Crawford H. Cleveland III

Crawford Cleveland clevelandch@appstate.edu

Crawford H. Cleveland III

Senior Associate General Counsel

Regulatory and Litigation

Crawford serves as Senior Associate General Counsel for Appalachian State University. He joined the Office of General Counsel in April of 2019. His legal practice areas include litigation, regulatory compliance, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, utility law for New River Light & Power, first amendment law, and public record requests. Prior to joining the University, he was a partner with di Santi, Watson, Capua, Wilson & Garrett, PLLC. He has experience in general civil litigation and has served as a County Attorney for Watauga County. In addition, he also has in-house counsel experience with a large construction company in Louisiana from his time in New Orleans.

He is active within the North Carolina State Bar and the local bar. The State Bar Council appointed him to a second three-year term in 2023 to serve on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina State Bar Lawyer Assistance Program. In October of 2020, he was elected President of the 35th Judicial District Bar covering a five-county area (Watauga, Avery, Yancey, Madison, Mitchell) for the 2021-2022 term. At the local level, Crawford has served as President of the Watauga County Bar Association in 2019 and 2024 and has been a member of the Executive Committee for the past five years. He particularly enjoys his engagement with attorneys in the community and helps organize Continuing Legal Education events for the local bar.

In the High Country, Crawford has served on boards and in leadership positions both in Boone and Blowing Rock. When he is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Brynn, and their two boys. They like to hike trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway and ski together during the winter season.

EXPERIENCE

Education

The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee – B.A. English
Charlotte School of Law, North Carolina – Juris Doctor

Bar Admissions

North Carolina

Memberships

North Carolina State Bar
North Carolina State Bar Association
35th Judicial District Bar, President 2021-2022
Watauga County Bar Association, President 2019, 2024
National Association of College and University Attorneys
University of North Carolina System Attorneys Group
UNC Executive Leadership Institute, Class of 2024

University Committees

Emergency Management Task Force
Real Estate Committee
Occupational Safety and Health Committee
Campus Climate Support Committee

Community Service

North Carolina State Bar Lawyer Assistance Program, Board of Directors 2020-2026
North Carolina Lawyer Assistance Program Foundation, Board of Directors 2020-2026
National Ski Patrol, Alpine Patroller at Appalachian Ski Mountain
St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church, Blowing Rock, Vestry 2018-2020
Watauga County Children’s Council, Board of Directors 2016-2019
Boone Sunrise Rotary 2016-2018

Practice Groups

Higher Education
Litigation
Real Property
Student Affairs
Academic Affairs
Transactional
Utility and Energy

Sarah Rupp

Associate General Counsel

Real Property

Sarah joined the Office of General Counsel in 2022. Her primary area of practice for the University is real estate. Prior to joining the General Counsel’s Office, Sarah was in private practice in Boone where she focused primarily on real estate transactions. She spent the beginning of her career in Washington, D.C., working in commercial real estate, including purchase and sale, leasing, and financing transactions. Sarah graduated from Cornell University and Duke University School of Law. When not in the office, she enjoys spending time outside with her husband and three children.

EXPERIENCE

Education

Cornell University
Duke University, Juris Doctor

Bar Admissions

North Carolina

Professional Affiliations

North Carolina State Bar
North Carolina State Bar Association
35th Judicial District Bar
Watauga County Bar Association
National Association of College and University Attorneys
University of North Carolina System Attorneys Group

Practice Groups

Real Property
Transactional
Utility and Energy

Melissa Blocker

Director of Legal and Compliance Operations

Melissa Blocker began working as a Paralegal in the Office of General Counsel in March 2020 and began serving as Director of Legal and Compliance Operations in 2022. Melissa currently serves as the Ethics Liaison between Appalachian and the North Carolina State Ethics Commission. Before joining Appalachian State, she worked in a criminal defense law firm, assisting with numerous and various types of criminal matters. Melissa has worked in several facets of the legal field, including as a Mediator, certified by the Dispute Resolution Commission of North Carolina, wherein she successfully mediated many cases involving domestic, juvenile, civil, and criminal law issues. Melissa also served as Program Coordinator in the 24th Judicial District of North Carolina, for the Sentencing Services Program, which is organized under the Office of Indigent Defense Services of North Carolina, wherein she developed and helped implement many incarceration diversion plan(s) and other sentencing and rehabilitation options. Melissa received her undergraduate degree from Appalachian State (Bachelor of Science in Political Science, magna cum laude) and her Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Technology from Caldwell Community College. She is a member of the North Carolina State Bar Association Paralegal and criminal law sections. Melissa is involved in the community with school sports programs, particularly basketball with her son and husband. She loves to camp (or glamp in an RV) with her family, attend Appalachian Basketball games, and is proud to be a part of the Appalachian community.

EXPERIENCE

Education

Appalachian State University, Bachelor of Science in Political Science (magna cum laude), 2000
Caldwell Community College, Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Technology, 1998

Professional Affiliations

NC Bar Association Paralegal and criminal law sections
Association of College and University Policy Administrators
National Association of College and University Business Officers
Corporate Legal Operations Consortium

Practice Groups

Higher Education
Litigation (eDiscovery, Torts, Workers’ Compensation)
Real Property
Transactional
University Governance

Wendy Hildebran

Senior Paralegal

Wendy Hildebran began working as a Paralegal in the Office of General Counsel in July of 2021 and began serving as the Senior Paralegal in 2022. Wendy graduated from North Carolina State University and Meredith College. She began her career working as a paralegal for the law firm of Wheatly, Wheatly, Nobles Weeks, PA in Beaufort, NC, where she supported the attorney for the Town of Beaufort and Carteret County. She relocated to Greensboro, NC, where she worked as a paralegal to the Vice-President and General Counsel of General Dynamics Advanced Technology Systems, Inc. She and her husband, Scott, live in Lenoir with their two cats.

EXPERIENCE

Education

North Carolina State University, Bachelor of Science in Political Science, 1992
Meredith College, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies, 1994

Professional Affiliations

NC Bar Association Paralegal and Education law sections

Practice Groups

Litigation (eDiscovery, Torts, Workers’ Compensation)
Real Property
Transactional
University Governance

Emily Cornett

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.