Experienced law school administrator and innovation leader, Joy Baker Peacock, rejoins Santa Clara Law as the Managing Director of the Privacy Law Initiative and Interim Managing Director of the High Tech Law Institute.
The new Privacy Law Initiative was created through a generous gift to increase the privacy law program at Santa Clara University, which already is classed among the top 5 percent of programs in the nation by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). As the new leader of the initiative, Peacock will have a tremendous opportunity to help shape the direction of Santa Clara Law’s privacy curriculum and programming, including non-JD degrees or new certificate offerings.
Peacock will join recently appointed Privacy Tech & Law Fellow & Adjunct Professor, Lourdes M. Turrecha, in expanding the Privacy Law Initiative team. Turrecha is a privacy tech advisor, lawyer, strategist, and founder of The Rise of Privacy Tech. Her fellowship focuses research and writing on the rise of privacy technologies, data ownership, privacy engineering, data ethics, and consumer empowerment over their personal data. She is currently the host of Santa Clara Law’s “Let’s Talk Privacy and Technology” speaker series which features prominent experts, founders, practitioners, and academics in the intersection of privacy and technology.
Peacock directed Santa Clara Law’s High Tech Law Institute (HTLI) from 2011 to 2015, where she helped to develop and implement Santa Clara Law’s first-of-its-kind privacy law certificate program, as well as other innovative legal programs such as the Entrepreneur’s Law Clinic. She also developed revenue-generating and fundraising programs.
“I still can’t believe our good fortune that Joy agreed to rejoin our team,” said Professor Eric Goldman, supervisor of the Privacy Law Certificate and Co-Director of the High Tech Law Institute. “Joy has a track record of producing extraordinary results, and I’m excited to see what she will be able to achieve with our privacy program.”
“The HTLI will be in good hands, as Joy is obviously highly qualified to resume her role as Managing Director,” said Professor Laura Norris, Co-Director of the High Tech Law Institute, and Director of the Entrepreneurs’ Law Clinic and Tech Edge JD.
Peacock brings a wealth of experience in law, legal education, and the innovation economy. She practiced law in-house for Wells Fargo Bank as a litigator and product counsel, and at Trucker Huss APC where she specialized in advising corporate clients in tax and ERISA. Peacock also served as the first Outreach Officer for the Silicon Valley United States Patent and Trademark Office. Most recently, Peacock served as BNY Mellon’s Silicon Valley Innovation Center Director of Engagement and Interim Head, developing the company’s corporate innovation strategic plan and scouting for new technologies and partnerships in Silicon Valley.
“I’m thrilled to be back at Santa Clara Law working with the large and active community interested in privacy. Privacy laws are proliferating, and there is a huge demand for well-trained privacy professionals that understand the needs of the business community and consumers. Santa Clara Law has already established itself as a leader in privacy education and I look forward to expanding on that success through new program development that can be uniquely delivered by Santa Clara Law. I also look forward to helping HTLI remain one of the premier technology law and intellectual property programs in the country, in large part due to innovative programs like the Tech Edge JD
Peacock earned her JD and LLM in taxation from Golden Gate University School of Law, and her BA from University of California, Irvine. She is a member of the State Bar of California and the IAPP. She was named a Silicon Valley Woman of Influence by the San Jose Business Journal in 2018, is co-founder and Leadership Council member of Girls @ The Tech at The Tech Interactive, and former President of the Junior League of Palo Alto Mid Peninsula.
