Tamla Lewis, associate general counsel for Penn State, has been named the University’s interim athletics integrity officer, effective immediately. Lewis replaces Bob Boland, who served as the University’s athletics integrity officer from 2017 until stepping down from that role in March. 

In her role as associate general counsel, Lewis concentrates on matters relating to student affairs and student conduct, discrimination issues and Title IX, the federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs receiving federal financial assistance. Prior to joining the Office of General Counsel, Tamla served for three years as associate dean for administration, compliance and special initiatives for the University of Arkansas School of Law. She also previously served for ten years as an associate general counsel with the Office of General Counsel for the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where was lead attorney on matters involving Title IX, student affairs and campus safety, including compliance with federal Clery Act requirements, with significant experience related to intercollegiate athletics.

Lewis is a frequent presenter in legal education seminars on the topics of Title IX compliance, employment law, student social media, transgender student and employee issues and general issues in higher education.

As athletics integrity officer, Lewis will be responsible for overseeing and implementing the University’s athletics integrity program, which is designed to promote compliance with the NCAA’s and Big Ten Conference’s standards of integrity for member institutions. During her term as interim athletics integrity officer, Lewis will continue to report to Penn State Vice President and General Counsel Stephen Dunham, and will work closely with Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Tabitha Oman and the senior leadership of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Lewis received a doctoral degree in law from the University of Arkansas School of Law and a master's degree in workforce development education from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. She is also a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, with a bachelor's degree in English.