CHICAGO, June 11, 2025—Michael E. Powers has joined Duane Morris LLP as a higher education compliance and policy advisor, working within the firm’s Education Industry Group. In this newly created position, Powers will assist firm clients, including postsecondary institutions, investors and education service providers, in navigating complex regulatory and compliance issues under Title IV of the Higher Education Act and Department regulations, institutional accreditor standards and state licensing agency laws and regulations. Powers will also support the firm’s education policy initiatives, including analysis of and advocacy on federal rulemaking and legislative proposals.
Prior to joining Duane Morris, Powers served as a case manager for the Multi-Region and Foreign Schools Participation Division of the U.S. Education Department’s Federal Student Aid’s School Eligibility and Oversight Service Group. In that role, he was responsible for oversight of publicly traded companies owning participating schools and large school groups, as well as foreign schools that participate in Title IV programs. Additionally, he led the Department’s national change of ownership working group across all divisions and provided in-depth subject matter knowledge of regulations, policy, procedures and Department systems. Prior to that, he worked for the Chicago/Denver School Participation Division, which is one of the two school participation sections remaining after the Department’s recent restructuring and reduction in force. Powers is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago (M.S., accounting) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (B.S., civil engineering).
“Mike brings not only deep technical understanding of Title IV protocols, but also direct experience administering the compliance and approval processes within the Department that our clients routinely face,” said Tony Guida, Duane Morris partner and team lead for the firm’s Education Industry Group. “Along with experience in ownership transitions, recertifications and accreditor or state licensure changes, he is intimately familiar with the government’s internal decision-making processes, risk assessment methodologies and documentation standards. This background will help our clients identify red flags, interpret departmental feedback and align institutional practices with regulatory expectations. Mike’s insights will be equally valuable in transactional contexts.”
About the Duane Morris Higher Education Group
Duane Morris’ Higher Education Group offers comprehensive legal services to educational institutions and the companies that serve them, focusing on regulatory compliance, accreditation, policy advocacy and crisis management, supported by a team with extensive industry and governmental experience. The group Duane Morris Higher Education Group is ranked by Chambers USA nationwide and its Education Practice is recognized by Legal 500.
About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP provides innovative solutions to today’s multifaceted legal and business challenges through the collegial and collaborative culture of its more than 900 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm represents a broad array of clients, spanning all major practices and industries. Duane Morris has been recognized by BTI Consulting as both a client service leader and a highly recommended law firm.