to be recognized among the leading public research universities in the nation, Trent’s understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing global research institutions will help keep us on course.”
“I am honored and excited to be selected for this important role,” said Klingerman. “UVM is a university with a proud history and extraordinary ambitions for the future. I look forward to getting to know the campus, the Burlington area, and the beautiful state of Vermont in the coming months and years.”
Klingerman brings more than two decades of legal experience to UVM, including ten years at a top Indiana law firm where he represented higher education institutions, healthcare organizations, and other interests in state and federal court. Prior to attending law school, he was an elementary school teacher.
For the past ten years Klingerman has held key leadership roles at Purdue University, Indiana’s land grant institution, where he is currently deputy general counsel and chief privacy officer, a role he has held since 2016. He previously served two years as the university’s vice president for human resources, and he has taught courses in mass media and employment law.
Klingerman holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue and a J.D. from Indiana University. He will begin his new role next month.