Jennifer D. Chrisohon

Jennifer D. Chrisohon

Senior Associate General Counsel

Employment and Transactional

Jennifer Chrisohon is a Senior Associate General Counsel. She began her career at Appalachian in July 2013 as the Assistant General Counsel. Prior to joining the Office of General Counsel, Jennifer served as the Deputy General Counsel to the North Carolina Department of Labor for over 8 years. In this role, Jennifer provided legal advice on personnel issues, federal and state wage and hour laws, State contracts, occupational safety and health and other regulatory areas such as boilers and elevators. Jennifer began her legal career at the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office in the Education Section representing the State institutions of higher education in litigation matters. Jennifer is also a trained mediator and has provided mediation services as a Lead Mediator to the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources and in the Wake County courts.

EXPERIENCE

Education

University of Tennessee College of Law, Juris Doctor 2003
East Tennessee State University, Bachelor of Science Political Science 1999

Bar Admissions

North Carolina

Professional Affiliations

North Carolina Bar
North Carolina Bar Association
Watauga County Bar Association
National Association of College and University Attorneys

Practice Groups

Higher Education
Labor and Employment
Laboratory School
Real Property
Sponsored Research
Transactional
Utility and Energy

Meghan Wills

Assistant General Counsel

Meghan started as Assistant General Counsel for Appalachian State University in
August of 2021. Her primary areas of practice for the University are Public Records
Requests, Policy, and advising the University’s Academy at Middle Fork. She came from
the Watauga County District Attorney’s Office where she served as Assistant District
Attorney. Prior to the District Attorney’s Office, Meghan worked in private practice. She
has worked on a variety of matters including litigation, personal injury, and contract
disputes. Meghan received her Bachelor of Arts from Bridgewater College in 2013, and
her Juris Doctor from the Elon University School of Law in 2015. She is very active in the
Watauga County Bar Association, serving as Treasurer, and enjoys family adventures
with her husband and two children.

EXPERIENCE

Education

Elon University School of Law, Juris Doctor
Bridgewater College, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Bar Admissions

North Carolina

Professional Affiliations

North Carolina State Bar
35th Judicial District Bar
Watauga County Bar Association

Practice Groups

Higher Education
Public Records
Laboratory School
Litigation
Student Affairs
Athletics
Transactional

Grace Wagner

Grace Wagner

Paralegal

Grace is originally from Charlotte, NC and moved to Boone, NC to pursue her education. Grace graduated from Appalachian State University in 2022 with her undergraduate degree and her master’s from App State in 2024. She began her work as a paralegal in criminal and civil defense law in the High Country. Grace Wagner began working as a Paralegal in the Office of General Counsel in November 2023. Grace is an active alumnus and App State football fan.

EXPERIENCE

Education

Appalachian State University, 2022 BS of International Criminal Justice
Appalachian State University, 2024 Master of Public Administration, Administration of Justice

Emily Cornett

Executive Assistant

Having worked at Appalachian State University for the past four years, Emily made the switch to the Office of General Counsel in April of 2022. Before joining the Appalachian State family, she had focused her career on Child Development, working with many early learning centers within her community. Emily spends much time involved in youth sports as her two sons play soccer, basketball, and baseball. She is honored to be able to serve Appalachian State.

Hunter Swayngim

Administrative Assistant

Hunter Swayngim began working at Appalachian State University for the Office of General Counsel in June 2024. While attending UNC Charlotte, he worked as a Student Assistant until graduating in 2019. In October 2020 he began working with Political Science and Public Administration as the Undergraduate Administrative Associate and in July 2022 he took on the Administrative Assistant position in the International Student and Scholar Office.

Hunter is from Mills River, North Carolina and grew up on a small farm deep in the Appalachian Mountains. There he built a trebuchet to launch leftover pumpkins for his senior project in high school. While in Charlotte he spent several years challenging corporate landlord practices, policies, and HOA restrictions on behalf of renters in low-income and starter home areas. In his free time he enjoys gardening, small plot farming, winemaking, and spending time with his fiancée and new puppy.