Derek DeBobes, J.D.
Director of Title IX and Equal Opportunity (Title IX Coordinator, 504 Coordinator)
Phone: 508-793-3336
Office: Hogan 506
Email: ddebobes@holycross.edu
Derek assumed leadership of the Office of Title IX and Equal Opportunity in March 2020. Having spent the previous decade in equal opportunity and Title IX compliance-based roles at Brown University as the Assistant Vice President of Institutional Equity and Diversity, at Bridgewater State University as the Director of Title IX and Equal Opportunity/Title IX Coordinator, and at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy as the Equal Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, he brings a wealth of experience in civil rights law in the education and employment context. His background includes expertise in conducting and overseeing discrimination/harassment/sexual misconduct investigations, developing and implementing policies, and administering comprehensive training and prevention education programs in institutions of higher education. Derek views the law as a tool to promote and enforce justice, equity, access and belonging. He has also previously served as a part-time instructor in the Department of Sociology at Bridgewater State University.
Derek earned his B.A. in psychology and sociology with a concentration in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his J.D. degree from New England Law Boston. Prior to law school, Derek worked for several years in human resources.
Abigail Avoryie
Associate Director of Investigations / Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Phone: 508-793-3373
Office: Hogan 506B
Email: aavoryie@holycross.edu
Abby joined the office of Title IX and Equal Opportunity in November 2023. Prior to joining the Holy Cross Community she worked as an Assistant Attorney General and Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division of the Department of Justice in the Federated States of Micronesia. Prior to her time in Micronesia, Abby was an investigator at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, where she investigated discrimination claims under state and federal laws. With over seven years of experience conducting investigations and mediations, Abby utilizes a trauma-informed approach to ensure respect and consideration for all parties.
Abby is a proud alumna of Mount Holyoke College, where she received her bachelor of arts in Cultural Anthropology and International Relations. She received her Juris Doctor from Case Western University School of Law and is admitted to practice law in New York.
Jillian Kelley
Assistant Director of Prevention and Education
Phone: 508-793-3338
Office: Hogan 522
Email: jckelley@holycross.edu
Jill joined the Office of Title IX and Equal Opportunity in March 2021, having come from Dean College as the sexual violence prevention and education coordinator. In addition to her time at Dean, Jillian also worked in residence life at American International College where she focused her efforts on building a community where students could feel safe and find a sense of belonging. Jill is a passionate educator who uses an intersectional lens and takes a trauma-informed approach to all that she does. She earned her B.A. from Springfield College and her M.Ed. from Merrimack College.
Gregory Dass
Investigator
Phone: 508-793-3535
Office: Hogan 511
Email: gdass@holycross.edu
Greg joined the Title IX and Equal Opportunity Office in December 2022 having come from the private sector, conducting national security clearance investigations for both federal and corporate entities for nearly five years. Interviewing clearance candidates, references, and reviewing evidence pertinent to making adjudication decisions prepared Greg for the thorough and even-handed investigations conducted by the Title IX/EO office at Holy Cross. In addition to this history, Greg also worked for several years with families and their children dealing with aberrant behaviors and mental health concerns in and around the Worcester area. Greg graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology.