Denise Morelli

Denise Morelli has over 30 years of federal education law experience with the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Education. She worked extensively on higher education issues, representing the Department of Education in federal and administrative litigation to enforce compliance with Title IV of the Higher Education Act and its implementing regulations.

Denise worked directly with Federal Student Aid program teams assisting staff with analyzing and resolving issues related to institutional and student Title IV eligibility, administrative capability and financial responsibility standards, cash management requirements, heightened cash monitoring method of payment, transactional matters, misrepresentation, loan discharges, and 90/10 compliance.

Denise also led program review teams to investigate fraud allegations against institutes of higher education and assisted with False Claims Act cases. She prepared final program review determinations, audit determinations, denial and recertification letters, and emergency action and termination actions, litigating hundreds of cases before the Department’s Office of Hearings and Appeals and in federal court.

In addition, Denise has substantial experience with legislative, regulatory, policy, and guidance development on all Title IV matters, and helped launch the Department’s Title IV Third-Party Servicer Oversight team. Her expertise is nationally recognized.

Denise also has experience in the K–12 grants space, advising on Impact Aid compliance, equitable funding for federally impacted districts, and complex equalization calculations.

Prior to her tenure at the Department, Denise served as appellate counsel at the Federal Labor Relations Authority, arguing public labor law cases before multiple circuit courts.