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Mark Van Zandt joined the Office of the General Counsel in January, 2015.  Before joining the office, Van Zandt served as General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for 20 years.  He provides advice in the areas of student and academic affairs, student life, including student organizations, student record and privacy issues, and student and faculty disciplinary issues.

Van Zandt entered the practice of law as an associate with the firm of Lisle and Watkins in Springdale, Arkansas.  Returning to Missouri to begin graduate work, he held research appointments with the Vice Chancellor for Student Personnel and Auxiliary Services at the University of Missouri and with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education.  Prior to his appointment as General Counsel, Van Zandt served as DESE’s chief advisor on federal and state disability law and as special advisor to the Commissioner of Education on legislative issues.

Van Zandt graduated with a B.A. (with Honors), M.A. in Economics (with a focus in labor and industrial relations) and a J.D. from the University of Arkansas.    He received his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri in area of Higher and Adult Education.