Megan Barnett joined the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost in June 2020 as Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives. She assists and advises the provost and other university leaders on academic and strategic initiatives and other special projects. She partners with the Vice President for Research on initiatives to support and enhance research across the University.

Prior to returning to Virginia, Megan worked in the Office of the Provost at Yale University from 2015–2020, first as Associate Provost and Chief of Staff, and then as Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives. She participated in all planning functions of the university, including budget, space, and people. She worked with the provost and other university leaders on strategic planning, academic priorities, and special projects. 

From 2002–2015, Megan was a senior advisor to the dean of Yale Law School and worked in a variety of associate dean roles with responsibilities including academic affairs, faculty governance, graduate programs, international programs, finance and administration, public service, and admissions and financial aid. 

Before joining Yale, Megan was an associate at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, where she specialized in advising high-tech clients on intellectual property litigation and licenses. Megan also served as a law clerk to the Honorable R. Lanier Anderson III on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and as a financial analyst at Solomon Brothers. She received her B.A. from the University of Virginia and her J.D. from Yale Law School.