Contract Information

 

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Office of the Attorney General

 

Contact Information

Office of the Attorney General
At the University of Connecticut&
343 Mansfield Rd. Unit 2177
Storrs, CT 06269-2177

Telephone: (860) 486-4241 Fax: (860) 486-4369

 

Staff

 

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Ralph E. Urban, Esq. Assistant Attorney General

Assistant Attorney General Urban has been a member of the Attorney General’s Education Department since 1989. He graduated from Haverford College with a degree in History in 1978. He is an Honors graduate of UConn Law School and has been a member of the Connecticut Bar since 1985. He is admitted to the Federal District Court for the Districts of Connecticut and Eastern New York, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. While diverse, Attorney Urban’s practice has been concentrated in the areas of elementary, secondary and higher education.

Assistant Attorney General Urban serves as the designee of the Attorney General, providing direction to the University's legal office, as well as legal perspective and counsel to the University’s Board of Trustees and senior administration on a wide range of higher education issues that confront and affect its business functions. 

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Holly Jean Bray, Esq. Assistant Attorney General

Assistant Attorney General Bray has been a member of Office of the Attorney General since 1997. She was initially a member of the Attorney General’s Public Charities Unit and later joined its Health and Education Department where she represented the Connecticut State University System from 2003 through 2011. She earned a B.A. in English from Connecticut College in 1978, and thereafter obtained her special education teaching certification. After working as a special education instructor at a private school in Washington, Connecticut, she enrolled at the University of Connecticut, School of Law and earned her J.D., with Honors, in 1985. Prior to her arrival at the Office of the Attorney General, Attorney Bray was of counsel at a private law firm in Hartford, with a practice in commercial litigation. Attorney Bray is admitted to the Federal District Court for the District of Connecticut and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

While Attorney Bray’s workload is diverse, she specializes in defense litigation for the University, both in State and Federal courts, as well as the Claims Commission and all other State administrative agencies.

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Nicole Fournier Gelston, Esq. Legal Specialist

Attorney Gelston serves the University as a Legal Specialist within the Office of the Attorney General at UConn. She provides legal counsel and performs legal review and research on a wide range of regulations, policies, contracts, and other legal issues that affect the University of Connecticut.

Before joining the University, Attorney Gelston was a partner in the New Haven law firm of Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante, where she worked since 1997. There, she handled complex civil and criminal matters, representing municipalities, individuals and businesses in state and federal courts throughout Connecticut, including the Connecticut Appellate and Supreme Courts and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. In this role, she also engaged in extensive legal research and review of contractual, constitutional and education-related matters. Nicole was awarded the Connecticut Law Tribune's Award for Overall Achievement and was featured in Quinnipiac Law Magazine for her many professional accomplishments. Nicole was recently selected one of Connecticut's Rising Stars 2011 by Super Lawyers Magazine. Attorney Gelston graduated magna cum laude from Quinnipiac University School of Law.

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Patricia Wasson Leavens Office Legal Administrator/Contract Paralegal

Patricia Leavens has served the Office of the Attorney General at UConn since 1985 as Paralegal and Legal Administrator. Patricia is a UConn graduate with a degree in Personnel Administration and holds a degree in Paralegal Studies as well. She is a member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, the Central Connecticut Paralegal Association, Inc., the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) and the Higher Education Legal Managers (HELM), an organization comprised of legal administrative managers from public and private colleges and universities across the United States and Canada.

As Legal Administrator, Patricia oversees all administrative, financial, business and operational matters for the office, and is responsible for the department's human resources, claims investigations, University real property matters, contract review, and litigation defense support.

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Gail Metsack Financial Specialist/Contract Paralegal

Gail Metsack has served the Office of the Attorney General at UConn since 1994 as both a Financial Specialist and Paralegal. Gail graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Employment Relations and Labor Studies and from Mount Ida College with a degree in Paralegal Studies.  She is a member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, as well as the Central Connecticut Paralegal Association, Inc.  

In her role as Paralegal, Gail is responsible for contract review, financial-related matters, office management and litigation support for the office.

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Christene G. Cooper Database Manager/Financial & Claims Assistant

Christene Cooper joined the Office of the Attorney General at UConn in March 2008. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Art History and holds a Certification in Accounting and a Certification as a Litigation Paralegal. She also has a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University. Christene handles office database development and management, information technology, web page management. She also assists in claims investigations and litigation support, as well as financial-related matters.

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Kayla Wyman Contract Liaison/Legal Administrative Assistant

Kayla Wyman is a Quinebaug Valley Community College graduate who joined the office in June 2008 as Legal Administrative Assistant and office liaison for University contracts and requests for legal advice. Kayla also performs other administrative functions, which include phones, meeting scheduling, records retention, student staff projects, as well as supplies and library holdings management.