Office of General Counsel

Gary Cunningham

General Counsel joined the Office of General Counsel in 2014. Gary began serving as general counsel effective July 1, 2015.  Prior to joining Minnesota State in house, Gary represented Minnesota State Colleges and Universities in employment matters as an Assistant Attorney General for over 20 years. With respect to the Office of General Counsel, Gary has concentrated on employment issues and training. In addition to his employment law practice at the Attorney General’s Office, Gary was counsel to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and a consumer advocate.

Previously Gary was an attorney in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia and Chicago, Illinois. Gary received his B.S. in Mathematics from Purdue University and his J.D, from the University of Illinois, graduating magna cum laude.

Mary Al Balber

Assistant General Counsel has an extensive background representing state, tribal and municipal governments.

Mary Al was  with the Minneapolis City Attorney's Office in the civil division where she advised city officials, departments, boards and commissions. She was also Solicitor General for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and a former Assistant General Counsel for the Prairie Island Dakota Indian Community.

In addition, she was an Assistant Attorney General in the Minnesota Attorney General's Office where she represented state agencies in construction, contract and environmental matters for more than six years. In her new position, Mary Al's primary focus is transactional matters including construction, contracts and intellectual property.

Mary Al received her J.D. from Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, and her B.S. (Mass Communications) from Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan.

Scott Goings

Scott Goings joined the General Counsel’s Office in 2008 after previously representing the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities as an Assistant Attorney General in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.  He has sixteen years of experience in higher education law with a focus on student affairs, athletics, litigation and litigation management and foundations. 

Scott previously practiced law with the Minneapolis firm of Leonard, Street and Deinard and clerked for the Honorable Harold D. Vietor, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa.  He received his J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law and his B.A. (Philosophy) from Grinnell College.  Scott is an adjunct faculty member in the Higher Education Administration doctoral program at St. Cloud State University.

Sarah McGee

Assistant General Counsel joined the Office of General Counsel in December of 2012.  Sarah's focus is in intellectual property, information technology, and other areas.

Most recently, Sarah was an Assistant Attorney General in the Minnesota Attorney General's Office where she represented state agencies, including Minnesota State, in tort, employment, and other matters for the past five years.  Sarah previously practiced in the areas of intellectual property, litigation, and employment law with the Minneapolis offices of Fulbright & Jaworski and Faegre Baker Daniels.

Sarah received her J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law and her B.S. (Biology) from Brown University.

Daniel McCabe

Daniel McCabe, Assistant General Counsel, joined the Office of General Counsel in 2016.  He specializes in the areas of data practices, business transactions, international programs, immigration, FCC issues, and other areas.

Previously, Daniel was Associate General Counsel/Of Counsel at Howard University for almost eight years.  At Howard University, he specialized in university business transactions, intellectual property, technology transfer, commercial radio, public television, and several related areas.

Daniel received his J.D. from The American University Washington College of Law.  He received his B.A., summa cum laude, (History and English) from the State University of New York College at Oswego.

Heidi Slegers

Legal Analyst works with contracts, real estate transactions, intellectual property and copyright, data practices, and other areas.

A graduate of Minnesota State University, Moorhead with a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Assistant, Heidi has paralegal experience in various legal areas for governmental agencies.

Amanda Bohnhoff

Legal Analyst

Liz Hegman

Legal Analyst

We are always looking for comments, suggestions and tips. If you have questions or comments, feel free to call 651-201-1676 or e-mail Amanda.Bohnhoff@minnstate.edu.

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