Meet Our Senior Administrators

• (239) 687-5305
• jczar@avemarialaw.edu

Dean John M. Czarnetzky is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S., 1982, Chemistry) and the University of Virginia (J.D., 1989).

Before law school, Dean Czarnetzky was an officer in the United States Army, where he served as an intelligence analyst, specializing in foreign chemical, biological and nuclear capabilities. After law school, he practiced bankruptcy and commercial law with Sidley & Austin in Chicago, and McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe in Richmond, Virginia.

Dean Czarnetzky joined the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1994, teaching courses in bankruptcy, corporate reorganizations, secured transactions, civil procedure, and business associations. At “Ole Miss,” he was the five-time winner of the “Outstanding Law School Professor,” and in 2016, he was the recipient of the Elsie M. Hood Award for the “Outstanding Professor at the University of Mississippi,” the highest honor awarded to faculty members at the University of Mississippi.

Dean Czarnetzky also serves as a legal adviser to the Holy See’s Mission to the United Nations, representing the Holy See in negotiations, including establishing the International Criminal Court and several international treaties, including one on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Dean Czarnetzky is a lay member of the Dominican Order and a third-degree Knight of Columbus.

•  (239) 687-5343
• kcastro@avemarialaw.edu

As Associate Dean for Associate Dean for Finance & Administration, Kaye Castro is responsible for many of the non-academic aspects of the operations of Ave Maria School of Law, including financial planning and budget development, accounts payable and receivable functions, risk management, maintenance of the physical campus, and supervision of the Bookstore and Café.  She also manages many of the institutional reporting functions for government, accreditation, and licensing agencies.  Her career spans almost forty years of varied experience in higher education administration and she has been with Ave Maria School of Law since it opened its doors to students in 2000.

Education

• MBA, Eastern Michigan University
• B.A., University of Michigan

• (239) 687-5390
• khgovern@avemarialaw.edu
• SSRN

Education

• • • L.L.M., 2004, International and Comparative Law, University of Notre Dame School of Law
    • L.L.M., 1995, International and Operational Law, The Judge Advocate General’s School
    • J.D., 1987, Marquette University Law School
    • B.A., 1984, History and German Major, Marquette University

Areas of Expertise

• • • International and Comparative Law, National Security, Military Law, Law and Religion, Ethics

Professional Experience

Professor Govern began his legal career as an Army Judge Advocate, serving 20 years at every echelon during peacetime and war in worldwide assignments involving every legal discipline. He has also served as an Assistant Professor of Law at the United States Military Academy and has taught at California University of Pennsylvania and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He has published widely and spoken frequently on international and comparative law, national security and homeland security, cyber security and cyber defense, military operations, law and religion, and professional ethics.

Honors and Professional Affiliations

• • • Vice-Chair Advisory Board and Volunteer, Catholic Charities of Collier County, Naples, FL (2018 – present).
    • Co-President, West Point Parents Club of Southwest Florida and Board Member, West Point Society of Naples, Naples, FL (2018 – 2019).
    • Field Force Volunteer, United States Military Academy (2018 – present).
    • Volunteer and Governance Board Member, Wounded Warriors of Collier County (2018 – present).
    • Executive Board Member, Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA (2012 – present).
    • Federalist Society Junior Scholar Recognition (2012)
    • Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) Research Grant awarded for research into Islamic attitudes towards legitimacy of international law and international agreements (2007).
    • Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society (Induction awarded for excellence in teaching and scholarship)(2007).
    • Knights of Columbus (4th Degree)(Unanimously elected Council Recorder, Trustee)(2006 – present).
    • Army Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS) (awarded full law school tuition) – Master of Laws (LLM) in International and Comparative Law (2003 – 2004).
    • Legion of Merit (Twice awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements, while serving as a Commissioned Army Officer); eighteen other individual and unit awards and other U.S. and foreign decorations (1987-2007), and Most Outstanding Legal Professional in United States Special Operations Command (Major General William Garrison Award)(awarded 2000).
    • Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity Certificates of Appreciation – Magister (1987), Assistant Province President (1993), Active Life Member (1993 – present), Province President (1994).
    • Active Licensed Real Estate Broker, State of Wisconsin (1986 – Present).
    • Member, Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States (1995 – present), and Bar of Eastern and Western Federal District Courts and Supreme Court of the State of Wisconsin (1987 – present).
    • Den Leader, Parent Volunteer, Merit Badge Counselor, Boy Scouts of America (2004 – 2015). Volunteer, Alpha House Interfaith Hospitality Shelter (2007 –2009) Habitat for Humanity (2003-2007), West Point Women’s Club Scholarship Fundraiser Events (2004-2007), and Catechism Instructor (2006-2007).
    • George C. Marshall ROTC Award (Top 1% nationwide) (1984), Distinguished Military Graduate (Top 20% nationwide) (1984), Superior Cadet Award (Top in class) (1981, 1984), Association of the U.S. Army Award (Highest accomplishment in class) (1982, 1983) Army ROTC Distinguished Military Student (Top 33% in class) (1983), Army ROTC Scholarship Award (Full university tuition) (1981-1984), American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Labor Arbitration and Collective Bargaining (1987).

Key Works

• • Publications and Research
    • Please view my research on my SSRN Author page:

    https://ssrn.com/author=895820

• 239-687-5423
• rcruz@avemarialaw.edu

Associate Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Housing, Roxanna Cruz is an accomplished, results-driven enrollment professional with over 20 years of working in higher education. Her extensive experience in developing and implementing comprehensive plans to recruit and retain talented and diverse individuals has been proven through her track record of consistently meeting and exceeding university and law school enrollment goals. Roxanna’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through her leadership is evident in her ability to not only help shape a class that is reflective of the world, but also in recruiting, developing, mentoring, and leading high-functioning diverse teams.

Dean Cruz re-entered law school admissions with her arrival at Ave Maria School in January 2023. Prior to this role, Dean Cruz held the position of Associate Vice President of Enrollment at Barry University in Miami Shores where she oversaw all undergraduate, graduate & professional enrollment. Roxanna also served as the Assistant Dean of Admissions at Barry University School of Law, Associate Director of Recruitment & Marketing at FIU Law, and as Director of Student Recruitment at Miami Law.

Dean Cruz holds a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership from St. Thomas University and a Master of Business Administration in Management at Nova Southeastern University. As a first-generation college graduate, she takes pride in her accomplishments and her professional development in enrollment management. Dean Cruz’s creativity, adaptability, innovative thinking, and passion for access to higher education has provided successful outcomes in many aspects of her work. In addition, she considers her most prominent role to date as that of wife and mother of four children.

• 239-687-5351
•  jbacker@avemarialaw.edu

Jill Backer Esq. has nearly 20 years of experience working in law school career services. Before joining Ave Maria School of Law, she was the Assistant Dean for Professional Development at Pace University School of Law and the Employer Relations person at Brooklyn Law School.  She has a proven track record of building and executing a successful employer outreach program for law schools.

Dean Backer joined Ave Maria School of Law in July 2021 jumping right in to promote Ave Maria Law and its students. Dean Backer practiced in criminal law in Chicago before moving into legal sales for several litigation companies.  She has been the National Chair for the Employer Outreach section of the National Association of Legal Placement (NALP), on the NYC Bar Associations CAMS committee and an inaugural member of the NYC Law School Anti-Racism Consortium.  She is also widely published in the National Law Journal, the New York Law Journal, Thomson Reuters and other publications.  Dean Backer is a graduate of Marquette University with a BA in Psychology and a BA in Criminology and a JD from Quinnipiac University.

• (239) 687-5501
•  librarian@avemarialaw.edu

Professor Ulysses Jaen is Director of the Law Library and Associate Professor of Law. He received his J.D. from the WVU College of Law, with a focus in the Clinical Law program; Immigration Law Clinic; and the Appalachian Law Center for Public Interest. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Fairmont State University, a Master’s in Public Administration from West Virginia University, where he served as President of SAPA (Student Association of Public Administrators), and a Master’s in Library and Information Sciences from Florida State University with a focus on Leadership. Professor Jaen has worked as an entrepreneur, business manager, and legal professional and has presented at numerous conferences and various organizations and agencies. He was the president of the Southwest Florida Library Network, the AALL Diversity Committee, and the AALL Latino caucus. Before joining the Law School, he worked for the Law Offices of Angotti & Straface from 2006 to 2009 and Hamstead, Williams & Shook from 2009 to 2012. He worked at the West Virginia University College of Law Library from 2005 to 2012 lectured on a variety of Advanced Legal Research topics and was awarded Staff Member of the year by the class of 2009 and the class of 2010. He also taught at the WVU Master in Legal Studies and the WVU Master in Public Administration Programs. Professor Jaen was a Court-appointed mediator and is a Special Advocate for abused and neglected children. He teaches Advanced Legal Research, Law Practice Technology, Practice Ready Entrepreneurship, Elder Law, and Immigration Law. He speaks Spanish fluently and is a learner of Italian, Portuguese, and German. His interests include learning science, instructional design, online education, and access to justice programs.

• 239-687-5331
• dpignato@avemarialaw.edu

• (239) 687-5345
• kshelmerdine@avemarialaw.edu

Kathleen Shelmerdine is a strategic Human Resources executive with over 25 years of diverse private, public, and consulting experience in Human Resources leadership roles. As Director, Kathleen is an advocate for the people of Ave Maria School of Law as well as the institution, ensuring that the staff policies, practices, processes, systems, and training are in place to provide the faculty and staff with the resources they need.

Amongst the significant accomplishments Kathleen brings to the law school are aligning talent and business strategy to support explosive growth from start-up to mid-size organization in three years, driving execution of several large-scale talent initiatives simultaneously: re-organizations, start-ups, acquisitions, and consolidations to ensure talent alignment with shifting organizational strategic plans,  creating an innovative 4-year talent attraction, optimization, and retention strategy/plan that saved $10M over four years, with 100% talent retention over five years.

When Kathleen was brought on to Ave Maria School of Law in 2018, she was tasked with “transforming Human Resources and the Title IX Office” for the school.

At Ave Maria School of Law, Kathleen consults with Senior Administrative Staff and Faculty to ensure that the employee experience supports the execution of Ave Maria School of Law’s strategy and mission. She brings to her role particular expertise in aligning talent to the organization strategy, leadership coaching, organizational design and development, budget management, employee life cycle management, change management and communication, talent management and development, and compensation strategy and analysis. Shortly after arriving at Ave Maria Law, Kathleen developed and implemented the school’s compensation philosophy, strategy, and structure to ensure consistency, compliance, and internal and external equity.

In addition to working with the faculty and staff, Kathleen works with students in the onboarding process to begin their internships and externships.

As a lifelong Catholic, Kathleen is committed to the unique ethical, ideological, and faith foundation Ave Maria School of Law provides for its students.

Kathleen received her MBA from Case Western Reserve University, her BS in Business Administration from the University of Akron, and completed the Executive Programs “World-At-Work” from the American Compensation Association and “Leading Organizational Change” from The Wharton School.

• 239-687-5404
• ewesthoff@avemarialaw.edu

Associate Dean of Communications and External Affairs, Elizabeth Westhoff is a strategic marketing and communications executive who has served the Church for over 20 years. She is passionate about creating strong brands that communicate key messages, help inspire confidence, and take organizations to a new level. Known for her ability to craft effective messaging that resonates with both Catholic and secular audiences, Elizabeth has built brand recognition across Catholic and secular media, both nationally and internationally.

Dean Westhoff joined Ave Maria School of Law in 2020. Prior to her arrival at Ave Maria Law, Elizabeth served as Press Secretary to His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke.

Dean Westhoff is the recipient of the Catholic Press Association Awards: First Place, Best coverage of the Year of Mercy, the Catholic Press Association Award: First Place, Best newspaper story and photo package, the Catholic Press Association Award: Honorable Mention, Best in-depth news/special reporting in a diocesan newspaper, the Catholic Academy of Communications Professionals: Gabriel Award for New Media Campaign of the Year, Hermes Creative Award for Video Production: Gold Winner and Honorable Mention, Winner: International Catholic Stewardship Conference Award of Excellence, the Archdiocese of St. Louis Women’s Visionary Award, the St. Louis Business Journal’s Thirty Under 30 Award, former President and Vice-President of the National Communications and Development Section for Catholic Charities USA, host of several long-running Catholic radio shows on EWTN affiliate stations, a contributing author and speaker for Women In the New Evangelization, she was a regular on-air contributor to the St. Louis NBC television affiliate, a regular guest and guest host on various Catholic radio networks, M.C. and speaker for various Catholic and secular organizations, and serves as a judge for the Catholic Media Awards in the areas of video production, social media campaigns, radio production, and blog production.

Dean Westhoff has a Master of Arts degree in English and American literature.

Dean Westhoff is a member of the Association of St. Francis de Sales and a Dame of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.