General Counsel
(860) 486-5796
Nicole Fournier Gelston serves as General Counsel to the University. As UConn’s chief legal officer, she oversees the University’s legal affairs and manages the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The OGC provides legal representation and guidance on the wide range of legal issues affecting institutions of higher education.
Nicole joined the University in 2010. She has served in the Office of the General Counsel in various roles since its creation in 2012 and was appointed General Counsel in 2018. The General Counsel serves as a strategic thought partner in executive leadership while also providing advice and counsel on the myriad of legal and compliance issues that impact the University.
In addition to her duties as General Counsel, Nicole also served as Chief of Staff to the President from 2020 to 2022. In that role, Nicole served as the “right hand” to three presidents, providing critical assistance toward the strategic use of limited time for decision-making, organizational and operational strategies and priorities of the president.
Before joining the University, Nicole was a partner in the New Haven law firm of Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante, where she practiced for fourteen years. Nicole handled complex civil and criminal matters and represented municipalities, individuals and businesses in state and federal court. Nicole also briefed and argued civil and criminal appeals before the Connecticut Appellate and Supreme Courts and the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Nicole is a past recipient of the Connecticut Law Tribune’s Award for Overall Achievement. She also received the Connecticut’s Rising Stars designation by Super Lawyers Magazine and the Gerald N. Weller award presented by the University of Connecticut’s Division of Student Affairs for her dedication to legal issues impacting Student Affairs.