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Celeste has been a labor and employment lawyer for over two decades, most recently serving as Associate General Counsel at BlueCross BlueShield, supporting their labor and employment division (with over 6,000 employees in offices across Tennessee) and in-house employment counsel for a large trucking company and parking services company.

Since transitioning into the Title IX space, Celeste has served as an Interim Title IX Coordinator for K12 districts and institutions. She serves as a decision-maker, Appellate officer, advisor, and informal resolutions facilitator.  Celeste provides Title IX, VI, and VII training for institutions.  She has conducted several dozen live hearings for institutions across the country.

She provides in-person and virtual training for school districts and institutions on compliance including Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, and other Human Resources Professional training, along with conducting workplace investigations for the private sector and educational institutions.

Celeste attended the University of Memphis and obtained her Bachelor of Arts in English. She then attended the University of Tennessee School of Law, now known as the Winston College of Law, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Dr. Sharon Perry Fantini is a Partner at TNG Consulting, a member of ATIXA’s Advisory Board, and a nationally recognized civil rights leader with more than two decades of experience in higher education.

She advises institutions nationwide as a consultant, trainer, interim Coordinator, and external investigator, helping campuses strengthen race, color, and national origin discrimination response frameworks through policy design, prevention education, investigative practices, and inclusive strategy.

Her work integrates Title VI with broader civil rights obligations, ensuring alignment across Title VII, Title IX, and ADA/504 compliance structures.

A frequent national presenter and contributor to higher education policy discussions—including work with the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, the College and University Professional Association in Higher Education,  the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, and congressional briefings—Sharon is known for advancing systemic, research-informed approaches that build institutional capacity, mitigate risk, and promote equitable campus environments grounded in fairness, respect, and regulatory excellence.

Previously, she served as Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Iowa State University. She has also held multiple leadership roles at Tiffin University, including Vice Provost for Equity, Access, and Opportunity.

A Partner at Williams Mullen, Stephanie focuses her practice on employment matters, issues involving colleges and universities, and general litigation.

Stephanie advises employers of all kinds on ways to avoid litigation and/or reduce exposure to litigation claims. She provides counseling on all aspects of employment law, including compliance with employment statutes and regulations; drafting and implementation of policies, handbooks and employment agreements; harassment prevention training; employee investigations; and employee termination.

Stephanie also represents clients before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

Additionally, Stephanie counsels and defends colleges and universities on various matters including Title IX, tenure issues, academic freedom, student complaints, faculty and staff handbooks, accommodations, and reductions in force for both staff and faculty.

She also serves as an outside, neutral investigator for higher education institutions and other employers, in such areas as sexual misconduct, discrimination, and harassment.

She earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Richmond School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William & Mary.

Emily Springston, J.D., has served as the University of Virginia’s associate vice president for equal opportunity & civil rights since 2021.

In this role she leads the Office for Equal Opportunity & Civil (EOCR), which oversees all civil rights related work for the university including Accessibility, TIX & Title VI Coordination, Discrimination & Harassment, and Equal Opportunity Employment, inclusive of response and prevention efforts and initiatives. She also oversees the University Ombuds Office.

Prior to her time at UVA, Emily served in a similar role at Indiana University, as the university director of institutional equity and title IX, overseeing and coordinating the civil rights response and prevention work across IU’s seven-campus system.

She began working in higher education as an Associate General Counsel at Indiana University, working on legal matters across all aspects of higher education for six years, before transitioning into civil rights focused work.

Prior to that time, Emily practiced environmental law while at a law firm in Chicago, and worked for several national non-profits in DC in areas of anti-hunger and community organizing focused work.