Dan Zibel

Vice President & Chief Counsel @National Student Legal Defense Network

Washington, DC, US

A co-founder, and currently serves as Vice President and Chief Counsel, of Student Defense, a national non-profit organization that works, through litigation and advocacy, to advance students\' rights to educational opportunity and to ensure that higher education provides a launching point for economic mobility.Oversees legal, litigation, and advocacy program surrounding issues of issues of higher education, civil rights, artificial intelligence, student debt, consumer protection, and government transparency. Supports other aspects of the organization. In addition, Dan maintains an active caseload, including:* Successfully represented an Illinois borrower before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit appealing a district court decision finding state consumer protection claims against a student loan servicer preempted by the Higher Education Act. Drafted briefs and presented oral argument on appeal. Nelson v. Great Lakes Education Loan Services, Inc, 928 F.3d 639 (7th Cir. 2019).* Successfully represented student loan borrowers in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit which overturned a district court ruling that the Higher Education Act preempts state law claims regarding misrepresentations made by a loan servicer regarding Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Lawson-Ross v. Great Lakes Higher Education Corp, 955 F.3d. 908 (11th Cir. 2020).* Successfully represented students and organizations suing the U.S. Department of Education regarding regulations governing online education programs.

Haverford College

BA, Political Science

University of Michigan Law School

Doctor of Law (JD)