Published on: July 15, 2025
A 25th Anniversary Reflection by Saundra K. Schuster, J.D., M.S.
Before joining TNG as a Partner in 2008, I spent 15 years as a university administrator. I made the decision to follow my professional interest and enrolled in law school. Following graduation, I served as the Senior Assistant Attorney General for the State of Ohio, overseeing its 53 public colleges and universities, as well as its K-12 districts. Subsequently, I served as the General Counsel at a large urban community college. I brought to TNG not just hands-on education and leadership experience, but also legal expertise, and a deep sense of commitment to the people and purpose that define TNG.
Since my career began in the 1980s, I’ve witnessed significant transformations in education law, student safety, and institutional culture. I had a front-row seat for the implementation of civil rights laws at a time when schools had little case law to guide them. Early Title IX issues, such as sexual misconduct, were often misclassified as student conduct concerns rather than addressed under the framework of a federal discrimination law (Title IX). The awareness of the need to address sex-based harassment and misconduct as forms of federally prohibited discrimination shifted with the 2011 Department of Education Title IX Dear Colleague Letter, which highlighted compliance gaps and response requirements to substantially redefine how institutions approached such cases.
These developments also highlighted a broader issue. In those early years, education law often created silos, with lawyers managing legal compliance while student affairs professionals, administrators, or HR officers managed operational matters. Meanwhile, the growing prevalence of school shootings reshaped institutional priorities as well, prompting a greater focus on safety, comprehensive protocols, and cross-departmental collaboration.
It was within this shifting landscape that the potential for collaboration and holistic strategies became increasingly apparent. When I began working with my (now) partners Brett A. Sokolow, J.D., and W. Scott Lewis, J.D., in 2000, we focused on two key areas: victim’s rights and sexual assault training, which became the foundation of ATIXA; and the Risk Rubric, which formed the basis for NABITA. Over time, these entities have evolved to serve thousands of members. Although the focus for each one is distinct and grounded in different laws and research, the work of each continues to overlap as schools and colleges address the broad spectrum of interpersonal violence, student safety, and institutional accountability.
A Think Tank Designed with Respect and Rigor
One of the things I value most at TNG is our culture of thought leadership. We are rigorous. We challenge assumptions, applications of the law, and each other’s analyses until we know we’ve gotten it right. And we do it all with respect and love. I can’t count the number of spirited legal debates I’ve had over dinner with colleagues that make our work sharper. These debates can be intense, passionate, and even personal. Yet, we conclude by affirming, “We may have gone head-to-head, and I may have hurt your feelings, but my care for you supersedes that.”
At TNG, we expect brilliance. We arrive prepared, and we leave more informed, more intelligent, and better equipped to deliver exceptional results. Take, for example, the language we crafted for our ATIXA Playbook on defining sexual assault; it remains an ongoing conversation. Every policy or training we have received has been through multiple layers of vetting. Nothing leaves our hands without being tested from every angle, and we continually revisit and evolve our work product, never resting on our laurels.
Client Trust Built Over Decades
This unwavering commitment to quality naturally fosters deep trust. For example, I’ve worked with Whitman College since 2008, a relationship that has endured through four presidential administrations. I receive calls outside of business hours, and I always answer them. Because that’s what our relationships are built on: purpose, policy, and people. Those values aren’t negotiable.
Looking Ahead with Integrity
I don’t pretend to know what the future holds. However, I am confident that we will continue to deliver our best, guided by our strong values. We won’t compromise on who we are or what we believe in. That’s the promise I’ve made to myself, to my colleagues, and to every client we serve.
One example of this principle in action is our work as expert witnesses. When we first took on that role, we chose to focus exclusively on cases supporting institutions. This approach aligned with our role as consultants to the field. However, Brett, Scott, and I had a pivotal conversation about staying true to our mission and principles. We asked ourselves: “Should we restrict our work to cases representing institutions, or be open to cases brought against them?”
After careful consideration, we decided to accept cases against institutions, provided there is no conflict of interest with our clients, and our opinions maintain our standards of integrity. This includes speaking candidly to industry norms and addressing the standard of care in a way that reflects the TNG philosophy. This decision reaffirmed our commitment to leading with principle over profit and to upholding the values that define our work.
TNG is committed to raising the bar in risk management, compliance, and safety within the educational sector for the next 25 years. Thank you for placing your trust in us, as clients, members, trainees, and attendees.
Join us in shaping the next 25 years of safer, stronger education. Learn more at www.tngconsulting.com.