With a background in sex crimes prosecution and Title IX investigations, Rebecca Leitman Veidlinger provides Title IX compliance consulting, investigative services and sexual misconduct prevention training to educational institutions nationwide.
Raised in Bloomfield Hills, Veidlinger left the state in 1988 for college. She lived in Montreal, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Bloomington, Ind., before returning to Michigan in 2013 because of her husband’s employment at the University of Michigan. While she now travels extensively for her work, she is always happy to come home to Ann Arbor, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.
In addition to serving as a prosecutor for eight years, Veidlinger has worked for large and small law firms, and began her legal career as a federal judicial clerk for the Hon. Harold H. Greene of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She received a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.), a master’s degree from the George Washington University, and a B.A. from McGill University.
By Jo Mathis
Legal News
Why did you go into law? I was inspired by Faye Wattleton (first African American, youngest president elected to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and first woman since Margaret Sanger to hold the position), and I had a fantasy of becoming the president of Planned Parenthood. For some odd reason, I thought law school would get me there.
When you were considering law school, what was Plan B? I am not someone who makes alternative plans. This ended up being a problem when I was not offered the presidency of Planned Parenthood upon my graduation from law school.
Proudest moment as an attorney? From my time as a sex crimes prosecutor: Following a particularly grueling week-long trial, a multi-count guilty verdict in a child molesting case involving a step-father who had sexually abused his step-daughter from the age of 12 to 16.
What was always written on your grade school report card? That I was too social and talked too much.
What is your happiest childhood memory? Laughing my head off, goofing around, and playing jacks with my cabin mates during summers at Camp Walden.
What would surprise people about your job? Most people—when they find out that I investigate school and campus sexual misconduct—say that my work must be depressing and draining. While the work is difficult, it also has great aspects. I love traveling to universities across the country and seeing the different campus cultures. I love interacting with college students, and I love the energy in higher education communities.
What is your most typical mood? Excited about the future. I have an optimistic nature and I always have zany ideas and (probably) unrealistic plans swimming in my head.
If you could have witnessed any event in history, what would it be? The Constitutional Convention of 1787. I am fascinated by the minds that thought up our system of government.
What were you doing in your last selfie? Squinting in the sun and feeling both tired and exhilarated at Machu Picchu after hiking on the Inca Trail.
What do you wish someone would invent? A product that actually tames frizzy hair.
Who is on your guest list for the ideal dinner party? Lots of interesting people to consider, but I know for sure the list would include Alexander Hamilton, my current obsession.
What question do you most often ask yourself? Why did I come into this room? What was I getting?
If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would that be? Jay-Z, because then I would get to spend the day with Beyoncé.
Favorite local hangouts: Jolly Pumpkin in Ann Arbor, and, to balance that out, Orangetheory exercise studio.
What is your most treasured material possession? Probably the rings I had made from gemstones from my grandma’s jewelry. She had a lot of costume jewelry in addition to the good stuff. I have great memories of going to her home and getting dressed up in her costume jewelry.
What is one thing you would like to learn to do? Sing, dance and act in a Broadway musical. Currently I fantasize about playing Angelica Schuyler in “Hamilton.”
What is something most people don’t know about you? My undergraduate major was film.
What is the best advice you ever received? “You got this, girl.”
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