Eugene R. Milhizer, President, Dean and Professor of Law
As an Army Judge Advocate, Dean Milhizer participated in hundreds of appeals, tried scores of criminal cases, and held multiple leadership positions. Additionally, for three years he held a teaching appointment at the Judge Advocate General’s School at the University of Virginia. In 2001, he joined the Ave Maria faculty. Dean Milhizer’s course offerings include Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law, National Security Law, and Military Law. He has given presentations at law schools across the country and his legal scholarship has been published in many prestigious law journals. In May 2006, he was appointed Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and in April 2009, he was appointed Interim and then Acting Dean of the Law School. Dean Milhizer holds a Bachelor of Arts with high distinction and Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Laws as the first honor graduate from the Judge Advocate General’s School.

Kaye A. Castro, Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Dean Castro brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education administration to Student Affairs. Immediately before joining Ave Maria, she served as the Registrar at the University of Michigan Law School. She has also served as Administrative Associate in Transportation Services at the University of Michigan and as Assistant Director of Purchasing at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida. Dean Castro holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University.

Dr. C. William Colburn, Major Gift Officer and Consultant
Dr. Colburn has a depth of experience in higher education at a number of colleges and universities. In addition to serving as Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Ave Maria University during its initial development in Naples, Florida, he served as Director of Alumni Relations at the University of Connecticut Alumni Association. Dr. Colburn also has held multiple administrative leadership positions at the University of Michigan. Before his service as an administrator, he taught at the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts as well as the School of Business Administration. He has authored or co-authored textbooks and articles for professional journals, and has been active in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Dr. Colburn received his undergraduate degree from Illinois Wesleyan, a Master’s degree from Bowling Green State University, and a Ph.D. from Indiana University.

Mitchell E. Counts, Associate Dean of Library and Information Services and Associate Professor of Law
Dean Counts first joined the Ave Maria law faculty in 1999 and served as Associate Dean of Library and Information Services and Associate Professor of Law. In spring 2006 he accepted the position of Associate Dean for Library and Information Services and Associate Professor of Law at Elon University School of Law, returning to Ave Maria in May 2008. Dean Counts also has served as Director of the Law Library at Baylor University School of Law, Computer Services Librarian for the Indiana University School of Law, and as Associate Director of the Library for Mississippi College School of Law. He has taught courses in education law and legal writing and research, and he has served as a consultant and a member of a site-inspection team for the ABA. Dean Counts holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University, a J.D. from South Texas College of Law, and a Master of Library and Information Science from Indiana University.

John Knowles, Director Of External Affairs
Mr. Knowles’s background includes three years as a staff member at the Michigan State University College of Law, three years working at the top levels of state government in Michigan, and service as the Director of a major regional non-profit organization. His educational background includes a B.A. in International Relations from Western Michigan University, a J.D. from the Michigan State University College of Law, and a Fellowship Certificate in Political Leadership from Michigan State University. Mr. Knowles specializes in strategic communications, managing multifaceted public relations campaigns, and is an accomplished writer and public speaker. Mr. Knowles’ responsibilities include serving as press contact for the Law School, managing development of the Law School’s publications, and editing the Advocate - the Law School’s periodical magazine.

Monique McCarthy, Assistant Dean of Admissions
Ms. McCarthy has eight years of cumulative law school admissions, communications, and student services experience. Prior to joining the Law School, she served as the Assistant Director of Admissions and Recruiting at the University of St. Thomas School of Law-Minneapolis, where she was responsible for all recruiting activities, counseling, and enrollment of students. She is a leader in the Law School Diversity Professionals, a national organization of law school staff members. Ms. McCarthy is the recipient of the University of St. Thomas School of Law’s Black Law Students Association Faculty/Staff Member of the Year Award in 2009. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Communications from Cleveland State University, a Master of Public Administration from Cleveland State University, Levin College of Urban Affairs, and a Juris Doctor from Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

Ian Northon, Deputy Director of Development
Mr. Northon began his legal career with the Detroit firm of Butzel Long, where he focused his practice in the area of employee benefits, employment litigation, and traditional labor. In 2007, he joined the firm of Reed Smith in Pittsburgh. Mr. Northon earned a B.S. from Hillsdale College and a J.D. from Ave Maria School of Law. During his time at Ave Maria, he received the St. Thomas More Scholarship, served as Moot Court Board President, was a member of the State of Michigan Moot Court Championship team, and was a regular honoree of the Dean’s List. Mr. Northon is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Federal Bar Association, the Catholic Lawyer's Society and the Federalist Society

Father Michael P. Orsi, Chaplain and Research Fellow in Law & Religion
Father Orsi was ordained for the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey. He has authored or co-authored four books and more than 100 articles in 15 journals. He has served as Assistant Chancellor, Assistant Vicar for Pastoral Services, Director of Family Life Bureau, a coordinator of Pope John Paul II‘s visit to New Jersey, a member of The Institute for Genomic Research at the University of Pennsylvania, and a member of New Jersey‘s Advisory Council on AIDS. Father Orsi holds a Bachelor of Arts from Cathedral College, a Master of Arts and a Master of Divinity from St. Charles Seminary, and a Master of Science and a Doctorate in Education from Fordham University.

Patrick Quirk, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor
Dean Quirk earned his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Queensland (Australia) and a Master of Laws from the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Germany. Dean Quirk began his legal career clerking for a Deputy President in the tax division of the Australian Administrative Appeals Tribunal and later went on to practice in the commercial division of a major law firm in Sydney. He taught at Bond University Faculty of Law in Queensland, and at the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law, before joining the faculty at Ave Maria School of Law. Dean Quirk has an ongoing interest in skills training and co-convened the international finals of the Louis M. Brown International Client Counseling Competition. In 2001, he and Professor Jay Forder edited one of the world's first e-commerce textbooks for John Wiley & Sons and developed a number of courses in this area. In addition to his responsibilities as Associate Dean of the Law School, Dean Quirk teaches Internet Commerce, European Union Law, International Business, and Secured Transactions.

Victoria Ryan, Director of Career Services
Ms. Ryan has been an attorney for over 20 years. Prior to joining the staff at Ave Maria in January of 2006, she was a litigation associate with a Detroit law firm, served as house counsel for an insurance company and was a sole practitioner who specialized in probate and estate planning. Ms. Ryan earned her J.D. at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and holds a B.A. in Political Science from Indiana University. Previously, Ms. Ryan served as the Career Counselor and also took on the role of Public Interest Coordinator. As Director of Career Services, Ms. Ryan is responsible for designing and implementing the school's employment related services for students and alumni. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the National Association for Law Placement.

Virginia Traver, Director of Finance and Administration
As Director of Finance and Administration, Ms. Traver serves as the Law School’s chief fiscal and human resources officer. Additionally, she and her staff have responsibility for all business affairs of the school including accounting, finance, facilities, safety, security and auxiliary enterprises. Ms. Traver has seven years experience in education administration and 13 years combined experience in real estate management and construction. She earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Business Administration degree from Meredith College.