St. Thomas University (STU) has hired Monica Cruz to serve as Compliance Manager and Title IX Coordinator. Cruz has more than 10 years of experience in higher education in the areas of compliance, academics, sexual harassment and misconduct prevention, gender-based discrimination, and student conduct and judicial affairs.
In her new role, Cruz will be responsible for managing STU’s comprehensive campus ethics and compliance program, ensuring the campus meets its legal obligations under Title IX, the ADA, state and federal discrimination and affirmative action laws, the Clery Act, privacy laws and retaliation policies. In partnership with other offices at STU, Monica will manage the University’s response to Title IX reports and oversee investigations by providing training to the campus community and supporting all STU community members as they consider their resources and options.
Prior to joining STU, Cruz served as the Compliance Specialist and Title IX Investigator at Lynn University, where she was responsible for the development of compliance and Title IX-related trainings, services, education and outreach for students and faculty as well as the primary investigator for Title IX. Cruz previously held the role of Associate Dean for the Legal Studies Program at Keiser University’s Fort Lauderdale Campus from 2015-2017.
Cruz holds a Juris Doctor from Whittier Law School and earned a Masters in Liberal Studies and Bachelors in Political Science from the University of Miami.
