Advocate: Fall 2020

Advocate AVE MARIA SCHOOL of LAW

MAGAZINE | 2020

AVE MARIA SCHOOL of LAW

Advocate | 2020

AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW MISSION Ave Maria School of Law is a Catholic law school dedicated to educating lawyers with the finest professional skills.

Inspired by Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Fides et Ratio, Ave Maria Law offers a distinctive legal education — an education characterized by the harmony of faith and reason. Formed by outstanding professional training and a distinctive educational philosophy, Ave Maria Law’s graduates are equipped for leading positions in law firms, corporate legal offices, the judiciary, and national, state and local government.

Ave Maria Law offers an outstanding legal education in fidelity to the Catholic faith. We affirm Catholic legal education’s traditional emphasis on the only secure foundation for human freedom — the natural law written on the heart of every human being. We uphold the need for society to rediscover those human and moral truths that flow from the nature of the human person and that safeguard human freedom.

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The Blessed Virgin Mary has many titles, though from a lawyer’s perspective, none more important than “Most Gracious Advocate.” Ave Maria School of Law’s Advocate takes its inspiration from this title and from the recognition that lawyers are, at their core, advocates.

Dean’s Letter

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The Dean’s Delegates

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Sidebars 5 One Human Race

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Student Spotlight: Scott Sergeant Student Bar Association President

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Class of 2020 Highlights

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Remembering Kelly Sifford ’18

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20 Years of Ave Maria Law

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Quick Facts

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From the Office of Admissions with Dean O’Keefe

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Class of 2023 Entering Class Profile

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Staff Spotlight: Tabitha Canalda Associate Director of Admissions and Outreach

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Monsignor McGrath Celebrates 50 Years in the Priesthood

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Staff Interview: Val Oliver Web Developer and Social Media Coordinator

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Events 30 What Will Your Legacy Be? 37 Donna Heiser, Chief Advancement and External Affairs Officer What Ave Stands For

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In Memoriam: Jim Fennessey

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In Memoriam: Leslie (Mitzi) Magin

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Planned Giving Jeff McManus, Planned and Leadership Gifts Officer

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Impacting the World through Internships

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Board of Governors

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Award Recipients

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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Kristy Kryszczak

Scholarship Recipients

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DESIGN: Gwen Frederickson

Tom Monaghan: With His Eyes on Heaven

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CONTRIBUTORS (in alpha order): Melissa Alvarez ’20, Catherine Bequette, Professor Mark Bonner, Tabitha Canalda, Associate Dean Kaye Castro, President & Dean Kevin Cieply, Professor Bruce Connolly, Claire Guggemos ‘20, Donna Heiser, Christopher Jay ‘18, Pam Kramer, Associate Dean Jennifer Lucas-Ross, Joshua McCaig ’03, Monsignor Frank McGrath, Jeff McManus, Dean Emeritus Milhizer, Professor Kirk Miller, Associate Dean Maureen Milliron, Tom Monaghan, Professors Mollie Murphy & Richard Myers, Celeste Oglesby, Associate Dean Claire O’Keefe, Val Oliver, Sandy Pineda ’14, Scott Sergeant ’21, Geoffrey Strickland ’09, Carmen Tate ’21, Alexander Vernon ’05, Tony Zollo

Veteran Legacies Video Honor

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PHOTOGRAPHY: Tabitha Mariana Photography, Tony Zollo, Reagan Rule, Jim Hardesty, Naples Drone Solutions, Stan Murzyn, student photography, photos courtesy of Ave Maria Law, general submissions PRINTER: Presstige Printing Thank you to each and every individual who contributed to this special issue.

Faculty: Highlights 56 Meet Professor Connolly 57 Meet Professor Bonner 58 Ave Maria Law Visits Rome and Pope Francis

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The Office of Professional Development & Alumni Affairs Meet Associate Dean Lucas-Ross

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Alumni: Where are they Now?

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Staff Interview: Celeste Oglesby Director for the Office of Professional Development

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Alumni Spotlight: Melissa Alvarez, ’20 Embracing Externships in Law School

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AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW ADVOCATE Advocate 2017 Advocate | |2020 1025 Commons Circle • Naples, Florida 34119 • Phone: (239) 687-5300 • www.avemarialaw.edu

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A WORD FROM

OUR DEAN Tom Monaghan, Dean Cieply, Driver, Monsignor McGrath

Dear Ave Maria School of Law Community, As we look back at 2020, there was hardship we all endured and experienced together as a nation and as an Ave Maria Law community. There were also positive moments and silver linings. We are celebrating the law school’s 20th Anniversary this year. The law school opened its doors in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2000, and moved to our current Vineyards campus in Naples, Florida in 2009. From Marching for Life in Washington, D.C. since 2001 to bringing in 20 classes, we’re just getting started. There are many factors that make Ave Maria Law what it is today, and for that we have our community to thank immensely.

One of the identities that we are most proud of at Ave Maria School of Law is the profound sense of community that exists. The law school consists of its students, faculty, staff, alumni, the local Southwest Florida community, as well as friends and supporters across the country.

We reached a milestone when we officially opened our Cancro Family Wellness Center on February 7, 2020 during our annual Veterans Celebration. We launched a mind, body, and spirit initiative on campus with the intentional purpose of wanting our students, faculty, and staff to strive for their true potential.

Our Chaplain Monsignor Frank McGrath celebrated 50 years in the priesthood on May 9, 2020. Devoted to his service and a true blessing to our community, Monsignor is our spiritual leader and the heart of Ave Maria Law. Our school was founded on the Faith of the Catholic religion, the Catholic name derives from Latin and Greek terms that mean universal. Christ gave us this gift—he gave his life for all women and all men, young and old, poor and rich, white and black, and everyone in between, all shades, all sizes, all cultures. We are one human race.

I affectionately refer to the Class of 2020 as the Class of Steel because this class began law school in the Fall of 2017 and endured Hurricane Irma and they graduated during a pandemic. They have learned to succeed in the face of adversity, and that skill will truly serve them well as they move into the practice of law.

Success is always in reach. It may be a longer reach for some of us, than others. But some who have a short reach will never achieve it, while many who have a very long reach will eventually get there. The difference in the result is not how long or short the journey; the difference always comes down to who is willing to endure, who has the grit—the determination to never quit.

I hope you enjoy our latest issue. It’s filled with hope, determination, kindness, vision for the future, and the fondest memories from the past. During challenging times endured in 2020, we know that God will continue to bless Ave Maria Law and each of you.

We are here for you. We are praying for you. We are Ave Maria Law. God Bless You.

Kevin Cieply President and Dean 2

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What it means to be a

DEAN’S DELEGATE Written by Carmen Tate, Class of 2021

Frantz Michel ‘21, Christina Roldan ‘21, Kurstin Phelps ‘21, Andrew Hocott ‘21, Carolyn De Salvo ‘20, Richard Varadan ‘20, Dean Cieply, Gretchen Wade ‘20, Giselle Guzman ‘20, Kathleen Bryan ‘21, Paula Hughes ‘21, Diane Haimes ‘20, Alicia Henry ‘20

Congratulations

ABOUT THE PROGRAM The Ave Maria School of Law Dean’s Delegates Program is an opportunity for our students to serve as official student representatives on behalf of the Law School and the Law School’s President and Dean at a variety of campus and community functions. The Dean’s Delegates showcase the excellence of Ave Maria School of Law to the community and are role models of professionalism, hospitality and character.

Delegates are invited by the Dean and must successfully participate in an interview as part of the selection process that also includes academic performance. Dean’s Delegates may be called upon to represent the Law School at social functions both on and off campus, and to serve as VIP handlers, special event facilitators and greeters/ ushers. They engage with dignitaries, public officials, community leaders, benefactors, alumni and the general public, exemplifying the best that Ave Maria School of Law has to offer. Dean’s Delegates will also participate in Phone-A-Thon’s to benefactors and friends of the law school to further engage them in our mission.

Mission Statement: The Ave Maria Law Dean’s Delegates program promotes the mission of Ave Maria School of Law through leadership and service that engages the unique talents of Ave Maria Law students in support of institutional advancement.

to our graduating Class of 2020 Dean’s Delegates • Madeleine Bischel, Class of 2020 • Carolyn De Salvo, Class of 2020 • Giselle Guzman, Class of 2020 • Diane Haimes, Class of 2020 • Alicia Henry, Class of 2020 • Theresa Holt, Class of 2020 • Ian Johanni, Class of 2020 • Eric Leeman, Class of 2020 • Colleen McInerney, Class of 2020 • Marina Moussa, Class of 2020 • Richard Varadan, Class of 2020 • Gretchen Wade, Class of 2020

“Becoming a Dean’s Delegate is a phenomenal opportunity to show appreciation and give back to Ave Maria School of Law. It is an honor to serve as a leader and representative of the school and allow donors, alumni, and the community to see the caliber of students and what Ave Maria is all about. I highly recommend this program to all students. It is a great way to contribute to the continued development and improvement of Ave Maria’s reputation and prestige.” – Jonathan Fitzmaurice ‘21 This program is directed through the Advancement and External Affairs Office.

For more information, please email jburke@avemarialaw.edu

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Daniel Krauthammer, Marina Moussa ‘20, Bret Baier, Michele Daley Peters ‘20, Diane Haimes ‘20

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Carmen Tate ‘21, Kathleen Bryan ‘21, Frantz Michel ‘21, Madeleine Bischel ‘20, Giselle Guzman ‘20

“The Dean’s Delegates program gave me the chance to meet and interact with a group of brilliant and diverse people.” – Frantz Michel ‘21

“As a Dean’s Delegate, I have been able to represent our school and really get a deeper appreciation for our donors. Since I am from out of state, this experience has helped me network with the local community and meet influential people I would not have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.” – Paula Hughes ‘21

“Becoming a Dean’s Delegate has been an influential part of my law school career! It gave me the opportunity to hone my networking skills and encouraged me to get out of my shell. Being a Dean’s Delegate has provided me with the opportunity to meet influential people in the legal industry, such as Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch. I would highly recommend that any student given the opportunity to become a Dean’s Delegate, take that opportunity and serve in as many ways as possible!” – Kathleen Bryan ‘21

“As a scholarship recipient, I felt it was my duty to give back to Ave Maria. Becoming a Dean’s Delegate was my way of “giving back” by sharing my experiences with others and enhancing the mission of our school. It was an honor and a privilege to serve in this capacity and an experience I hold very dear.” – Giselle Guzman ‘20

“The Dean’s Delegate Program was one of the highlights of my law school experience. Being selected as a Dean’s Delegate created so many opportunities for me, including meeting business leaders of our community and being able to learn from their journeys and experiences. The Dean’s Delegate Program was also an opportunity for me to give back to the school by sharing my law school experience with others dedicated and committed to the mission of the school.” – Madeleine Bischel ‘20

“Being selected to become a Dean’s Delegate was the greatest honor I had at Ave Maria School of Law. The program allowed students to listen, engage, and network with some of the most faithful legal and business leaders in our country. The program also gave the school an opportunity to showcase the caliber of students both academically, and spiritually.

What I enjoyed most were the interactions I had with all those whom I came into contact with during our amazing events.” – Eric Leeman ‘20

“Being a Dean’s Delegate gives students more access to our Dean and faculty as well as to the local lawyers and influencers we host as speakers.

Last year, I was among the delegates who heard from and met news anchor, Bret Baier, and received an autographed copy of his book. Being the face of Ave Law and meeting prominent members of the legal and professional community is a unique facet of the law school experience.” – Carmen Tate ‘21 4

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Sidebars PATRIOTS WEEK Ave Maria School of Law and the Veterans Law Student Association continue to honor our veterans in remembrance of 9/11 during our school’s Patriots Week through events including a JAG Panel Presentation, Veteran Pinning Ceremony, speaker presentations, and a very moving 9/11 Memorial Ceremony.

This year’s virtual JAG panel included presentations from Captain Brittany Gunter from the U.S. Army, Captain Alejandro Dieguez from the U.S. Air Force, and Lieutenant John Wilson from the U.S. Navy.

Thank you to all of our men and women who have served our blessed country and to those who continue to serve our country. [ Photos from 2019 Patriots Week Events ]

Veteran Pinning Ceremony

9/11 Remembrance Run

Dean Cieply pinning Brian Anderson, Class of 2022

FIFTH ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC Our Student Bar Association hosted its 5th Annual Ave Maria School of Law Golf Classic at Vanderbilt Country Club. This is always a nice way to bring our community together with a little sports competition. Professor Myers impressed us all with a hole in one.

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SIDEBARS

Adriannette Williams, Dean Cieply, Rebecca Bandy, Jacquelyn Boudreau, John Cardillo, Ita Neymotin

Patrick Phillips ‘21, Joseph Bootka ‘21, Natalie Rodriguez ‘21, and Kiara Ibanez ‘21

Ave Maria Law’s Latino Law Association hosted a volunteer event at the Naples Zoo for their Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on October 12, 2019. The group worked at the educational tables teaching children about the animals and participating in arts and crafts.

Ave Maria School of Law, The Florida Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism, & the Standing Committee on Professionalism (SCOP) hosted a Mental Health & Wellness CLE on September 20, 2019. A very special thanks to The Florida Bar and the speakers who joined us: • John P. Cardillo, Esq., Cardillo Keith & Bonaquist Attorneys at Law • Jacquelyn A. Boudreau, Esq., Cardillo Keith & Bonaquist Attorneys at Law • Ita M. Neymotin, Office of Criminal Conflict & Regional Counsel

We were honored to welcome and host the Second District Court of Appeal of the State of Florida on our campus to preside over three cases on October 11, 2020. The panel of judges included: Chief Nelly N. Khouzam, Judge Samuel Salario, Jr., and Judge Andrea T. Smith. Before the oral arguments began, the judges were kind enough to invite our students to partake in a Q & A which was a great learning practice for these future attorneys. The judges shared their background and how they came to be where they are today, shared how the appellate court works, and provided sound tips on what makes a good brief stand out.

Thank you to alumnus Joseph Tompkins, Class of 2014, for making this happen.

Special thanks to Catherine Bequette and the External Affairs Department for organizing this event.

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Dean Cieply addressing guests

TAKING IT TO THE COURT St. Thomas More & St. Thomas Aquinas Oratorical Competition Competitors in the 2020 Thomas More & St. Thomas Aquinas Oratorical Competition were Corrinne Vidales ’20, Daniel Korycki ’20, and Conner O’Brien ’22. Members of the Bench were Professor Eric Fleetham, Dean Emeritus Eugene Milhizer, and Associate Dean Maureen Milliron.

The winner was Daniel Korycki!

Congratulations to Daniel, Corrinne and Conner for a job well done.

A special thanks to Mary Parent, B.A., J.D., L.L.M., Class of 2012 for generously donating the grand prize. When attending Ave Maria Law, Mary won the St. Thomas More & St. Thomas Aquinas Award, as well as the St. Ives Award-In Defense of the Catholic Faith.

Dean Milliron, Professor Eric Fleetham, Conner O’Brien ’22, Daniel Korycki ’20, Corrinne Vidales ’20, Dean Emeritus Milhizer, Dean O’Keefe, Monsignor McGrath

“This is a very meaningful event as it relates so closely to our school’s mission and our motto.”

– Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Engagement, Claire O’Keefe

PRO-LIFE FOR LIFE On January 17, 2020 we held our 3rd Annual Monsignor Higgins Respect for Life Celebration. Carol Tobias, President of the National Right to Life Committee, spoke to our community on campus on the timely topic, “The Pro-Life Movement: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?”

Following the presentation, our community of students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends lead a walk, a local March for Life, on campus and through the Vineyards neighborhood.

Our school has attended and supported the March for Life events in Washington, D.C. since the law school opened its doors. It is always a special time for our students, faculty, staff, and alumni to come together for such an important cause forever close to our hearts.

“I think the best we can do is love. This movement is based on love.” - Carol Tobias

This annual event is named in honor of Monsignor Laurence Higgins

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WE ARE

ONE HUMAN RACE

We have to be willing to have proactive conversations about race with honesty, understanding, and courage.

Ave Maria Law has partnered with Florida Law Schools to form a Consortium for Racial Justice. The Deans of the 12 law schools in Florida, including Dean Cieply, have formed the Florida Law Schools’ Consortium for Racial Justice (FLSCRJ). This collective will leverage the strengths and educational roles of every law school in the state to assist community organizations fighting for racial justice and policy reform throughout Florida.

Each law school will designate at least one student fellow to work with FLSCRJ every year. The fellows will collaborate with groups in Florida that have long pursued anti-racism initiatives. Law student fellows will assist FLSCRJ’s partners with legal research, policy reform, strategic advocacy, and ways to use language to resolve conflicts and improve society at large. Fellows will also undergo tailored training to model effective dialogue about race within each law school and across the state as a whole.

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Ave Maria Law has added a new course to the curriculum. Fall 2020 kicked off this course, a seminar course concerning race and the law. Professor Ligia Castaldi teaches the course, an upper level mission course available to second and third year law students, bringing in the subject of Catholic Intellectual Thought.

Student Spotlight:

SCOTT SERGEANT Scott Sergeant is a third year student at Ave Maria School of Law. He is serving as the school’s Student Bar Association President for the 2020-2021 school year.

Why did you choose to attend Ave Maria School of Law? When I first heard about Ave Maria School of Law, I was teaching middle school in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a town that is renown for its mountains and snow. I applied to Ave Maria Law because of the school’s Catholic reputation but I could not envision myself studying and living in a place without snow.

After I took the LSAT, I attended the Cardinal Newman Scholarship Weekend where I was able to meet the professors and school administrators, participate in classes, and talk to current students.

The professors deeply impressed me with their knowledge of their subjects but more so with their kindness. They were eager to engage with me and talk to me about the school, the study of law, and the law profession. From that weekend, I knew that I would look up to and admire the professors at Ave Maria Law. For me, the most important aspect of any school is the quality of the professors. It is the professors with whom students spend the most amount of time and who form you as a future lawyer. It was the good quality professors who are excellent teachers that made me choose to attend Ave Maria Law. Congratulations on your appointment as the Student Bar Association President. What do you hope to accomplish during your time in this position? How has the approach of the SBA been different due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

When I was elected as the SBA President, I did not expect that the fall semester would be online. Traditionally, the SBA hosts several different events including parties, speakers, and community service events. Now, while most of our activities will be online, we will continue to host virtual community building and social events, as well as providing community service opportunities for students.

Essentially, I hope that the SBA will continue to function in the same manner, just in an online platform.

Why do you feel it’s important to get involved in student groups while in law school?

One of the SBA’s primary functions is to support the student organizations. These organizations are comprised of groups of students united by the same interest. There are numerous student organizations, including the St. Thomas More Society, the Federalist Society, the Black Law Student Association, and the Environmental Law Society. Each of these organizations hosts activities or events that relate to and promote their mission. These organizations allow students to engage with others and build community with likeminded students. Additionally, these specific events enrich the school community by diversifying the events and interests.

I highly encourage all students to become involved in any and every organization with their same interests. This gives the students a platform in which they can share their talents and skills with the rest of the Ave Law community. I also encourage students to attend events put on by other student organizations that they do not participate in because they are often excellent learning experiences.

What is your favorite quote?

Written on the wall of the Greek Temple of Apollo at Delphi is the phrase “Know Thyself.” While this seems a trite phrase, it commands us to do something that is very hard. It is easy for us to know our own good qualities, but the Greek phrase commands us to know not only the good, but also the bad qualities that we need to change. This selfknowledge requires wisdom to understand our weakness, diligence to seek correction, and the humility to implement it in our lives. “Know Thyself” is not something that can be accomplished in three years of Law School, or even in ten years. To “Know Thyself” requires a lifetime of self-growth and humility.

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Shine On Class of 2020

Congratulations to the Class of 2020! Your class set out what you planned

to do and the accomplishment of law school is now behind you. We were thrilled to welcome you to the Ave Maria Law community in 2017. Since then, we have watched you grow into such distinguished women and men. Your class hailed from 28 states and 60 different undergraduate institutions, top states being Florida, Virginia, Georgia, and Ohio. Your class entered at 63% female and 37% male with 28 being the average age.

Just after you started law school on our Naples, Florida campus, Hurricane Irma hit.

You came together with the rest of our community with perseverance and strength and we all built a special bond. You are now departing Ave Maria Law during the pandemic, and again, you came together with strength and grit and were an example to all of the 1Ls and 2Ls at our school.

The Virtual Commencement Ceremony took place on August 1, 2020. The ceremony was not presented live. The ceremony included a reading of each graduate’s name and remarks from Kevin Cieply, President & Dean, Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Tom Monaghan, Founder and Chairman, Monsignor Frank McGrath, Chaplain, Maureen Milliron, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Class of 2014 alumnus Joshua Molandes, Class of 2020 Student Commencement Speaker Giselle Guzman, and Commencement Speaker Callista Gingrich, United States Ambassador to the Holy See.

Congratulations to Giselle Guzman for being selected as the Class of 2020 Student Commencement Speaker. Giselle is a talented woman who embraced everything her law school community had to offer. She excelled in her studies and in her extracurriculars, such as being a part of the Law Review, a Dean’s Delegate, and a member of the Moot Court Board winning a competition this past school year.

Giselle also embraced the new Ave Maria Moves mind, body, and spirit initiative on campus. You could always find Giselle on a spin bike, or rooting for her classmates.

“Ave Maria is life changing and the Class of 2020 is truly extraordinary. There is no better way to depart from my law school journey than to celebrate this accomplishment with those who shared this unique experience with me.”

GISELLE GUZMAN, CLASS OF 2020

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2020 Student Commencement Awards ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CABRINI AWARD Presented to the student with outstanding performance in clinical programs.

JACQUELINE MCCABE CORONEL

ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA AWARD Presented to the student excelling in oral advocacy, especially in moot court competitions and the trial advocacy program.

ST. MICHAEL AWARD Presented to the student veteran who has been an effective advocate of the United States Armed Forces on campus or in the community.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS AWARD

ST. RAYMOND OF PENYAFORT AWARD

Presented by the Dean to the student who best exemplifies the ideals of Ave Maria School of Law.

Presented to the student excelling in written advocacy.

DAVID MICHAEL IDLER

MARINA MAHER MOUSSA

ST. IVES AWARD

ST. THOMAS MORE AWARD

Presented to the student who has acted most vigorously in defense of a Catholic moral and social order.

Presented to the student who most embodies the virtues of this great saint as well as for outstanding grades.

CAROLYN ANNE DE SALVO

RICHARD VARADAN

GISELLE GUZMAN

EVELYN ANNE HILDEBRAND THERESA RENÉ HOLT

MARY, QUEEN OF LAWYERS AWARD To the student whose life and learning shows that the student, like Mary, is the person we would choose to defend us in the most important judgment of all.

COLLEEN RUTH MCINERNEY

THOMAS MARCEL DE MAIO

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2020

PRO BONO RECOGNITION RECIPIENTS Thank you for dedicating your time and talent to the community.

ALAN CELEJ, Class of 2020 JACQUELINE CORONEL, Class of 2020 ELISA HUAPILLA, Class of 2020 PETE FERNANDES, Class of 2020

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CLASS OF 2020

VETERANS

PHILUMINA JOHANNI, Class of 2020 MARINA MOUSSA, Class of 2020

THEODORE FORLENZA, Class of 2020

CLARK ROBINSON, Class of 2020

DAVID IDLER, Class of 2020

TARYN VAUGHN, Class of 2020

CAROLYN STEWART, Class of 2020 TARYN VAUGHN, Class of 2020

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Commencement CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2020

OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (OPD) STUDENT AMBASSADORS! SAMANTHA ENCALADA

MICHELE DALEY PETERS

I believe the best part about being an ambassador allowed me to connect with the professional development department individuals, but also the networking connections that OPD has made over the years. I was able to have conversations about career path choices and given advice from a lot of the alumni or other practicing attorneys in the area, all while helping other students get connected with potential employers and opportunities. It was a great experience to be a part of the Ave Maria Law community while searching for current or future employment.

Aside from meeting and working with some of my amazing school colleagues, being a student ambassador for the Office of Professional Development (OPD) helped me connect and network with potential employers. I even managed to secure an externship through OPD. I continue to use the tools OPD provides and continue to ask for their opinions and suggestions throughout the process of strategizing my after-law school prospects.

NICOLE SANTINI I grew to know the OPD team well and really enjoyed the lasting friendships made with them. OPD helped me each year to find an internship, with one of them becoming my first job out of school. Their help with my resume and cover letters and what I’ve learned through OPD will never be forgotten!

Thank you OPD!

ERIC LEEMAN The OPD Ambassador program has been invaluable to me. Being an ambassador gave me exclusive access to those making hiring decisions for local government agencies, non-profits, and law firms. This access allowed me to enhance my networking skills, and to be an example of the caliber of student we have at Ave Maria. While networking at these events allowed me to find my dream job, I am more proud of the opportunity I had to show potential employers what they are getting by hiring a law student from Ave Maria School of Law. My goal as an Ambassador, and now as an associate, is to promote the Ave Maria brand, and ensure that every student who wants a quality internship, has that opportunity.

I recommend students that want to network, want to promote Ave Maria, and want to help their fellow classmates apply to the OPD Ambassador program. You won’t regret it – I can guarantee that.

ELISA HUAPILLA PEREZ The Office of Professional Development (OPD) has a wide array of opportunities to help each student at Ave Maria Law develop skills that will help them be better attorneys. OPD team members took the time to review a personalized plan that allows me to be prepared for the legal profession. I look forward to using those skills in practice, thank you Ave Law OPD!

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NICOLETTE SELLITTI I enjoyed being an Ambassador for the Office of Professional Development for the past three years because I was able to practice my mock interview skills and become more comfortable in legal interviews with not only local attorneys, but also judges. I think that students should take advantage of this great opportunity that OPD gives us to obtain valuable feedback for our future endeavors!

TARYN VAUGHN The Office of Professional Development has helped me to become more involved in the law school and our community; without opportunities from the OPD, I would not have been able to make the contacts and develop the relationships that have been built during the past three years.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2020

ADMISSIONS AMBASSADORS You have been such an important part of meeting with future law students and making them feel right at home on our campus. We’re grateful for you.

MOOT COURT COMPETITIONS 2020 NATIONAL LATINO LAW ASSOCIATION COMPETITION Melissa Alvarez, Champion Giselle Guzman, Champion

KRISTINA BORJAS

DOROTHY CLARK

JACQUELINE CORONEL

2019 ST. THOMAS MORE TRIAL COMPETITION Thomas Marcel De Maio, Finalist Colleen Ruth McInerney, Champion Marina Maher Moussa, Champion, Best Oralist

PETE FERNANDES

RANDI LEVEY

SHARON LINSNER

2019 ROBERT H. BORK APPELLATE COMPETITION Samantha Reinae Encalada, Finalist Pete Savio Fernandes, Champion, Best Brief Colleen Leahy, Finalist Marina Maher Moussa, Champion, Best Brief, Best Oralist

TAYLOR MATHEWS

DAVID MERRILL

COLLEEN MCINERNEY

2019 UCLA-CYBER CRIMES MOOT COURT COMPETITION Alicia Kay Henry, Champion Ian Michael Johanni, Best Brief Philumina Marie Johanni, Best Brief Eric James Leeman, Champion 2019 THURGOOD MARSHALL MOOT COURT COMPETITION Kristina Maria Borjas, Best Brief

MARINA MOUSSA

NICOLE SANTINI

TARYN VAUGHN

Pete Savio Fernandes, Best Brief

2018 ROBERT H. BORK APPELLATE COMPETITION

AVE MARIA LAW REVIEW PUBLISHED NOTES

Carolyn Anne De Salvo, Finalist David Christopher Merrill, Champion

John Percy Cheffers, Entrusting Foxes with the Hen House: How a Bad Law Pits Big Pharma and the Federal Government Against Vaccine-Injured Children Kaitlyn Ann Coyle, Particularly Abused: Closing the Backdoor on Certifiably Deniable Particular Social Group Asylum Claims

Richard Varadan, Finalist, Best Oralist 2018 ST. THOMAS MORE 1L ORAL ADVOCACY COMPETITION Carolyn Anne De Salvo, Finalist

Evelyn Anne Hildebrand, Incentive, Entitlement, and the Ineffective Subsidization of the Housing Market

Evelyn Anne Hildebrand, Best Brief

Theresa René Holt, A Question of Coercion: When Does Legislator-Led Prayer Cross the Constitutional Lines?

Marina Maher Moussa, Finalist

Kayla Marie Lasswell, Finalist Richard Varadan, Champion

Kayla Marie Lasswell, Victimizing the Victim Again: Weaponizing Continuances in Criminal Cases

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REMEMBERING A BRIGHT LIGHT Kelly Anne Sifford 1/10/83 – 4/25/20 God welcomed another angel this year. Kelly Sifford, Class of 2018, was such a positive force on our campus. During Kelly’s address as the Class of 2018 Student Commencement Speaker, she imparted words of wisdom from the heart to her fellow classmates. “The best part of Ave Maria Law are the people here. Through the fear and the work, we have emerged with a quality legal education. We made it. God is good.” Kelly Sifford ‘18

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We continue to pray for Kelly’s loving husband Tylan Thomas Ricketts ‘18, her cherished daughter Emma Marie Sifford, and all of her loved ones. We were blessed to share time with Kelly and watch her shine bright at Ave Maria Law.

Though we will never understand why Kelly had to leave us so early with much life left to give, I think it’s good to focus on great things that have happened because she came to Ave Maria Law. She met her loving husband Tylan and she converted to Catholicism. I’m rejoiced Kelly is above us and watching over our school. She will always be a part of our law - Kevin Cieply, President and Dean school community.

”

14 avemarialaw.edu

20 Years

fo Ave Maria Law Ave Maria School of Law is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Founded by Thomas S. Monaghan in 1999, Ave Maria School of law focuses on an educational philosophy that emphasizes the moral foundations of the law, presents insights from the Catholic intellectual tradition, and encourages a broader perspective of the law and its role in society. Ave Maria Law has expanded and evolved over the last two decades, building a strong veteran population and developing veteranbased scholarships. In addition, the school has implemented a more rigorous curriculum to adapt to areas of the law that the bar exam targets.

Most recently, Ave Maria Law opened the Cancro Family Wellness Center. The facility was developed as part of the school’s greater mind, body, spirit initiative. Addressing the importance of physical and mental health, the construction of the wellness center aligns with the school’s holistic approach of bringing reason, faith, and wellness into the legal education of its students. Over the next several years, Ave Maria School of Law plans to continue to provide excellence in law school education.

2000 • The Law School was licensed by the State of Michigan and classes began in the fall of 2000. The attention of many of the elite in the legal world, including Edwin Meese, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Kenneth Starr, and a host of others was focused on Ave Maria Law • Original teaching faculty included Judge Robert Bork, Richard Myers, Mollie Murphy and others

2001 • Students and faculty attend the March for Life in Washington D.C., a tradition that continues each year

2002 • Ave Maria Law was granted provisional accreditation by the American Bar Association. Ave Maria Lecturer: The Honorable Kenneth Starr

• Bernard Dobranski becomes the first President and Dean

Advocate | 2020

15

ears Y 20 Twenty years ago, I knew we needed to create a law school like no other…one that

“

would emphasize the critical importance of faith, reason, morals and ethics. The impact we have made is astounding and evident in extraordinary accomplishments of our graduates, including the appointment of several federal judges. I want to express my heartfelt and profound thanks to all who have so generously supported Ave Maria School of Law and thereby contributed to its successes.

– Tom Monaghan 2003 • Ave Maria Law’s inaugural commencement and the highest bar passage rate in Michigan and above 90 percent nationwide.

• His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan donates a rare collection of 45 Canon Law books to the Law Library. Commencement Speaker: Samuel Dale Brownback, U. S. Senate

”

2004

• Ave Maria Law opened its first clinical program: Asylum and Immigrant Rights Law Clinic • Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient: The Honorable Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States • Ave Maria lecturer: The Honorable Edwin Messe, Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow in Public Policy, the Heritage Foundation

• Honorary Degree Recipients: The Honorable Samuel Dale Brownback, The Honorable Robert Heron Bork and Professor Charles Edward Rice • Ave Maria Lecturer: Ambassador Michael Novak, George Frederick Jewett Scholar in Religion, Philosophy and Public Policy

2005

2006 • Professors Jane Adolphe, Eugene Milhizer and Jim Sonne receive tenure while at Ave Maria Law

• Ave Maria Law received full accreditation - in shortest possible time - from the America Bar Association

• Commencement Speaker: The Honorable Edith B. Clement, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

• Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient: The Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs • Ave Maria Lecturer: The Honorable Antonin Scalia, Associate Justice, The Supreme Court of the United States

“

• Honorary Degree Recipients: The Honorable Edith Brown Clement, The Honorable James Lane Buckley, The Honorable William Patrick Clark and The Honorable James Leo Ryan

Our 20th anniversary is truly a testament to the hard work and dedication of so many who have preceded me. It has been a privilege to be part of Ave Maria Law’s growth and see our campus community’s efforts ultimately help the school grow and flourish through the years.

”

– Kevin Cieply, President and Dean 16 avemarialaw.edu

2007 • On February 20, 2007, the Ave Maria Law Board of Governors announce the relocation of the Law School to Southwest Florida • Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient: The Honorable Janice Rogers Brown, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit • Ave Maria Lecturer: Reverend R. John Neuhaus, President of the Institute on Religion and Public Life, Editor in Chief - First Things

2008 • Eugene R. Milhizer is named Acting Dean • Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient: The Honorable Christopher H. Smith, U.S. House of Representatives

2009 • Over the summer of 2009, Ave Maria Law moves from Ann Arbor to its new home in Naples, Florida. Under the leadership of acting President and Dean Eugene R. Milhizer, Ave Maria Law obtains ABA acquiescence for the relocation.

• ABA continues Ave Maria Law’s full accreditation following a comprehensive review and sabbatical site visit. Ave Maria Law matriculates its largest class, over 200 students • Ave Maria Law is ranked Best Teaching Faculty by Princeton Review • Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus is guest speaker for Opening Gala for the Law School • Inaugural St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Thomas More Oratorical Contest

“

• Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient: His Eminence Adam Cardinal Maida

Working with the students and watching them make that metamorphosis from layperson to lawyer is an incredibly rewarding experience. In addition, the advantage of working with such an outstanding and supportive Dean, faculty and staff cannot be overstated. We are a close-knit community here, and I believe that we are all the better for it. Ave Maria School of Law is a special place with a special mission. I am extremely proud and blessed to be a part of this law school community.

– Professor Kirk Miller 2010

• Eugene R. Milhizer became the second President and Dean of Ave Maria Law in January 2010 • Obtained Florida license to operate as an independent school • Held first Commencement Ceremonies in Florida with The Honorable John Ellis “Jeb” Bush, Former Governor of the State of Florida, as the Commencement Speaker • Honorary Degree Recipients: John Ellis Bush, Mother Mary Angelica, Bernard Dobranski and William F. Harrington

”

2011

• Ave Maria Law has its highest enrollment of nearly 500 students • The Ave Maria International Law Journal was founded • Professor Jane Adolphe invited by the Holy See to work with the Vatican Secretariat of State • “Conversations With” Speaker events featuring Bret Baier and Senator Rick Santorum • Annual Fall Gala featuring Karl L. Rove • Commencement Speaker: The Honorable Marco Rubio, U.S. Senate • Honorary Degree Recipients: Senator Marco Rubio and His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan • Ave Maria Lecturers: His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura and His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York

Advocate | 2020

17

ears Y 20

“

I started working at Ave because a very good friend of mine who was teaching told me about an open position. I felt it was a good fit for me. I was excited about an atmosphere where I could talk about a more holistic approach to being a lawyer. The school made an offer for both myself and Professor Miller to come down when the school was in the process of moving to Naples. The rest is history.

– Associate Dean Maureen Milliron 2012

”

2013

• The Reed Larson Professor of Labor Law was created with Professor John Raudabaugh acting as Chair. Moot Court Team reached the national finals

• Ave Maria Law filed suit in Federal Court regarding the HHS Mandate, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom’s Matt Bowman ‘03

• Florida Governor Rick Scott visited campus

• Ave Maria Law Moot Court Competition named in honor of the late Judge Robert H. Bork

• Alum Royce Hood ‘12 launched The Law of Life Summit in Washington D.C. • The Advanced Critical Thinking (ACT) Department was formed • Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient: Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University

• Commencement Speaker: Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus • Honorary Degree Recipients: Carl A. Anderson, Patrick F. Adams and Monsignor Laurence E. Higgins • Ave Maria Lecturer: The Honorable Martin L.C. Feldman, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

2014 • Board of Governors and Faculty approve a comprehensive strategic plan. Princeton Review names Ave Maria Law the Most Conservative School in the country. Pre Law Magazine names Ave Maria Law the Most Devout Law School in the nation. Ave Maria Law hosts inaugural Estate Planning Conference • Launch of inaugural 1L Summer Start program • Kevin Cieply became the third President and Dean • Federal Court grants Ave Maria Law a Preliminary Injunction from directly providing contraceptive and abortifacient coverage for its employees

• Faith & Reason Signature Event Series Launches with Dr. Charles Krauthammer and Senator Ted Cruz • Ave Maria Law welcomes Speakers Dr. Henry Lee, John Bolton, Al Kresta, Ambassador Francis Rooney and Dr. Mario Enzler • Queen of Heaven Ball features Ambassador Michael Novak • Commencement Speaker: His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect Emeritus and Nigerian Cardinal

18 avemarialaw.edu

• Honorary Degree Recipients: His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze and Thomas B. Garlick

“

It was interesting to watch Ave Maria Law grow from nothing to what it is today. I was there when the law school was just an idea, and I’ve been lucky enough to watch it transform, unfold, and build throughout the years.

– Associate Dean Kaye Castro

”

2015

2016

• Ave Maria Law receives official recognition as a Catholic Institute of Higher Learning by His Excellency, Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of the Diocese of Venice in Florida

• National Jurist’s PreLaw Magazine ranked Ave Maria School of Law the Number 1 Catholic law school in the nation for the Devout for a second time, and the Number 1 Most Diverse law school

• Ave Maria Law purchases its Naples campus in the Vineyards, Naples, Florida

• The Ave Maria School of Law Men’s Softball Team became the 2016 National Champs at the 33rd Annual Virginia Law School National Softball Invitational

• Ave Maria Law receives #1 Bar passage rate in the state of Florida for February first time bar exam takers • Ave Maria Law receives $1 million dollar gift from an anonymous donor to launch the Capital Campaign.

• Honorary Degree Recipients: General Peter Pace, Richard L. Klaas and Dean Emeritus Eugene R. Milhizer • Commencement Speaker: General Peter Pace

• The Edward Cardinal Egan Conference Room was named in memory of His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York, a member of our Board of Trustees and a devoted friend of the law school.

• The Third Annual Estate Planning Conference was hosted off campus this year at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort with great success • This year’s Honorary Degree recipients celebrated at Commencement included: Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., D.D., Lou Holtz, Karl Keating, and Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Von Zwehl

• Ave Maria Lecturer: Dr. John Finnis, internationally known legal scholar, author and Professor of Law and Legal Philosophy Emeritus at the University of Oxford

• 2008 College Football Hall of Fame Coach, Speaker, Author, and Retired ESPN Studio Analyst Lou Holtz served as Commencement Speaker • Our law library was named the Veterans Memorial Law Library and dedicated on December 7 to honor our nation’s veterans. Founders of the Veterans Memorial Law Library were honored at the dedication

“

We were teaching at the University of Detroit Mercy Law School in the 1990s. In the years after Pope St. John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation on Catholic universities (Ex Corde Ecclesiae), there was a lot of discussion at that time about the nature of Catholic universities and Catholic law schools. Eventually in 1998, we joined with several colleagues there (Steve Safranek, Joe Falvey, Laura Hirschfeld, and Michael Kenney) and proposed the idea of a new Catholic law school to Tom Monaghan. In light of the cultural ferment of that era, we all thought there was a need for a law school that emphasized academic excellence and professionalism and that did so in light of the wisdom of the Catholic intellectual tradition. We agreed to leave Detroit and moved to Ann Arbor in 1999 to work on planning and beginning Ave Maria School of Law. We taught in Ann Arbor for almost a decade and then moved to Naples when the law school moved there in 2009.

– Professors Mollie Murphy & Richard Myers

”

Advocate | 2020

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ears Y 20 2017

2018

• 2nd Annual Campus March for Life

• First Annual Monsignor Laurence Higgins Respect for Life Celebration featuring Dr. Alveda King American activist, author and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King

• Signature Event with Pulitzer Prize winning author Dr. Charles Krauthammer

• 3rd Annual Campus March for Life

• Tom Monaghan’s 80th Birthday Celebration: March 25, 2017

• Signature Event with The Honorable Newt Gingrich: February 17, 2018

• 4th Annual Estate Planning Conference: April 28, 2017

• National Jurist’s PreLaw Magazine ranked Ave Maria School of Law the Number 1 Catholic law school in the nation for the Devout for a third time

• Honorary Degree recipients for 2017 included the Reverend Mitch Pacwa, SJ, Joseph Ricketts, the Founder of TD Ameritrade, and Ambassador Michael Novak (Posthumously)

• President of IndieCollect and Adjunct Professor at Columbia University Sandra Schulberg presented Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today • 5th Annual Estate Planning Conference

• Commencement Speakers for 2017 included the Reverend Mitch Pacwa, SJ, and Andrea Phillips, Class of 2017

• Honorary Degree Recipients for 2018 included Kevin Baine, George Weigel and the Ambassador to the Holy See, Callista Gingrich

• Award-winning, New York Times bestselling international investigative author Dr. Edwin Black was once again featured as a guest lecturer at the law school

• Commencement Speakers for 2018 included George Weigel and Kelly Sifford, Class of 2018

• 2nd Annual Veterans Memorial Celebration

• 1st Annual “Profiles in Ethical Leadership” Speaker Series • First Annual Day of Giving • 3rd Annual Veterans Memorial Celebration and Fitness Complex Groundbreaking

2019 • 2nd Annual Monsignor Laurence Higgins Respect for Life Celebration • 4th Annual Campus March for Life • Profiles in Ethical Leadership Signature Event with Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Media; St. Luke Award Recipients, Tom Golisano and Patrick Adams

• Profiles in Ethical Leadership Signature Event with Bret Baier, Fox News Channel’s political anchor and anchor of “Special Report with Bret Baier,” together with Daniel Krauthammer, economic consultant, analyst and son of the late Charles Krauthammer

• Culture of Life Symposium – William Hurlbut, MD, Adjunct Professor and Senior Research Scholar in Neurobiology at the Stanford Medical School • Commencement Speakers for 2019 included Matt Birk, Super Bowl champion and 15-year veteran of the NFL and Eve Kosciuszko, Class of 2019 • Florida Bar CLE and Wellness Luncheon • Award-winning, New York Times best-selling international investigative author Dr. Edwin Black was once again featured as a guest lecturer at the law school • 2nd Annual State Appellate Argument

• St. Luke Award for Distinguished Philanthropy Recipients, Tatiana and Peter Cancro and Lavern Norris Gaynor • Honorary Degree Recipients for 2019 included Bret Baier, Matt Birk and Samuel Lavergne

20 avemarialaw.edu

QUICK FACTS

For more information on how you can support Ave Maria School of Law contact Donna Heiser, Chief Advancement and External Affairs Officer at 239-687-5405 or dheiser@avemarialaw.edu.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO MAKE

A DIFFERENCE BY EDUCATING LEADERS IN AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE VALUES.

ALUMNI ARE EMPLOYED IN

50 STATES/ TERRITORIES

AND INTERNATIONALLY

8

ALUMNI ARE STATE AND FEDERAL MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY

OPENED OUR DOORS 20 YEARS AGO AS A CATHOLIC LAW SCHOOL OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER FOUNDED BY TOM MONAGHAN, A SEPARATE INSTITUTION FROM AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY, AND GOVERNED INDEPENDENTLY

3

REQUIRED MISSION COURSES INFUSE MORALITY IN THE STUDY OF THE LAW

EDUCATING TOMORROW’S LEADERS IN FAITH AND REASON

WE ARE AN AMERICAN LAW SCHOOL THAT STANDS SQUARELY FOR LIFE IN EVERY STAGE

12

NUMBER OF ACRES ON OUR VINEYARDS, NAPLES CAMPUS

OVER

$5 MILLION

AWARDED IN FINANCIAL AID EVERY YEAR OVER 1600 GRADUATES WORKING IN GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, PRIVATE PRACTICE AND NON-PROFITS DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTION AND OUR RELIGIOUS RIGHTS

BEST

LAW SCHOOLS FOR THE DEVOUT 2019

GRADUATING LAWYERS WHO WILL TAKE A STAND FOR RESTORING THE MORAL AND ETHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF OUR GREAT NATION

MASS CELEBRATED TWICE A DAY BY OUR CHAPLAIN

3 FACULTY MEMBERS

96% OF STUDENTS

SERVED AND RETIRED AS U.S. ARMY JAG OFFICERS

ARE CHRISTIAN

61 VETERAN ALUMNI

20 YEARS AVE MARIA LAW

AND/OR CURRENTLY ENROLLED VETERANS

COMMUNITY HAS ATTENDED MARCH FOR LIFE

A CRUCIFIX HANGS IN EVERY ROOM AND A PRAYER STARTS EACH CLASS

EDUCATING LAWYERS WHO BELIEVE THAT THE PRACTICE OF LAW IS A VOCATION The Princeton Review

MOST CONSERVATIVE LAW SCHOOL

$0 AMOUNT OF TUITION PAID

BY VETERANS QUALIFIED FOR THE YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM

2020

#1 MOST DEVOUT LAW SCHOOL: RANKED #1 MOST DEVOUT LAW SCHOOL IN THE U.S. IN 2016, 2017, 2018 AND 2019

TOGETHER WITH THE YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM, WE OFFER TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS TO VETERANS SO THEY CAN EARN THEIR LAW DEGREE

The Princeton Review

BEST

LAW SCHOOLS 2020

SINCE 2008:

A PRINCETON REVIEW BEST LAW SCHOOL

Advocate | 2020

21

Admissions

From the Office of Admissions:

CLAIRE O’KEEFE Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Engagement

Richard Varadan ’20, Katarina Chavez ‘21, Associate Dean Claire O’Keefe, Chaplain Monsignor McGrath, Carolyn De Salvo ‘20

In the midst of the global pandemic, what does the admissions office attribute to bringing one of the largest classes into Ave Maria Law? In what ways was the admissions office able to adapt their admissions process during Covid-19?

The class of 2023 is the largest and most credentialed class we have welcomed in the last several years. Once the pandemic hit and our school had to go totally online, the admissions department quickly adapted. Our entire process, from initial inquiries, application intake, file review, interviewing to decisions and deposits, continued remotely without any delay. To the outsider, it would have been impossible to tell that it was all done from remote locations. I think the fact that our process was fairly seamless generated confidence in our applicant pool. In addition, we hosted virtual open houses, Q&A series with the Deans and the Admissions Team and zoom events with current students. Due to the virtual nature of our outreach, we were able to reach an even wider audience. In addition, our decisions to go virtual with our very successful summer start program and ultimately our traditional fall start were made early, affording us ample opportunity to advise and counsel students with concrete information about our law school program.

How has the school prepared in order to ensure that students continue to receive a top-notch legal education while starting classes virtually?

Once the decision was made to go online, our faculty and

22 avemarialaw.edu

administration completed hours of training on Zoom, Canvas, CALI and other learning platforms. As a school, we pledged that our students would receive the same robust legal education online as they would in person. When we knew we were going online for the Fall semester, we took it up a notch and did more advanced training, including using CALI to aid in incorporating flipped classrooms and asynchronous components. We continue to improve upon our virtual teaching throughout the Falll semester.

As the Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Engagement, your role allows you to welcome students and remain in touch with them throughout their law school career. What are your hopes for the class of 2023? Any advice?

I am very grateful that my position provides the opportunity to remain in close contact with our students. It is so rewarding to watch as they transition from nervous, overwhelmed 1Ls, then mature and gain confidence, prepare to graduate and head into the world to do great things. Even though the Class of 2023 started their law school and legal career in an unorthodox manner, life is full of surprises and their ability to weather this storm head on and chase their dreams will bode well for their futures. My hope for them is that these next three years are everything they expected and more. It is a time for hard work, personal discovery and achievement, the beginning of life long friendships, challenges and victories and unlike anything else they will experience. My advice: welcome and embrace every minute.

ENTERING CLASS PROFILE Fall 2020*

APPLICANTS

691

119

Total

DEMOGRAPHICS

333 Admitted

49%

51%

MALE

FEMALE

Enrolled

AVERAGE AGE:

LSAT & GPA PROFILE

27 |

AGE RANGE:

20-63

ENROLLED STUDENTS

GPA LSAT

75TH PERCENTILE

3.55 154

HISPANIC LATINO: 21%

MEDIAN

3.37 151

25

2.97 147

BLACK/ AFRICAN AMERICAN: 4%

TH

PERCENTILE

DIVERSITY:

27%

AMERICAN INDIAN/ ALASKAN NATIVE: 1% ASIAN: 1%

RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE CATHOLIC: 57%

OTHER CHRISTIAN: 41%

TUITION

MUSLIM: 1%

DID NOT INDICATE: 1%

$44,000*

LOCATION

*Yearly tuition locked in

NUMBER OF STATES

UNDERGRAD INSTITUTIONS

REPRESENTED:

REPRESENTED:

22

TOP STATES REPRESENTED:

FL • MI • NY

for the class of 2024.

74

AVE MARIA LAW offers a wide range of merit and service based scholarships ranging from $10,000 up to full-tuition.

The total scholarships awarded to the fall 2020 entering class is $2,918,050.

*As of August 20, 2020.

Advocate | 2020

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ADMISSIONS Spotlight on:

TABITHA CANALDA

Associate Director of Admissions and Outreach

24 avemarialaw.edu

Tabitha (Tabbie) Canalda was born in New York City and raised in Southwest Florida. She is a bilingual first generation American with Argentine roots. Tabitha received her Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies from Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers, Florida. She enrolled at Ave Maria Law in the Fall of 2014 and graduated in 2017.

Tabbie, thank you for taking the time for this interview. How would you describe your experience being a part of the Ave Maria Law community?

Thank you, Kristy. It’s a pleasure to be featured in the Advocate. I would say my experience at Ave Maria Law is unique in the sense that I have been a part of both sides of the school. I’ve been a law student and now I am on the other side – Admissions. I knew going into law school that I wanted the education, but I didn’t necessarily have the inclination to practice. In my 2L year I was hired as a work-study student by the Admissions Office and I loved it. I loved working with prospective students and helping them navigate the admissions process. I found my niche and after graduation I applied to be the Associate Director of Admissions. The rest is history. I have been in my position for three years now and continue to love it. Working at your alma mater instills a sense of pride into your work. I want to do my part to ensure students have a great experience at Ave Maria Law. There is always room for growth and improvement, and I love being a part of that here at Ave Maria Law. You attended Ave Maria Law and graduated in 2017. Since then, you have been working for the law school in the Admissions office and you are an integral part of the team’s success. You have first-hand knowledge and experience to share with students interested in attending Ave Maria Law. What are some examples of insights you provide to students considering law school?

This is a question we frequently receive in our department. Law school is an intimidating new chapter. It will challenge your ego and it will force you to grow. Go into it with humility and understand that everyone in your class feels the same way you do – lost. That’s normal! Put in the work and don’t take short cuts, you will only cheat yourself if you do. Stay disciplined and on top of your reading because it can accumulate quickly. Don’t ever hesitate to reach out for help. Back in the day there used to be a sort of stigma against asking for help or guidance. It’s 2020 and people are more aware than ever about mental health and stress. Your professors are one of your best resources. Meet with them if there is a concept you are struggling with. They care about your success and want you to do well. We also have the Academic Success department which is made up of an excellent team that will help you with anything from putting together a study schedule to teaching you how to outline for classes. Moral of the story is don’t feel like you are alone in this journey. Yes, it is a lot of work. Yes, it will be difficult. But you absolutely can do it. And you’ll be prouder than ever when you cross that stage.

“... don’t feel like you are alone in this journey. Yes, it is a lot of work. Yes, it will be difficult. But you absolutely can do it.

And you’ll be prouder than ever when you cross that stage.”

How would you describe a day’s work in your role on the Admissions team?

I hate to say it but my answer to this is it depends. Two words law students are very familiar with! The Admissions process is cyclical.

Depending on which time of year it is, you will find me traveling the country to attend law fairs and meeting prospective students or hosting open houses with my team and conducting interviews. We wrapped up orientation for our 2023 class and it was the first time we’ve ever hosted an orientation virtually.

This season looks a little different for you and your team with many virtual elements being implemented into your programming. Have you viewed this as a benefit? What are some of the initiatives you have considered a success?

It has been different, but these are the situations I thrive in. I love challenges and thinking out of the box. Our new reality has allowed us to be creative and adjust the ways we provide information and host events. We have hosted a variety of live events such as virtual Open Houses, Q & A’s with the Deans, Office Hours with Admissions, and more. I have also enjoyed recording Mock Classes and videos with our Admissions Ambassadors on “Life in Naples”, “How to Succeed in Law School”, and more. The increase in our virtual content has been a benefit, especially for the students that traditionally would’ve been unable to attend any of our in-person events. I see us continuing a lot of it and even expanding well after COVID. For visitors planning a trip to Naples, what are some of the mustdo’s they should add to their list?

Naples is a very laid back and affluent city with amazing dining and beaches. Being the gourmand that I am, I immediately urge you to try some of our great restaurants. We have great seafood options like The Claw Bar and USS Nemo (get the miso seabass, you won’t regret it). For sightseeing, downtown is a must. It’s a great place to grab a bite, walk to the beach and watch one of our famous paradise coast sunsets. Not a bad place to go to school.

What is your favorite quote and why?

One of my favorite quotes is more of a prayer.

“Lord, give me eyes to always see the best in people, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad, and a soul that never loses faith.”

You need to stay positive and faithful in today’s world and you can’t do it without God.

Advocate | 2020

25

CHAPLAIN MONSIGNOR FRANK MCGRATH REFLECTS ON YEARS IN THE PRIESTHOOD

5

MONSIGNOR FRANK MCGRATH, AVE MARIA LAW’S BELOVED CHAPLAIN, CELEBRATED THE MOMENTOUS OCCASION OF 50 YEARS IN THE PRIESTHOOD ON MAY 9, 2020.

DEVOTED TO HIS SERVICE AND A TRUE BLESSING TO OUR COMMUNITY, MONSIGNOR IS THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF AVE MARIA LAW.

26 avemarialaw.edu

Congratulations, Monsignor, on such an exceptional journey. Looking back over the past 50 years of this journey, what stands out of most importance to you?

What is of most importance is through God’s grace keeping Jesus Christ at the center of my life and helping everyone the Lord places in my life do the same. This means a daily life of prayer, the Word and the sacraments.

Relating with the Lord deeply and personally, it also means living a life of repentance from sinful thoughts, actions, and desires. It means loving the poor and protecting the most vulnerable, of turning to Him for truth, life, joy, and love. We must acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, the absolute supreme being, the only one sent to save the human race. We can completely trust Him. He is the end toward which all are headed, the merciful one who loves us deeply and personally. Another very important reality in my life is the presence and role of Mary, the Mother of God. She is a wonderful gift from the Lord to us. She has been in my life from childhood. Two nights before my ordination the Lord came very near, as did Mary. I consecrated my life to her because the Lord inspired me to do so. I know exactly where I was standing when the Lord drew near.

Secretary of State of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Monsignor McGrath

Monsignor McGrath celebrating Ave Maria Law’s Baccalaureate Mass

What has shaped your experience over time serving as Ave Maria Law’s Chaplain?

Monsignor McGrath and Driver participating in Ave Maria Law’s Day of Giving

My experience here at Ave Maria School of Law is shaped by the students whom I have encountered over the past six years. Early on during the COVID-19 pandemic, a professor invited me to join his online class and speak to his students. When I tuned in on my computer the class was underway, and all of the students’ faces appeared live on the screen. I had not seen most of them since the “in person” classes came to a halt and most returned to their home state. I was delighted to be with them again, even if only through the internet. I realized how much I missed them and how important they are. I have a very strong conviction that God and Mary sent me here to be a priest for these students. In some mysterious and spiritual manner the Lord, their shepherd, who lays down his life for his sheep, is sharing with me this important shepherding role (John 10:11ff). My understanding of this reality of being their shepherd shapes my experience and calls me on to serve them.

You work to keep faith at the forefront of the Ave Maria Law community.

Why is it important to keep faith at the center of our lives, personally and professionally?

Monsignor McGrath, Bishop Frank Dewane, Richard Varadan ’20, Tylan Ricketts ’18 celebrating Red Mass at Ave Maria Law

Great question! Your observation is, as they say in Britain, “spot on.” I have a burning desire that students, staff, and faculty experience the power and love that comes through the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Penance, and to accept the truth that faith is the key that opens the door to “knowing” God and his truth about life. Faith is the powerful virtue that allows the Lord to work in and through us to bring His love, mercy and healing. When living and loving true faith, we are protected from the deceitful lies of the devil whose wicked mission is to bring us, the Church, and humanity to eternal death (separation from God and one another).

This living faith is important not only for the student’s own life, but also important to equip them to serve effectively as Christians.

What is your vision for your path over the next several years now that you have reached the milestone of 50 significant years in the priesthood?

Ave Maria Law Marches for Life in Naples

Monsignor McGrath and his friends from FDNY Rescue Company 1

Borrowing from Tom Monaghan, I can say that the path is to live one day at a time, head toward heaven to be with the Lord, to proclaim the truth revealed through the Word of God and teachings of the Church. I want to help everyone to know the powerful love of God revealed in Jesus through repentance and the sacraments and bring, with God’s grace, as many as possible with me to heaven.

Monsignor, you are the heart of the Ave Maria Law community. We are grateful to know you. You are a true blessing and a special part of our lives. Thank you for guiding us in faith through God’s work. You make Ave Maria Law’s faithful community extraordinary. Congratulations on 50 years in the priesthood.

Advocate | 2020

27

Interview with:

VAL OLIVER Web Developer and Social Media Coordinator

Valerine (Val) Oliver is the Web

What do you enjoy most about being on the staff at Ave Maria Law?

Developer and Social Media

When I first started at Ave Maria Law, I knew it was going to be a place I would enjoy coming to work. Everyone around me takes pride in their contribution to the school. There are so many different components that keep the school running smoothly. The staff are all about teamwork and helping one another. This makes a world of difference in a work environment. When I get asked, “Where do you work?”, I am honored to say, I work at Ave Maria School of Law.

Coordinator for Ave Maria Law. Val is currently completing a Master of Science degree in Information and Communications Technology with a concentration in Web Design and Web Development.

What is the day-to-day like in your role?

She received her Bachelor of Arts

Having two major roles within my position, my day must be divided between the role of web developer and social media coordinator. I have found that the most important part of my day is to start off with thanking God and asking him for guidance. Then, having my coffee in hand, I begin to go through emails. Once I have completed my morning ritual, I set myself up with items that must be completed for the day and the week. By the end of the week, my “To Do List” has evolved into several pages of checked off items, notes, and diagrams that could only be understood by me. In both roles, organization is key. I absolutely love the ability to be creative in each role.

in Marriage and Family Studies/ Theology from DeSales University.

Having a demonstrated history of working in the education industry, Val brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Ave Maria Law. Val is a loving wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend.

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”Above all, God has been my strength. With his grace, I have been able to keep myself going through the times I thought I could no longer continue my goals.”

In addition to working and raising a family, you are currently pursuing a Master’s Degree.

This is inspiring. Can you share tips on how you manage it all?

I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who helps me out. Thanks to him, I am not managing it all on my own. We are a team! Most of the time, we are more like a tag team.

I can share what has worked for me. Everyone, of course, has their own way of managing their day to day. Keeping a schedule has been very helpful. I can’t say that I always follow it, but for the most part having a schedule keeps my day organized and on task.

I have also learned how to use the word, “No”. That was very hard to do. Sometimes too many things on your plate can lead to becoming overwhelmed. It can be hard, at times, to balance everything.

Above all, God has been my strength. With his grace, I have been able to keep myself going through the times I thought I could no longer continue my goals. I often have conversations with God for guidance. I ask the Lord to lead me. Sure enough, he always does.

Outside of work and under normal circumstances, what do you and your family enjoy doing for fun?

One of the reasons my family and I moved to Southwest Florida from Pennsylvania was the beautiful beaches. We absolutely love the beach and its close proximity. We are also big on family time. Whenever possible, we enjoy having family cookouts and game night.

What is your favorite quote? Why? I have more of a favorite scripture than a quote. I am big on trying to be as positive as possible. Like everyone, I have gloomy days. With that being said, I turn to the following scripture to get me though uncertain times.

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” Philippians 4:6-7 Thank you for your time, Val.

Advocate | 2020

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EVENTS

Diana and Garrett Richter, Joyce and Gary Tice

Dean Milliron, Tatiana Cancro

Bertha McDaniel and Lavern Gaynor

Jeff McManus with Nancy and Tom Garlick

Bob Messey, Patricia Jilk, Pixie Messey, Craig Jilk

Dick Klaas with Fr. Bill George

Joanne Leoni and MaryAnn Zengerle

Joanne Sintic, Pamela Kramer, Dean Castro

Front Row: Oksana Dognon ‘22, Asli Karaevli, Katia Tarnowicz, Angelica Jones ‘22, Shelby Janicki ‘22, Amanda Elliott ‘22, Rachel Skiba, Sydney Volanski ‘22, Leiny Ruiz ‘22, Christy Trevino ‘21

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Back Row: Andrew Salyer ‘22, Conner O’Brien ‘22, Edner Geffrard ‘22, Jonah Frost ‘22, Lea Mackett, Judelande Jeune ‘22

CANCRO FAMILY WELLNESS CENTER GRAND OPENING

Frantz Michel ‘21, Heidi Roderick, Director of Health and Wellness, Ave Maria Law, Jim Kelleher, The Kelleher Firm, Sue Kelleher, Tom Monaghan, Founder, Ave Maria Law, Dr. Salvatore Lacagnina, Tatiana Cancro, Peter Cancro, CEO Jersey Mike’s, Gary Tomcik, Chief Experience Officer, NCH Healthcare, Monsignor Frank McGrath, Chaplain, Ave Maria Law, Kevin Cieply, President and Dean, Ave Maria Law, Susan Kuhar, Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce

February 7, 2020 was a momentous occasion for the law school.

We held the grand opening of the Cancro Family Wellness Center.

To kick off the opening, we did what we strive to do best — we honored and celebrated our veterans at our Fourth Annual Veterans Celebration. It was exciting to host our first event in our new wellness center and it gave us a glimpse of our future to come.

It takes a village and there were many individuals involved in making this happen. We were extremely blessed to receive a donation in the amount of $2 million from Mr. Peter Cancro, the founder and owner of Jersey Mike’s, his wife Tatiana, and their family for naming rights to the building. Their contribution helps with the operational expenses for the facility.

We received a significant donation from The Kelleher Firm to name the north basketball court. Jim Kelleher, a member of Ave Maria Law’s Board of Governors, and his wife, Sue, are dear friends and supporters of Ave Maria Law. The Kelleher family’s connection to Ave Maria Law runs deep: their son, Patrick, graduated in 2018, their daughter Kathleen’s husband, Eric Leeman, graduated in December, and their children, Mary Clare and Jim, Jr., are members of the Class of 2021.

More than a facility, this wellness center is a part of the law school’s greater mind, body, and spirit initiative. The opening of the Cancro Family Wellness Center aligns with the school’s holistic approach of bringing reason, faith, and wellness into the legal education of its students.

We proudly presented and honored the following individuals with the St. Martin of Tours Hero Awards: William LaMothe, Sean Lux ‘18, and his wife Debi Lux, and Vincent Von Zwehl (posthumously).

Connie Von Zwehl announced the Annual Vincent Von Zwehl Veterans Scholarship which will generously assist and enable veterans to attend Ave Maria Law. Named in honor of Vinny Von Zwehl, a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy and a steadfast friend and benefactor of the law school, the scholarship was recently founded by Mrs. Connie Von Zwehl in memory of her late husband.

The first recipient of this scholarship was Taryn Vaughn ‘20, U.S. Navy Veteran.

Advocate | 2020

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EVENTS

AND FOURTH ANNUAL VETERANS CELEBRATION

Tatiana Cancro, Tom Monaghan, Peter Cancro, Kevin Cieply

Jim Kelleher taking the first official shot!

Mary Kelleher ‘21

Dean Emeritus Milhizer, Sean Lux ’18, Debi Lux, Tom Monaghan, Kevin Cieply

Kevin Cieply, Connie Von Zwehl, Tom Monaghan, Taryn Vaughn ‘20

Members of the Purple Heart

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Professor John Raudabaugh, William LaMothe, Tom Monaghan, Dean Cieply

EDWIN BLACK

Back by popular demand

Mr. Edwin Black visited our campus for a third time, back by popular demand.

On October 11, 2019 Mr. Black shared a compelling and riveting presentation to 100 guests, including faculty, staff, students, and friends of the law school. Mr. Black is an award-winning New York Times international investigative author of 200 award-winning editions, with more than 1.6 million books in print. He spoke to our community about the very important topic that detailed state-sponsored genocide within our midst and exposes pseudo-scientific race policy at the highest level.

Author Edwin Black engaged a crowd of approximately 100 guests on campus

“Edwin Black’s presentation on American Eugenics was one of the best presentations we’ve ever attended. It was dynamic, startling and informative. I always thought eugenics was associated with Germany in the 1930’s. I found out it was alive and well in the United States in the major foundations (Carnegie and Rockefeller) and IBM. The most shocking was that in 1906, an African pigmy was displayed in a cage in the Bronx Zoo for a short time! Following the presentation it is informative to read his IBM book and see in greater detail the American personalities and policies that made the German catastrophe a reality.”

- Jim and Liz Capazzi, guests of the event and friends of Ave Maria Law Author Edwin Black with Dean Cieply

On Tuesday, January 28, 2020 Ave Maria Law hosted its second annual day of giving on campus, the 20th Anniversary Day of Giving. Our community of students, staff, faculty, alumni, benefactors, Board of Governors, and friends of the law school came together in unity. Together we raised over $15,000. Congratulations to the two winning teams: Students and Faculty/Staff! Thank you to every person who contributed to the Second Annual Day of Giving.

“We have a culture of treating one another with grace, sacredness, and kindness. I thank each and every one of you for all you do for our beloved school. We are blessed to share our lives with each other, and blessed to

Save the Date for the Third Annual Day of Giving on JANUARY 29, 2021!

take part in our sacred mission of delivering faith and reason.”

– Kevin Cieply, President & Dean

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EVENTS

SPEAKER SERIES We kicked off the 2019-20 academic year’s Profiles in Ethical Leadership program presentation with special guest of honor, Mr. Peter Stebbins, General Council of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We’re grateful for Mr. Stebbins for sharing his time and wisdom with our students.

Madeleine Bischel ‘20, Theresa Holt ‘20, Giselle Guzman ‘20, Alicia Henry ‘20, Dean Cieply, Peter Stebbins, Cassidy Thomson ‘21, Andrew Hocott ‘21, Christina Roldan ‘21, Frantz Michel ‘21

Our law school had the honor of welcoming Mr. Thomas Garlick, Esq. as one of our esteemed Profiles in Ethical Leadership speakers. Tom is a current member of our Board of Governors. He has been a guiding force at Ave Maria Law and one who has given of his time, talent and treasure to ensure its success.

We are grateful to Tom for his many gifts to the law school.

The pleasure was all ours to host Ms. Mary Demetree, Chairmwoman and Owner of Demetree Global, Demetree Real Estate Services and Demetree Builders, as a Profiles and Ethical Leadership speaker on campus. Her sound advice, career, and life experience resonated with our students, as well as the staff and faculty in attendance. Some of the highlights include:

Tom took the time to speak to our students about his profound life experiences, moments that defined him, and the importance of establishing great relationships.

“If you have a basic moral compass, you choose the right way.”

“Start your day in silence to figure out your calling for the day from the Lord.”

YEAR 3

SPEAKER SERIES 2020-21

Congressman Francis Rooney

19th Congressional District of Florida

Wed. Sept. 23, 2020

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Michael Kane

Stephen Auth

Tom Monaghan

CEO, Boral Corporation

Author, Missionary

Wed. Oct. 28, 2020

of Wall Street

Chairman of the Board and Founder

Fri. Nov. 13, 2020

Ave Maria School of Law

Tues. Feb. 23, 2021

Bill Bradt, Elizabeth Darcy, Donna Bradt, Jane and Nick Healy, Mary Demetree

Bret Baier, Tom Golisano, Daniel Krauthammer and Tom Monaghan

The annual Profiles in Ethical Leadership Signature Event held on Saturday, November 16 flowed so perfectly we couldn’t have asked for a better evening. Bret Baier was an outstanding speaker, providing not only an outstanding presentation, he also served as our live auctioneer and knocked it out of the park. Daniel Krauthammer joined Bret Baier and gave proud honor to his father, the late Dr. Charles Krauthammer.

Dean’s Delegates Carolyn De Salvo ‘20, Richard Varadan ‘20, and Christina Roldan ‘21

The annual St. Luke Award for Distinguished Philanthropy was presented to Peter & Tatiana Cancro and Lavern Norris Gaynor. A $2 million named gift of the Cancro Family Wellness Center on campus was announced. Thank you to our major sponsors including Ave Maria Mutual Funds, Tricia and Frank Hallinan, and First Florida Integrity Bank.

We met up with old friends who continue to support the law school, and also new friends where we look forward to blossoming relationships. The Dean’s Delegates onsite always make us proud and they are true ambassadors of the law school. Our Development and External Affairs team orchestrated this event behind the scenes and logged many hours in doing so.

On behalf of Dean Cieply and the entire law school, we would like to thank all of you who supported Ave Maria Law on this special evening. The law school raised a significant amount of monetary donations for scholarships to deserving students and veterans. This incredible support allows students to attend Ave Maria Law who otherwise wouldn’t be able to do so.

Martha MacCallum

Kevin Cieply and Tom Monaghan present the St. Luke Award for Distinguished Philanthropy to Lavern Norris Gaynor

Barbi Hills and Jerrilyn Hoffmann

Fox News Commentator, Anchor and Executive Editor of The Story with Martha MacCallum And a special celebration of Tom Monaghan’s Birthday!

Thursday, March 25, 2021 • 5:30 p.m.

Virtual Nationwide and Live Event Royal Poinciana Golf Club Exclusive presentation with a Live Auction For more information call 239-687-5405

Dean Cieply and Tom Monaghan presenting Bret Baier with his Honorary Degree

Advocate | 2020

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EVENTS

Justice Gorsuch with Dean Cieply

Dean Cieply, Justice Gorsuch, Professors Mollie Murphy and Richard Myers

U.S. Supreme Court Justice

NEIL GORSUCH

Visited Ave Maria Law’s Campus and Community

United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch visited Ave Maria Law’s campus on March 11, 2020. Justice Gorsuch was

the tenth speaker of the Ave Maria Law Lecture Series. The series was originated over twenty years ago through the generosity of the Law School’s original faculty members, Professor Joseph Falvey, Professor Stephen Safranek, Professor Richard Myers and Professor Mollie Murphy. The professors endowed the lecture series to underscore their investment in this nascent enterprise—and to signify their faith in the merits of Ave Maria Law’s mission. We are honored to welcome Justice Gorsuch to this esteemed group of individuals.

The Justice’s campus visit commenced by talking with students in the classroom followed by a special reception with the Law School’s faculty members. Justice Gorsuch then proceeded to speak to our student body, alumni, faculty, and staff in our Cancro Family Wellness Center as our guest of honor for the Ave Maria Law Lecture series. His topic of conversation before the Q & A with students was his respect and high regard for James Madison and how Madison has shaped our country, how our Constitution is of utmost importance, and how the written word is everything.

Justice Gorsuch, Marie Louise Gorsuch, Tom Monaghan, John Ferguson, Karen Ferguson

Justice Gorsuch visiting an Ave Maria Law class

That same evening Justice Gorsuch joined our community for a fireside chat with Dean Cieply at a private golf club in Naples, generously hosted by Karen and John Ferguson.

He shared insights from his book, A Republic, If You Can Keep It. The book addresses the fundamental principles our Founders established in our Constitution. Justice Gorsuch explained why originalism and textualism are so critical in preserving our Constitution and way of life. As the most “Conservative” law school in the country, Ave Maria Law ascribes to this approach. It is precisely how we teach our students Constitutional Law. It was Ave Maria Law’s great privilege to host Justice Gorsuch. It was a momentous occasion that touched and inspired the lives of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends.

Thank you to the External Affairs team for all their efforts in producing this significant day of events.

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Justice Gorsuch addressing the Ave Maria Law community at the Cancro Family Wellness Center

“Never has it been more important to invest in the future of Ave Law.” DONNA C. HEISER, APR, CFRE Chief Advancement and External Affairs Officer Over the past two decades, Ave Maria School of Law has been educating future lawyers with impeccable technical skills and a steady commitment to the moral and ethical values that have made this country great. Never in those past twenty years has that duty been more important or more relevant than now.

Amidst a landscape of the Covid pandemic, divisive and liberal leaning politics and volatile civil unrest, it is more important than ever to invest in future lawyers, lawmakers and judges with conservative values and beliefs. The survival of capitalism and our constitutional freedoms are at risk.

One important way that you can make an impact on the future of our great country is by investing in our scholarship program to educate tomorrows leaders. Leaders that possess a strong moral compass and a commitment to conservatism and our Constitution. Our students are educated in faith and reason, and graduate with a foundation of ethical leadership and Catholic values.

Attending one of our virtual events would be a wonderful way to support Ave Maria Law. Our annual Veterans Memorial Celebration will be a nationwide virtual event this year that will include a live auction to benefit scholarships. Information on the November 11 event is included in this issue of the Advocate.

Mitzi Magin, one of our treasured benefactors who recently passed noted, “It is vitally important for our future lawyers to be advocates of the law and to uphold it. We are facing tremendous challenges in our country. The need for moral lawyers who will advocate for traditional values, rather than obstructionists who seek to undermine our government is essential.”

Never has it been more important to invest in the future of Ave Maria Law than now! I cannot thank you enough for your past support and for your prayerful consideration to continue to help us to educate tomorrow’s conservative leaders.

With gratitude, Donna C. Heiser, APR, CFRE Chief Advancement and External Affairs Officer

“It was truly our honor to welcome United States Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch as the tenth speaker of our Ave Maria Law Lecture Series. The Ave Law Advancement and External Affairs team were privileged to work with Karen and John Ferguson, and Justice Gorsuch’s staff to produce both the campus and evening events. Together we hosted over 800 people and enjoyed a memorable visit by a Justice who will profoundly influence the future of American jurisprudence,” noted Donna Heiser, Chief Advancement and External Affairs Officer.

CONTACT DONNA HEISER:

dheiser@avemarialaw.edu 239-687-5405

Catherine Bequette, our former Events Specialist, was such an important part of our school community. Though Catherine has left us to be with family in Texas, she will always remain a part of the Ave Maria Law family. Catherine is a proud and loving daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother. Thank you, Catherine, for your important contributions to Ave Maria Law. On her first day at Ave Law, Catherine noted that she “started with not knowing how to enter the Administration building! I came across staff member, Cindy Mariconda. She cheerfully escorted me to the back entrance. After settling in, Rhonda Skeete, another colleague, took me throughout the campus and introduced me to every single person. I had never felt so welcomed and connected.”

“An important piece of advice I follow is to be polite, do what’s right, never give up, and always give 110% in everything you do.”

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GIVING

A V E MERICA

We at Ave Maria School of Law believe in America. Our mission is to offer our students an outstanding legal education in fidelity to the Catholic Faith. To fulfill those ends, we honor our veterans by providing full tuition scholarships. We honor our nation’s founding principles by advocating for the preservation of our Constitution. We remain steadfast in our religious convictions and especially in the First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. We embrace the conservative values that have enabled this country to prosper and to offer every citizen the opportunity to achieve the American dream. We are blessed to be forming faithful lawyers who will advocate for all these sacred Truths we hold self-evident.

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VETERANS

Why do young men and women choose to make the sacrifices necessary to serve our country in the United States Armed Forces?

Three things come to mind: • An abiding respect for our country and the principles upon which it was founded • A belief that there is something bigger and more important than self, such as protecting the freedoms of all • A realization that the land of the free exists only because of the brave Ave Maria School of Law recognizes their sacrifice and honors their commitment to our country. We have committed to help qualified veterans receive full tuition scholarships. Their determination, leadership skills, perseverance, and love of country provide an excellent basis for the study of law. Our veteran graduates are taking the lessons they learned in the military, refined by the teaching of Faith and Reason at Ave Maria Law, and are making an impact in the our country and on our culture.

THICS

When Tom Monaghan decided to start Ave Maria School of Law, he had one overriding goal- to train lawyers who not only excelled in the practice of law, but who were formed in morals and ethics according to the Catholic intellectual tradition. As other Catholic law schools have drifted more and more toward moral relativism, Ave Maria School of Law has remained steadfast to its Mission. We are the only Catholic law school that requires three ethics related courses. And we recognize and applaud those who by example embrace ethical leadership.

Profiles in Ethical Leadership is a series of monthly presentations by distinguished CEO’s and leaders on the importance of leadership, morality, and ethics in business and the law. This goes hand-in-hand with the mission of our school, where we are training future leaders with a strong moral compass.

L AW AWYERS

The task of any law school is to produce lawyers who possess the requisite skills and knowledge to engage in their chosen field of practice.

But what is the value of a lawyer without a strong moral compass? At Ave Maria School of Law, both what we teach and how we teach it makes us unique among law schools. We are the only law school that requires three ethics related courses.

Lawyers are some of our most powerful and influential decision makers and creative thinkers. All of our judges are lawyers, a significant portion of our state and federal legislators are lawyers, and over half of our U.S. presidents have held law degrees.

At Ave Maria School of Law, the very foundation for our students’ education rests in Faith and Reason, on morals, ethics and on Catholic values. That foundation is the guiding light for the rest of their careers and lives.

LUMNI

ALL OF HONOR

Created 20 years ago as a dream in the mind of Tom Monaghan and with a first class of only 76 students, Ave Maria School Law has now graduated over 2,400 lawyers trained in the moral foundation of the Catholic Church.

To honor is to pay special respect to someone for an extraordinary achievement or sacrifice.

What kind of an impact are they having?

They are culture changing! Ave Maria Law has seven alumni who have been elected or appointed to state and federal judgeships.

Its graduates have presented arguments at the Supreme Court of the United States, advocating for religious freedom and for protection of the most vulnerable.

Our graduates are proudly serving our country as JAG Officers in the military, and act in corporate counsel positions for major corporations. As supporters of our mission and our students, we hope you share the pride we feel in the life impacting accomplishments of our alumni.

This is precisely the purpose of Ave Maria Law’s Wall of Honor. On the wall, located in the Veterans Memorial Law Library, are inscribed the names of brave men and women, alive or deceased, whose families have chosen to honor their service in the U.S. Armed forces. The Wall of Honor includes a feature which allows the veteran or his or her family to create a video tribute to tell the veteran’s story for future generations to hear. Proceeds benefit scholarships for veterans.

If you would like to learn more about how you can honor a beloved veteran on the Ave Maria Law’s Wall of Honor, please contact Jackie Burke at

239-687-5405.

Advocate | 2020

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GIVING

JIM FENNESSEY

Remembering a Quiet, Faithful Man There are certain people who, by their faith, friendship and leadership can make and leave a lasting impression on all those they meet. Jim Fennessey was one of those people. Jim was not one who sought the spotlight, nor boasted, nor sought accolades for his good works. But good works he did. Jim faithfully served his God and his Church. He was a Knight of Columbus, a member of Legatus and a parishioner of St. William Church in Naples, FL, St. Virgils Church in Morris Plains, NJ and Our Lady of Snows in Woodstock, VT. Jim was also passionate about the causes he believed in. Â One of those causes was Ave Maria School of Law. Having recognized early on the critical need for an authentically Catholic law school, Jim readily agreed to serve on its board. Jim began serving on the Board in 2010 when the law school relocated to Naples, FL and remained an active and integral part of the board until his passing in March of 2020. Jim was not just a board member, he was an untiring advocate for the law school. In fact, he was part of an advocate team consisting of him and his beloved wife, Moira. In the ten years Jim was on the board, they rarely missed a law school function. In fact, during that time they frequently were the driving force behind law school events, often hosting and paying for them on their own.

Jim’s business acumen and love for his faith are deeply missed by the law school board.

Those whose paths he gently touched will remember him fondly. The love and admiration Jim had for Ave Maria School of Law lives on through his wife, Moira. With each new Ave Maria Law event she organizes or attends, we will surely recall wonderful memories of Jim and will be reminded of the significant contributions he made to assure that Ave Maria Law School was successful and remained committed to its faithful founding mission. We miss you Jim. May you rest in peace.

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Mitzi Magin

A light that will never cease to shine How do you say goodbye to someone who defined the very essence of grace, courage, charm, intelligence, and beauty? The passing of Ave Maria Law Board of Governors member Mitzi Magin was a deep sorrow and tragic loss personally to me, and to those of us who had the privilege of knowing her. She will remain in our hearts and minds forever. Her devotion to Catholic education in Southwest Florida was legendary. Beginning with establishing the St. Ann School Foundation more than 30 years ago and continuing with her support of St. John Newmann High School and Ave Maria School of Law, Mitzi worked tirelessly to provide scholarships to deserving students, be they elementary, middle school, high school or law school. Thousands of children and young adults were given the opportunity to experience a Catholic education, thanks to her generosity and vision.

Mitzi told me many times that education was the most valuable asset one could provide to a child. She remarked that “By offering an education to our young people, we not only help develop mind, body and spirit but also their sense of knowing the true meaning of freedom, social justice, and peace; and that by accomplishing this we plant a ‘seed of hope,’ not only for their future but for all mankind.” What an inspiration she was!

Mitzi Magin with Donna Heiser

For the many social events she attended and hosted on behalf of Catholic education, for her insight and steady counsel to the boards she served on, to the way she lived her faith by loving her God and her church, Mitzi was indeed something special. She will be missed.

Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of the Diocese of Florida in Venice and a fellow member of Ave Maria Law’s Board of Governors, was saddened by her death and noted that “her commitment to Catholic Education inspired others to follow her lead. She was a dear friend who thought of others first.”

Mitzi was a truly beautiful person inside and out. Anyone lucky enough to have known her or have been in her presence will agree that she was a light that will never cease to shine. She became a treasured friend to everyone she met. Mitzi was a superb conversationalist, always asking about our lives, listening to us, informing us and often times challenging us. She had impeccable taste and an impressive appreciation of modern art. How she loved to entertain and to be entertained! Her zest for life was indeed, contagious.

An example of the impact of her philanthropy can be found on the Naples campus of St. John Neumann Catholic High School where a 35-foot Celtic Cross was dedicated in her honor in 2010.

Born in Chicago and raised in the San Francisco area, Mitzi was a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. She was married to James F. Magin for fifty years until his passing in 2012. They resided in Chicago for 24 years, where Mitzi was actively involved in numerous charities, and in 1987 the couple moved to Naples.

In addition to her philanthropy to benefit Catholic education, Mitzi‘s charitable work included St. Ann Church, The Blessed Edmond Rice School of Pastoral Ministry, Catholic Charities, Professional Givers Anonymous, Naples Community Hospital and NCH Healthcare Foundation.

Mitzi was preceded in death by her husband as well as her brother, G. Stuart Spence Jr. She is survived by her stepmother, Grace Spence of San Francisco, her brother, Richard Spence (Leanne) of Wilsonville, Oregon, her sister-in-law, Carol L. Spence, of Montecito, California; and nieces and nephews.

A few years ago, when interviewing her for an article in the Advocate, I asked Mitzi what advice she would share with the young men and women at Ave Maria Law. Without hesitation, she said that “it is vitally important for our future lawyers to be advocates of the law and to uphold it. We are facing tremendous challenges in our country and the need for moral lawyers who will advocate for traditional values, rather than obstructionists who seek to undermine our government, has never been more important or essential.” Those words are even more relevant today.

Rest in peace, Mitzi. Your light will never cease to shine for us.

– Donna C. Heiser

Advocate | 2020

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GIVING

In Loving Memory of

Agnes “Be” Enochs

We were very saddened to note the passing of a good friend of Ave Maria School of Law from Manhattan Beach, California, Mrs. Agnes Enochs. Affectionately know as “Be,” she and her husband Duane have been benefactors and friends of the law school for many years. Be was a very devout Catholic who believed in the law school’s mission to educate moral and ethical lawyers that will make a difference in our world, and who will stand for all that is good. We attended Be’s funeral in February and remarked on the many friends and family that paid tribute to this lovely lady. Our sincere condolences are with her husband Duane and her family. May she rest in peace, and may her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace.

THE MITZI MAGIN SCHOLARSHIP The recent passing of Board of Governors member Mitzi Magin was a tragic loss to those of us who had the privilege of knowing her, and to the entire Ave Maria Law community.

Her devotion to Catholic education and to Ave Maria School of Law helped to provide scholarships to many deserving students, thanks to her generosity and vision.

We are truly privileged to announce the establishment of the Mitzi S.Magin Scholarship at Ave Maria School of Law, in honor and in memory of her significant impact on Catholic legal education.

Mitzi believed that it was “vitally important for future lawyers to be advocates of the law and to uphold it. We are facing tremendous challenges in our country and the need for moral lawyers who will advocate for traditional values, rather than obstructionists who seek to undermine our government, has never been more important or essential.”

For more information or if you would like to contribute a gift to the Mitzi S. Magin Scholarship fund, please contact

Donna Heiser at 239-687-5405 or dheiser@avemarialaw.edu.

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“

MY SUPPORT FOR THE PRESENTMY COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE “I have been involved with the Ave Maria School of Law program since 2008 when the Law School first began the transition from Michigan to the Naples, Florida campus. Classrooms and facilities were being redesigned for several months before the faculty, the staff and the first class of students arrived on campus. I was honored to be able to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony in the Commons area to officially open the new campus in March of 2009.

In the 11 years since that day, I have watched the Law School and its’ campus grow with steadfast confidence deeply rooted in the balance of faith and reason. In all those years, the mission and the vision have remained clear and have never changed. If anything the commitment became stronger with each passing year. I believe in the mission and I share the vision. The graduates of this Law School will make a real difference in who we are as a community and who we are as a country. I want to support that effort.

In 2019, I decided to begin a Charitable Gift Trust in which five 501(c)(3) organizations will receive a portion of the Gift Trust following my passing. One of those organizations is Ave Maria School of Law. I have made the commitment to grow the amount of the irrevocable Gift Trust each year with a sizeable donation to the Trust so that the total value of the Trust will increase over time with the help of a mildly aggressive investment strategy. It is simply the right thing to do for me and for Ave Maria School of Law. A quick discussion with my financial advisor and the strategy was initiated in a matter of minutes.

This Trust in no way replaces the need to assist the Law School each year in support of its’ extensive scholarship program for students in need and for military veterans seeking a law degree. That is an ongoing need and cannot wait for a trust to be executed in future years.

So there is balance of supporting the Law School’s short term operating needs with long term institutional support. These are two extremely important and completely separate issues for the Law School and there is a time and an opportunity to support both.

I am absolutely delighted to be able to recognize several family members who served in the U.S. Military. The Wall of Honor located just inside the entrance to the Veterans Memorial Law Library provides an opportunity to acknowledgeable their service and sacrifice. I visit that wall frequently in memory of all those who honorably served this country to preserve our freedom. Through the “Veterans Legacies at Ave Law” program, a grateful nation will never forget.”

”

– Anonymous current and planned giving donor

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GIVING

WHAT DO WE

Owe Our Children?

JEFF McMANUS Planned and Leadership Gifts Officer

As a parent and grandparent, and an estate planning attorney for over 40 years, I have had the opportunity to see the way many people approach planning for end of life issues. I have seen people who have put off the preparation of essential estate planning documents to the detriment of their surviving spouse or children. I have seen people content to make a simple will believing that such a document would provide an adequate and cost effective means to pass property on to their heirs. And not nearly often enough, I have seen people who were genuinely concerned enough about their families to timely complete and document a plan that would allow their survivors to avoid being forced to work through a maze of complex and costly tasks to administer their estate.

We all have an estate — some kind of assets or property that will be left to others when we pass away. Most of us have more than we realize. Think about your real estate, investment accounts, retirement plans, checking and savings accounts, life insurance, health savings accounts, business interests, cars, boats, personal property, safety deposit boxes, and more. To the extent that we have not left a well-organized roadmap for those we leave behind to follow, we are not only doing them a disservice but we are risking the need to spend thousands of dollars in that forced discovery process.

I have found that if people will do just three things well, they will be more comfortable during their lifetimes and more importantly, their survivors will be able to deal with the pain of a loss without also having also to deal with costly unknowns to clear up their loved one’s unplanned estate.

Think about the need after death for survivors to provide a birth certificate, military records, social security number and Medicare information. Think about what secure information is kept primarily on line with private (and perhaps unknown to the survivor) passwords.

PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FAVORITE CHARITIES IS AS EASY AS 1,2,3!

1

GET ORGANIZED!

3

CONSIDER THE LEGACY YOU WANT TO LEAVE 44 avemarialaw.edu

2

ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT YOUR ESTATE PLAN

1

GET ORGANIZED!

Think about all the professionals you deal with on an ongoing basis—tax, financial planning, legal, banking and investments.

If you do not have all this information in one place and keep it updated, you will be leaving your survivors with an unwelcome and overwhelming task. This can be avoided easily by creating a record book containing all of the information set forth above. These type of books with blanks to fill in are usually available in office supply stores, bookstores or on line. If you send me an email or call me, I will even send you one. Please do yourself and especially your family an invaluable service by finding and filling out a record book today. Then, keep it in a safe place and tell your family where they can find it. This can of course be done on line as well. If done on line, it is still a good idea to make a printed copy, and make sure a trusted family member knows your password and where to find your on line records.

2

ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT YOUR ESTATE PLAN

3

CONSIDER THE LEGACY YOU WANT TO LEAVE

Once you have created your record book, you have a document listing all the assets you need to plan for. This will help you and your attorney and will save you time and money. Fortunately, there are many ways to arrange for the transfer of assets to loved ones upon your death that cost little or no money. These methods include transfer or payable on death designations for bank accounts and investments, and beneficiary designations on life insurance policies and retirement accounts. There are even ways to provide for the transfer real estate to others upon death through joint ownership or a Lady Bird deed. However, none of these simple and inexpensive means of providing for the transfer of all or part of your estate should be done without consulting a qualified estate planning attorney.

So what about the question raised in the title of this article? What do we owe our children? I have always believed in the premise that as parents, we do not “owe our children” everything we worked for.

At a minimum, your attorney may recommend the following documents should be considered and usually made part of every estate plan:

• High standards in morals, ethics and family values to emulate

• Advance Directive – Living Will Declaration Form • Durable Financial Power of Attorney • Last Will and Testament • Revocable Living Trust Agreement – (Usually recommended) • Certificate of Trust Existence – (For use with a Living Trust) There are other documents that your attorney will discuss with you that may be recommended for your specific personal or financial situation. That is why the process is called Estate Planning. All the information that is personal to you must be considered to implement a plan that will result in the best possible outcome for you and your family. And remember, if a Revocable Living Trust is part of your plan, complete that process by the prompt transfer of appropriate assets into the trust.

In June we celebrated my wife’s parent’s 70th wedding anniversary.

It gave us an opportunity to reflect and share with them how their lives and examples had impacted their six children. Each of them sent a short list of the biggest impressions that their parents’ lives had made on them. The themes were pretty consistent including: • An exceptional example of love, support and commitment to their marriage vows • Caring generosity in support of critical causes they believed in, especially Catholic education • Uncompromising love of family and of country This was their lifetime legacy. Through their estate plan, they will complete that legacy by continuing to provide funding for critical causes they believed in and supported during their lifetimes. Like estate gifts that can be made to family members at little or no cost, similar low or no cost methods can be used to make charitable estate gifts, including payable or transfer on death provisions for bank or investment accounts, beneficiary designations for insurance policies or retirement accounts and even gifts of real estate. If lifetime tax or income benefits are desired, an attorney can help create more detailed plans which may include charitable trusts or a charitable gift annuity.

With many of us remaining at home as a precautionary measure, now is a perfect time to organize. Get your planning record today and start filling it out. Remember to get in touch with me if your need one. Think about what your ideal estate plan would look like, including any charities you may wish to continue to help such as Ave Maria School of Law. Then make an appointment with an estate planning attorney to prepare and implement your estate plan. Finally, sleep better!

For more information about making an estate gift to Ave Maria School of Law, contact Jeff McManus, JD at: jmcmanus@avemarialaw.edu or 239-250-3536 or visit our website at: www.avemarialaw.edu/giving/planned-giving-questions

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GIVING

IMPACTING THE WORLD THROUGH

INTERNSHIPS

There are many critical factors that separate Ave Maria School of Law from all other law schools such as: • Three required classes in morals and ethics • Being consistently named the nation’s most conservative law school • We support a full time chaplain on campus • The Holy sacrifice of the Mass available two times a day on campus • A Crucifix in every classroom • Classes that begin with a prayer • Our students’ consistent top placement in national Moot Court competitions • A faculty with practicing Catholics • A commitment to only invite speakers and honor individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to our mission and values And, in addition to these mission driven attributes, Ave Maria School of Law provides three very unique opportunities for its students to learn and make an impact in national and international settings. One opportunity is through a Legal Internship program in the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations. Next is a Legal Internship program for a Catholic Forum

of Non-Governmental Organizations in Rome. In addition, students have an opportunity to take a semester in Washington, D.C. with the Culture of Life Institute. Several of our students have stated that these internships available through Ave Maria School of Law constituted the top reason they chose our school.

Although criticism of aspects of the United Nations may be fair, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations works to advance freedom of religion and respect for the sanctity of all human life-from conception to natural death and thus all aspects of authentic human development including marriage and family, the primary role of parents, and more.

The Ave Maria Law Legal Internship program at the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York provides our students with the opportunity to gain invaluable experience assisting the work of the Holy See in its important work at the UN, seeking to bring the light of Catholic Social Teaching to the debates of the international community.

The D.C. Legal Internship with Culture of Life Institute (DCCLI) in the Nation’s Capitol, Washington D.C. allows students to gain invaluable experience assisting the work of the United States Congress (and, in the future, in federal departments, agencies, or commissions) on issues relating to bioethics.

Let’s hear directly from some of our student interns on how this internship experience has increased their understanding and helped prepare them to advocate on important national and global issues.

“I can’t overstate the importance of spending a semester at the United Nations with the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission.

The UN was an immersion into the “big picture” intersection of law, politics, trade, and diplomacy. It gave me front-row access to watching how ideas — both good, and very very bad — are first proposed, then discussed, then disseminated out into the world. That semester was the essence of leadership training.

CHRISTOPHER JAY (2018)

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When you work as an intern for the Holy See, you are an intern as to the Holy See, but you are a full-fledged delegate as far as the UN is concerned. This means that you have full access to anything and anywhere (aside from high-security events), including the General Assembly and Security Council meetings.

Many within the UN push dangerous ideas; and many fight back with good ideas. My semester in Manhattan with the Holy See, in conjunction with law school, was one of the most powerful experiences of my life.”

“I took on a wide range of responsibilities during my semester in D.C. I was able to attend House Committee hearings to aid my supervisor while he interviewed witnesses about current political issues pertaining to bioethics, marriage and the family, human sexuality and human life that I was researching at the time. I also reviewed proposed legislation and researched the possible consequences of its enactment.

CLAIRE GUGGEMOS (2020) Claire Guggemos completed a legal internship with The Culture of Life Institute in Washington, DC in the Spring 2019.

I gained a great respect for the work that congressional members and staff do. Learning about all of the background work that goes into writing and passing legislation was really interesting and provided me with a new outlook on the legislative process.”

“Part of my work for the Catholic-Inspired NGO Forum in Rome involved designing surveys for circulation to over one hundred nongovernmental organizations from around the world to map their common ground, challenges, and goals surrounding social and political issues in human rights, health, education, family, and migration. I compiled and analyzed responses as the foundation of arguments I drafted for final incorporation into a published best-practices manual for presentation to Pope Francis and for use by NGOs. Additionally, I researched the legal arguments used in European and foreign courts to promote new gender ideology agendas.

The internships offered by Ave Maria School of Law are the top reason I chose to come here, and I am reminded every day that I picked the right law school.”

These internship opportunities are just another aspect of the unique legal education offered to students at Ave Maria School of Law. However, they come at a cost. Our interns need financial help to participate in these invaluable experiences. Will you please consider a tax deductible donation to help them with the cost of travel, living expenses and mentoring? Your help assures that our students will be able to take advantage of these life changing experiences. All donor levels will receive a personal note from a student about their internship experiences.

CARMEN TATE (2021)

The Rome Forum being recognized

by Pope Francis. Professor Brian Scarnecchia (pictured second from left) is the founding member of the Rome Forum of Catholic Inspired NGOs. Also pictured are Carmen Tate (third from left), Class of 2021, and alumnus Geoffrey Strickland (third from right), Class of 2009.

BLESSED PATRON: $2,500 VENERABLE PATRON: $5,000 SAINTLY PATRON: $10,000

Please contact Jeff McManus, JD for more information or to help sponsor a student:

jmcmanus@avemarialaw.edu or 239-250-3536

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GIVING

AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW

Thank You

BOARD OF GOVERNORS Mr. Lawrence J. Blanford

Retired CEO, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.

Mr. Kevin Cieply

Mrs. Mary Ann Gadziala

Former Senior Executive/Attorney Securities Exchange Commission, U.S. Treasury, and Federal Reserve Board

Mr. Thomas S. Monaghan Chairman of the Board, Ave Maria Foundation

Mrs. Cathy Ruse

President and Dean, Ave Maria School of Law

Mr. Thomas B. Garlick

Managing Partner, Thomas B. Garlick, P.A.

Senior Fellow for Legal Studies at the Family Research Council

Dr. C. William Colburn

Mrs. Kathleen H. Kane

Mr. Ronald J. Rychlak

Mr. James J. Kelleher

Mr. Michel Saadeh

Mr. Richard L. Klaas

Rear Admiral Henry F. White, Jr.

Emeritus Professor, University of Michigan

His Excellency Frank J. Dewane

Bishop of the Diocese of Venice in Florida

Mr. John J. Ferguson, Esq.

Senior Partner, Ferguson Cohen LLP, Greenwich, Connecticut and Naples, Florida

Former Senior Executive/Employment Counsel, USG Corporation and Attorney, Winston & Strawn Managing Partner, The Kelleher Firm, P.A. Partner, Klaas Capital Group

His Eminence Adam Cardinal Maida Archbishop Emeritus of Detroit

Distinguished Professor of Law, Jamie L. Whitten Chair of Law & Government, University of Mississippi School of Law CEO, Premier Homes of Naples USN (Ret.), Former Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the American Bar Association

Welcome

We are blessed and honored to welcome Mr. John J. Ferguson and Mrs. Kathleen Kane to Ave Maria School of Law’s Board of Governors. These two individuals are not only highly accomplished in their fields of law, but also shine as exemplary pillars of our Catholic faith and community. We look forward to the great work this board aims to accomplish at Ave Maria Law in the coming years.

Mr. John J. Ferguson, Esq. is a managing

Senior Partner at Ferguson Cohen LLP in Greenwich, Connecticut and also a resident of Naples, Florida. He has focused his legal practice for 50 years in the area of trusts. He carries an AV rating by Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating given to lawyers, and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1966, Connecticut Bar in 1979, and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1970. He is a member of the Greenwich, Westchester County, Connecticut and New York State Bar Associations in the Trusts and Estates Law Section.

Mr. Ferguson received his JD from Fordham University School of Law, New York, New York and his Bachelor of Science in History from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Mr. Ferguson has been director of Patriot National Bank in Stamford, Connecticut. He has also served as Associate Trustee of the College of the Holy Cross, as a member of the President’s Advisory Board of the College of New Rochelle, and has served as a Trustee of several institutions. Currently, he is a member of the Board of Directors of St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY, Guadalupe Center of Immokalee, FL, and sits on the board at Ave Maria University in addition to countless other boards. He is a Knight of Malta and also a member of the President’s Council of the College of Holy Cross.

Mr. Ferguson and his wife, Karen, are founding members of the Ave Maria Law Veterans Memorial Law Library.

48 avemarialaw.edu

Also joining the Board of Governors will be Mrs. Kathleen Hechinger Kane, an attorney and former Senior Executive/ Counsel who has practiced Employment, Labor and ERISA law over several decades at two national law firms (Winston & Strawn and Keck, Mahin & Cate) and a Fortune 500 Company (USG Corporation and several of its subsidiaries). Mrs. Kane also specializes in Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Executive and Professional Coaching, and the creation and management of Employee Diversity Programs. Mrs. Kane has over twenty years of Catholic education, including a BA (cum laude) from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, a JD from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, and an MS (with Honors) from Creighton University School of Law in Negotiations and Alternative Dispute Resolution. She is an experienced speaker and has volunteered as a teaching assistant at Loyola School of Law and at her children’s schools, including over 15 years teaching Catholic Catechism through CCD. Mrs. Kane and her husband, Mike, have been involved with Ave Maria University for over 13 years and are Charter Members of the Atlanta Chapter of Legatus, as well as members of the San Francisco and Naples Chapters.

Mr. and Mrs. Kane are founding members of the Ave Maria Law Veterans Memorial Law Library.

AWARD RECIPIENTS ST. MARTIN OF TOURS HERO AWARD RECIPIENTS:

Casey S. Askar

Kenneth H. Cooper

John Gideon

Martin C. Boire

Sean M. and Mrs. Lux

Vincent VonZwehl

ST. LUKE PHILANTHROPY AWARD RECIPIENTS:

Dale A. Mullin

Patrick F. Adams

Rev. Msgr. Carl D. Hinrichsen

Peter and Tatiana Cancro

The late Earl Hodges, accepted by his wife Thelma Hodges

William LaMothe

William J. Schoen

Lavern Norris Gaynor

B. Thomas Golisano

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GIVING

VETERAN

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW Thank you for supporting our Veteran Scholarship Program We are grateful to you for supporting Veteran Scholarships at Ave Maria School of Law. Your generosity has helped to provide scholarships to veterans so that they may earn their law degree. Your support of Catholic legal education is a vital part of this mission to serve our nation’s heroes and recognizes Ave Maria School of Law’s tradition of honoring our military veterans.

2017-2019 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS JOSEPH BARE (CLASS OF 2019)

Undergraduate Major: Legal Studies Veteran Status: Rank-First Sergeant, US Army, 20-Years of Service Awards/Clubs: (2 CALI Awards), SenatorStudent Bar Association & Associate Editor-Law Review

DIEGO GIL (CLASS OF 2019)

Undergraduate Major: BS in Criminal Justice Veteran Status: Rank-Petty Officer Third Class, US Navy, 4-Years of Service Awards/Clubs: (1 CALI Award), PresidentVeteran Law Society & Winner-Moot Court Bork Internal Competition

NATHANIEL GORHAM (CLASS OF 2020)

JAMEL JOHNSON (CLASS OF 2019)

Undergraduate Major: Business Administration Veteran Status: Rank-E-4, US Air Force, 4 -Years of Service Awards/Clubs: Black Law Student Association

LAZARO LOPEZ (CLASS OF 2021)

Undergraduate Major: International Relations Veteran Status: Rank-E5, US Marine Corps, 8-Years of Service Awards/Clubs: Law Review

EUSEBIO MORENO ORTIZ (CLASS OF 2023)

Undergraduate Major: Political Science Veteran Status: Rank-First Lieutenant, US Army, 7-Years of Service Awards/Clubs: (2 CALI Awards)

Undergraduate Major: Legal Studies Veteran Status: Rank-E-5 Petty Officer Second Class, US Navy, 4-Years of Service

JUSTIN GRIFFITH (CLASS OF 2021)

Undergraduate Major: Political Science Veteran Status: Rank-Captain, US Army, 21-Years of Service

JONATHAN HOWARD (CLASS OF 2021)

Undergraduate Major: Mathematics Veteran Status: Rank-Colonel 06, US Army, 25-Years of Service

Undergraduate Major: Legal Studies Veteran Status: Rank-Sergeant, US Army Active Duty, 9-Years of Service

Undergraduate Major: BS Veteran Status: Rank-Staff Sergeant, US Air Force, 11-Years of Service

TYLAND HUNTER (CLASS OF 2021)

Undergraduate Major: Humanities Veteran Status: Rank-E5, US Army & Navy, 9-Years of Service, 19K (Armor Crewman) deployed to Iraq in 20072009 and to Afghanistan 2011 to 2012 Awards/Clubs: Governor-Florida Bar YLD 50 avemarialaw.edu

MATTHEW STAUFFER (CLASS OF 2021)

CAROLYN STEWART (CLASS OF 2020)

TARYN VAUGHN (CLASS OF 2020)

Undergraduate Major: Psychology Veteran Status: Rank- E5, US Navy, 6-Years of Service Awards/Clubs: (1CALI Award), Veterans Law Society Computer Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) Award

In Celebration and Gratitude to Tom Monaghan for 20 Years of Educating moral, ethical and faithful lawyers

TOM MONAGHAN With His Eyes On Heaven Sometimes, it is easy to blame others and avoid taking personal responsibility for one’s own circumstances. That could have easily been the case with our Chairman and Founder, Tom Monaghan. You might say that everything seemed stacked against Tom from a very early age.

• He lost his father on Christmas Eve when Tom was 4 years old.

• He spent the next 6 years living in an orphanage run by Catholic nuns.

• He spent most of the remainder of his school years living in foster homes.

• He was sent home from the seminary, shattering his dream of becoming a priest.

• He graduated last in his high school class.

• He enlisted in the Marines, and upon discharge lost all his savings to a swindler.

• He did not have enough money to go to college and had to quit in his freshman year.

• He bought a small pizza store, which over the ensuing years brought him more than once to the brink of bankruptcy, suffered the loss of his headquarters to a fire, and was involved in a costly 5-year lawsuit that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to keep his company name.

Portrait by Dave Neill

Perhaps you have heard part of the Tom Monaghan story, but hopefully there are things you will learn in the next few paragraphs that will help you understand more about this unique and generous man and why he would spend so much of his fortune on starting Ave Maria School of Law.

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TOM MONAGHAN

influenced him and prepared him for the seemingly insurmountable challenges that would lay ahead. Making it through the 16 weeks of Boot Camp gave Tom a lot of confidence. Tom felt if he could make it through that, he could deal with anything. Spending time on a ship in the South Pacific gave Tom a lot of time to think about life and his future. During that time, he came up with what he calls his five priorities…his roadmap for life. These priorities are: Spiritual: To be a good Catholic and have a strong relationship with God Social: To live by the Golden Rule Mental: To continue to educate oneself Physical: To care for the body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit Financial: To work hard and save for future goals The big dreams he allowed himself to have for wealth and success, he realized, would be empty and meaningless if they lacked consideration for others and for God. “I asked myself what good a lot of money would do me if I don’t have friends, a good marriage, continued health, or if I did not go to heaven.”

Tom Monaghan with his wife, Marjorie

There were a number of influences in Tom’s life that paved the way for him not only to become successful in business beyond his wildest dreams, but to ultimately divest himself of his vast luxuries in order to dedicate his life and his resources to getting more people to Heaven. It is a journey very few others have had the faith to take. Without a doubt, Tom will readily admit that his biggest influencer, his biggest supporter and a big part of his success is his wife of 58 years, Margie.

Tom’s first and a lasting influence ironically was as a result of the loss of his father at a very early age. The 6 years he spent in the orphanage with the Felician sisters had an enormous influence on Tom’s faith formation. Even at that young age, Tom was dreaming big, of being financially successful and of being respected.

Despite the potential “excuses” listed above that may have given Tom reason to think he could never be a success, he did become successful - even beyond the wildest dreams of his youth. After years of challenges, setbacks, broken partnerships and lawsuits, Domino’s Pizza became the largest pizza chain in the world. With its enormous success eventually came the opportunity and the money for Tom to impress people.

“I think I have always had a stronger than average urge to impress people. I don’t know where that came from. I think that was probably my upbringing, where I was always sort of poor, embarrassed about the situation that I was in, not having the things that other kids had, particularly a normal family.”

In the early years of his success, Tom did impress. He bought things to impress other people - jet planes, a helicopter, yachts, classic cars - including an $8.1 million Bugatti Royale, an Indy Race car, a northern Michigan island resort and finally the Detroit Tigers professional baseball team.

Tom admits:

“As a boy I was upset by the biblical proverb, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” When I asked the nuns in the orphanage to explain it, they told me it means that a rich man needs to be poor in spirit. A person should be humble about wealth and want to do good with money, never anything morally wrong. I thought that was a pretty good guideline.”

“I didn’t pull off the role model thing very well.

As a successful Catholic in the financial world, I had the idea that I was meant to be a role model, but there were a lot of mess ups along the way. I had this compulsion for all these luxuries and I was so foolish and so stupid, especially when I think of what I could have done. But it was obvious to me after I read C.S. Lewis‘s Mere Christianity that I was exactly the kind of person I hated: a show off. Thank God I had a second chance.”

Tom’s enlistment and subsequent training in the Marine Corps was another factor that strongly

Upon reflection, Tom recalled what he really always knew - that there is something in life Tom Monaghan, U.S. Marine

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So, it seemed to Tom that if he wanted to positively influence society/culture, then forming authentically Catholic attorneys was a must. He wanted to train lawyers who not only excelled in the practice of law, but who were formed in the morals and ethics, according to the Catholic intellectual tradition.

With this as the backdrop, in the fall of 1998, Tom set in motion plans for building Ave Maria School of Law, a law school that would use faith and reason, and the Truth as its foundation for teaching.

Tom Monaghan with the late Justice Antonin Scalia

that is a lot bigger and more important than those things that had come about from the success he had at Domino’s. Tom had faith that God would help him find the “something” that was more important, and that He would then show Tom the way to his ultimate goal, which was to get to heaven and take as many people with him as possible.

After reading Mere Christianity, he knew he needed to face up to the sin of pride and do something about it. From that moment on, Tom took what he called “the millionaire’s vow of poverty.” He decided to give up all ostentatious luxuries (not conveniences), but show off luxuries. There was no more interest in collecting a fleet of collector cars. He sold his jets and yachts. He sold the Detroit Tigers and ultimately sold Domino’s. This vow began to change his life and before long he found himself more content and at peace.

Three things that became priorities in Tom‘s life were attending daily Mass, daily praying the rosary and regular confession.

So what convinced Tom that it was necessary to spend tens of millions of dollars to start Ave Maria School of Law? Tom learned a lot about lawyers in his many years of business dealings. Over the course of a five-year battle with Amstar, which owned the Domino’s Sugar brand, Tom’s company spent up to $30,000 to $40,000 a month on legal fees. Tom observed: “Law is such an important profession. It is lawyers who effectively run our country. They have so much influence on our society.

Most of our politicians are lawyers and of course all our judges are lawyers. Every large corporation has lawyers at every board meeting, if not on the board itself.”

It had also become clear to Tom at this time that most Catholic institutions of higher learning had turned away from virtually any Catholic identity at all, drifting more and more toward moral and social relativism, with less regard for religious truth. Many hired faculty without any consideration of their faith or support of Catholic higher education and by separating faith from reason, they created a vacuum that encouraged new relativism based on academic freedom and little concern for an authentic search for truth. He concluded that there was no authentically Catholic law school out there.

An exceptional Catholic faculty was immediately drawn to the opportunity to teach at a law school whose mission was to provide a legal education in fidelity to the Catholic Faith as expressed through Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church. The law school also hired Bernie Dobranski who was at the time the Dean of the Law School at Catholic University of America to be its first dean. When Tom described the launching of the Ave Maria School of Law as a “First Class” operation, he was not exaggerating. They had an outstanding board put together from a dream list. There were several brainstorming meetings with top Catholic legal experts including Supreme Court Justice Scalia, who flew to Ann Arbor for a meeting about the curriculum and other matters pertinent to the formation of this new authentically Catholic law school. And perhaps the biggest coup was being able to get Judge Robert Bork to agree to serve on the faculty.

The enormous early success of Ave Maria School of Law in Michigan was all Tom had hoped for and more. The success in attracting quality students and the top ranked success of its graduates on the bar exam was unprecedented among new schools. The move of the law school to Naples, Florida in 2009 began another new chapter in its history. The law school’s second dean, Eugene Milhizer, noted: “Our society is run by lawyers, for better or worse, and I think there is a real place at the table for a school that says not everything is relative, that some things are evil and some things are really good, and that words have meaning. When you see this playing out in the real world, there are real consequences. The law school is training future leaders of our country and future lay leaders in the church.

The culture will be a better culture when our graduates start assuming positions of authority.”

Mother Angelica with Tom Monaghan

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TOM MONAGHAN

In 2014, Kevin Cieply, JD was appointed by the board as the law school’s third dean. The strength of his military background certainly played a role in that decision. Dean Cieply’s resume includes 22 years of military experience including as a helicopter pilot and JAG officer, retiring in 2008 as a colonel. Under Dean Cieply’s leadership, the mission at Ave Maria School of Law has remained inviolate, as it has in consecutive years been named the most Devout and the most conservative Catholic Law School in the country. “What we try to give our students here is a deep understanding of the law that cannot be found without faith and reason working together.”

This year, Ave Maria School of Law celebrates its 20th year, and our graduates have indeed started assuming positions of authority.

Seven of its alumni have been elected or appointed to state or federal judgeships. Others have gained recognition for their work at the Vatican, in major U.S. corporations and for various positions defending religious liberty and the right to life, including appellate practices before the United States Supreme Court.

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So, what does Tom Monaghan have to say as he reflects on his decision to start Ave Maria School of Law:

“Very few people have the opportunity and the ability to start a Catholic law school so I saw it as an obligation. But I always knew this was nothing that I could do alone. I want to personally thank everyone who has shared my vision and has helped us for the last 20 years to develop the kind of faithful students and graduates who truly will make our culture better, and perhaps even save it.”

Tom recognized early on that his dream of having a law school dedicated to the creation of faithful, ethical lawyers was not something he could do alone. He has spent tens of millions of dollars to create its solid foundation. Now it is our turn to build on Tom’s dream - a dream we all can share. Thank you.

HONORING BROTHERS WHO SERVED IN THE

US NAVY Story told by Tony Zollo

He was just 19 years old, he had just walked off his high school campus, and he was traveling by train to the Naval Station Great Lakes just north of Chicago for basic training.

It was March of 1944. This kid just joined the US Navy and he was on his way to join the pacific task force to support the US Marines at the invasions of Saipan, the Marshall Islands, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. His name is Louis Zollo and he recently passed away at the age of 93. I wanted to do something special to honor my brother and to honor his service to this country.

I had heard the Law School staff talking about the Wall of Honor in the lobby of the Veterans Memorial Law Library on the Ave Maria School of Law campus. It is a wonderful structure and a most fitting tribute to those who have served. In addition to branch, name and rank recognition, there is an added bonus of being able to do a video with the veteran so that they can tell the personal story of their service. The Veteran Legacies at Ave Law is a wonderful experience and a true blessing to be able to talk with a veteran and to help record the details that so often are lost and forgotten over time. If you know someone who served or if you yourself have served, the Wall of Honor and the Veteran Legacies at Ave Law video program are both worth investigating. Just ask any staff member of the Law School for details.

It is a simple production format, you create a discussion outline and share it with the Law School for their review. The video is done in the privacy and quiet of the Michigan room in the St. Thomas More Commons building. All the recording equipment is in the room and it is all produced in a most professional and comfortable manner. Final editing of the video is done by the Law School and then you will be sent a link to see the finished video that you helped to create.

I have been able to do two videos in the Veteran Legacies at Ave Law Program, one for my brother Louis and another for my brother Sam. Both served in the US Navy in the Pacific during and after WWII. I will also be working on a third video for a third brother, Ray, who served during the end of the Korean War and into the cold war. For all the veterans throughout our history, we will never forget the sacrifices that they have made for this country. The Law School has a very beautiful and easy way to help us remember those who served.

TONY ZOLLO TRIBUTE Ave Maria School of Law would like to recognize our dear friend of the law school, Mr. Tony Zollo, for all of his endless dedication to our law school. Tony has captured beautiful moments on camera as our photographer for many years since the law school moved to Naples. The entire Ave Maria School of Law staff, faculty, students and community are appreciative of you, Tony, and we are blessed to call you a part of our family.

God Bless You for all you do for Ave Maria Law.

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Faculty HIGHLIGHTS Professor Elizabeth M. Donovan (J.D.) published her article Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act & Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act: A Shield for Jane Doe in Volume 52: Issue 1, of the Connecticut Law Review. The article considers and then rejects the claim by sex workers and sex worker rights advocates that the alleged burdens FOSTA-SESTA puts on those who self-report as freely choosing to work in the sex trade outweigh the potential benefit—fewer sextrafficking people.

In the spring, the Eternal World Television Network (EWTN) The Catholic View for Women, aired an interview with Professor Donovan entitled Human Trafficking: You Can Make a Difference.

EWTN then took that episode, added Professor Donovan’s January 2019 interview with Fr. Mitch Pacwa on EWTN Live, and a February 2019 Inside EWTN blog post, and placed all three on the EWTN Facebook page.

Professor Donovan also delivered a presentation, Sex Trafficking and Labor Trafficking: The Law, The Cases, and The Immigration Options, at the 2019 International Human Trafficking & Social Justice Conference, at the University of Toledo. The conference, in its seventeenth year, strives to “unite the global community to learn, connect, and collaborate to combat human trafficking and promote social justice.”

Locally, Professor Donovan gave a presentation, Human Trafficking: Law & Policy, at the annual Judicial Assistant Association of Florida Conference (JAAF), held this year at the Naples Grande Hotel. JAAF members are Florida County, Circuit, Supreme Court, and District Court of Appeals Judicial Assistants.

She also led a table discussion at a community gathering on human trafficking hosted by Fort Myers Mayor Randall Henderson and the Mayor’s Office Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee.

Photo taken at Human Trafficking: Law & Policy presentation delivered at Judicial Assistant Association of Florida Conference, Naples Grande Hotel, Naples, FL, September 2019

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Professor Jane Adolphe and Board Member Ron Rychlak have teamed up with their skilled editorship and expertise for the book, Clerical Sexual Misconduct: An Interdisciplinary Analysis.In 2018, as accounts of clerical sexual misconduct in Chile, Honduras, and the United States roiled the Catholic Church, an international meeting of experts in journalism, law, pastoral care, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and theology, was convened to study the incidence of clerical sexual abuse of males. Clerical Sexual Misconduct: An Interdisciplinary Analysis is the result of that meeting and the incisive, insightful studies which it generated.

Professor Ligia De Jesús Castaldi published a new book titled Abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean: The Legal Impact of the American Convention on Human Rights. This study analyzes the abortion laws of the Latin American and Caribbean nations that are parties to the American Convention on Human Rights.

This new and original study by Ligia Castaldi is the first major publication to analyze in detail the abortion laws of the Latin American and Caribbean nations that are parties to the American Convention on Human Rights.

Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law Eugene R. Milhizer completed the manuscript for a book entitled, DISSECTING “ANATOMY OF A MURDER”: THE AUTHOR, THE CRIME, THE NOVEL, AND THE FILM. This book will be the inaugural publication for the new Ave Maria School of Law imprint. The book comprehensively considers the novel and the film “Anatomy of Murder.” Part 1 of the book is a biographical portrait of John Voelker, the defense counsel at the actual trial and author of the novel it inspired. Part 2 is an historical treatment of the crime, actual trial, novel, and film. Part 3 is comprised of commentary and reflections about legal and moral issues raised by the trial, novel, and film. Publication is expected within the year. (Book cover designed by Rob Oliver III, husband of Val Oliver, Ave Maria Law staff member.)

Interview with:

BRUCE CONNOLLY

Assistant Professor of Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research Professor Connolly began his career as a corporate associate at Cahill Gordon & Reindel in New York City. He then joined the law firm of Raiser & Kenniff, P.C., first as an associate and then a partner, where he practiced mainly criminal defense in both state and federal courts. He has been lead counsel on bench and jury trials, and many of his cases have drawn attention in the New York City media. He was also active in the firm’s civil department for matters involving civil rights, employment, personal injury and general commercial litigation.

What do you find most enjoyable about teaching at Ave Maria Law? I enjoy working with such collaborative and supportive colleagues each day. The deans, fellow faculty members, and the staff have been extremely helpful during my first year of teaching, and I am grateful for all their support and encouragement. I look forward to continuing to work with them in furthering our mission and providing the highest quality of education to our students.

Besides my colleagues, I also value the daily connections I make with students. I am frequently present at the law school and available to students as often as possible. Conversations with students often evolve from hypothetical to practical scenarios, frequently drawn from my experience, and I enjoy these exchanges both inside and outside the classroom. It is quite satisfying when students grasp a complex idea or leave class or my office with a better understanding of something after working through it together. I welcome the opportunity to advise and assist them whenever possible.

Finally, I strongly support our mission. I attended Catholic schools for my entire education and am honored to work at a place where faith plays such an important role. I am blessed to be a part of the Ave Maria Law community.

What is the most important lesson law students learn from Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research?

How to think like an attorney. A strong foundation in legal analysis is crucial to every class they will take in law school. The skills they learn in the LAWR program are the building blocks for what they will do throughout law school and their professional careers.

Prior to teaching, you have had quite a bit of experience as a corporate attorney and as a practicing criminal defense attorney.

For students hoping to become corporate attorneys or criminal defense attorneys, what insight would you provide to them?

These two practice areas are complete opposites. Corporate law was purely transactional work, where I assisted on leveraged finance and high-yield debt deals. Criminal law was litigation, where I was often in multiple courthouses each day. Corporate law on Wall Street was exciting and challenging, but criminal law was my long-term passion. It was intimidating to change to such a different area of law without any experience, but the attorneys at my new firm appreciated this learning curve and were willing to invest time and effort to teach me. I spent my first few months in criminal law watching and observing in courtrooms and client meetings.

Don’t be afraid to transition to a new practice area or aspect of the legal profession. And if you do, find a supportive environment that helps facilitate it. I encourage students and alumni seeking career advice to reach out to me with questions.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have been given that you’ve taken with you throughout your life and career?

Find a trusted mentor and nurture that relationship throughout your career. Mentors have been extremely valuable for me, and I have turned to them for help with my practice and for personal and professional advice. As a young attorney, it is imperative to have someone like this, because there is so much you have yet to learn. This is especially important for students who will start as solo practitioners. Mentors are essential to help navigate ethical quandaries, but they are equally important to brainstorm a quick idea or share a motion template. The ability to consult with a trusted mentor and friend is crucial in our profession, which can be replete with ethical and practical pitfalls for the inexperienced attorney.

Thank you for your time and insight, Professor Connolly.

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Faculty Interview with:

PROFESSOR MARK BONNER Professor Bonner began his legal career at the U.S. Department of Justice and served in a variety of capacities there for more than 25 years, including Assistant U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Resident Legal Advisor in Moscow.

For ten years, he directed the investigation and prosecution of high-profile federal cases involving international and domestic terrorism. He subsequently joined the U.S. Department of Treasury, where he held the position of Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Undersecretary of the Treasury for Enforcement.

Prior to teaching at Ave Maria Law, Professor Bonner served as a Senior Advisor in the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Office of International Affairs, where he oversaw the Department’s activities within the Group of 8 (G8) countries.

What do you find most enjoyable about teaching at Ave Maria Law? The common law of England, as developed in the United States, is a beautiful way to run the legal affairs of a state. It is infused with natural law principles, and informed by Christianity in general, and the Catholic Church in particular. It reliably produces fair and reasonable results in the ordering of our affairs. So, teaching it is enjoyable. Where our law falls short of what it should be it is a real blessing to have the academic and social freedom to discuss and explain how some changes are good, and some aren’t. Ave Maria Law provides this academic freedom; a freedom that many American law schools don’t provide their faculty. Starting class with a prayer is such a right thing to do, for so many reasons. It is commonplace at Ave, and illegal at worst and ignored at best, at other law schools. Fides et Ratio.

Prior to teaching, you have held high profile jobs such as Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Assistant U.S. Attorney. What are some of the most crucial skills you have built during this career span that can be shared with students and alumni as a takeaway?

A crucial skill, seriously, is figuring out what you want to say and do before you say it or do it. Sometimes this can take a lot of thought. Getting it right is crucial, and so is not getting it wrong.

So, shooting from the hip is a bad idea and is something I learned early in my career. Whether it’s examining a witness at trial, or arguing cases to the Court of Appeals, or working in Moscow as I did with the U.S. Department of Justice, or whether it’s negotiating with foreign governments as I did with China for the Treasury Department and with large multi-national organizations

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as a member of the G8 Senior Experts Group on International Organized Crime and Terrorism as I did with the Department of Homeland Security: putting in the time and thought to get it right (and resisting the impulse just to go ahead and say or do something just to get it done) is a crucial skill.

What advice do you share with students regarding how they should be preparing for their legal careers while still in law school?

My advice is study all of it like you might earn a living doing it.

Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg taught me Corporations in law school. What a brilliant man. I decided I wanted to be a corporate lawyer. I also took several tax classes in law school and thought I might do tax as a career. The first great job offer I got was from the Criminal Division of the Justice Department, and it turned out I really liked criminal law and procedure, and liked litigation: I cruised into a happy and successful career doing that. So my advice is to pay attention in all your classes, as Providence might have a good path for you different from what you might expect.

You have traveled quite a bit in your life. What is one of your favorite places traveled and why?

Bora Bora, hands down. It was more beautiful than I’d imagined (and I’d imagined it beautiful). A natural paradise. Well administered by the French. Lovely people, too. The singing at Mass on Sunday was in Polynesian; lots of vowels, sweet melodies, and everyone from the basso profundo large men to the soprano young maidens singing with unselfconscious ease, while a cool breeze floated through the church. Flowers everywhere.

Thank you for your time and insight, Professor Bonner.

A Monumental Moment in Time

Ave Maria Law reached a special moment in history. Members of Ave

Maria Law had the opportunity to travel to Rome to participate in the Forum of Catholicinspired Non-Governmental Organizations focused on human rights. Staff and faculty included President and Dean Kevin Cieply, Professors Brian Scarnecchia and Ligia Castaldi and Ave Maria Law’s Chaplain Monsignor Frank McGrath. Professor Scarnecchia gave an impactful talk reporting on the two year-long work of the Human Rights working group comprised of Catholic Inspired NGOs (non-governmental organizations) accredited with the United Nations from around the world.

Pope Francis with a group of eighty individuals at the Rome Forum, including the Ave Maria Law group.

Ave Maria Law students Jennifer Sosa ’20, Carmen Tate ’21, and Joseph Krawczyk ’21 have worked with the Rome Forum one semester each over the course of a year (spring, summer, and fall of 2019 respectively) to help research and finalize the content of the final report from the seven working groups — i.e., on human rights, development, health care, education, migration and youth — as well as facilitate two lead up conferences in Rome and the final general assembly of the Rome Forum. Ave Maria Law’s contribution in this regard was publicly acknowledged by the president of the Forum Committee before the general assembly.

We’re extremely proud of our alumnus, Geoffrey Strickland ‘09, for all of his work in organizing this forum. Geoffrey works full-time at the Vatican and is an example of the caliber of students we train at the law school to go out in the world as noble citizens.

Pope Francis received members of the Catholic NGO’s in the Vatican, including our group from Ave Maria Law.

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Faculty [ Photos from the Rome Forum ]

GEOFFREY STRICKLAND, CLASS OF 2009 Secretary & Network Facilitator, Forum International Monsignor McGrath with Pope Francis

How did your education and time at Ave Maria Law impact where you are today in your career?

The vision and mission of Ave Maria Law drew me to the school and remains a source of encouragement. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to study under professors who have made significant contributions to international law and human rights in light of the mission of the school. Their example and creativity were a great influence. What I cherish most, however, are the friendships and relationships that I made.

Dean Cieply with Pope Francis

Professor Scarnecchia with Pope Francis

Professor Castaldi with Pope Francis

Ave Maria Law was proud to be included and attend the Catholic Inspired Organizations 2019 Forum, Toward a More Inclusive Society. What do you enjoy most about being an integral part of the Forum of Catholic Inspired NGOs and the organization it takes to put together these forums?

It was an honor to welcome the Dean and the representatives from Ave Maria Law, who have greatly assisted the work of the Forum. It was special to be able to share the experience with them, particularly the time together with the Holy Father. The Forum remains grateful for their expertise offered and looks forward to continuing this collaboration as we begin our new twoyear program of activities.

This collaborative element, in fact, is one of the most fulfilling aspects. As facilitator of the Forum I have the opportunity to work with experts from more than 100 Catholic inspired organizations throughout the world and facilitate their shared analysis and strategic collaboration in various fields: Education, development, family, health, human rights, migration and youth. Building relationships in various languages and cultural settings, along with the variety of themes considered, offers a unique richness of perspectives. One comes to appreciate the complexity of the dynamic interaction of themes and ideas at the basis of the juridical questions facing societies today, which then enlightens and deepens the considerations of law, faith, society and the trajectory of the answers sought. This in turn reconfirms the need for creative ways of thinking that express themselves in new synergies and the recognition that the only way forward is together.

What key advice would you share with Ave Maria Law students who are interested in a similar career track?

Joseph Krawczyk ’21 with Pope Francis

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The study of languages is an important component of international work but will also enhance any service in the legal field. Coursework in international law and human rights will provide a theoretical basis. Taking the time for personal prayer and spiritual direction is an important practice that will aid the decision making process.

THE PROFESSION OF LAW IS A CALLING The Office of Professional Development encourages students to consider themselves professionals on day one. Professionalism and professional development have always been closely aligned with career and employment outcomes. Our office offers resources, programming, opportunities, and advice for students as they take responsibility for their professional development so they will be well-positioned for entry into the legal market upon graduation. This office exists to support each and every student’s transition from a law student to a legal professional, ongoing and throughout their three years of law school.

Jennifer Lucas-Ross, Esq., Associate Dean of Professional Development and Alumni Affairs, is responsible for all administrative functions of the Professional Development and Alumni Affairs Offices, as well as the administration of the Externship and Legal Internship programs. Ms. Lucas-Ross brings over twenty years of experience in management and administration. Ms. Lucas-Ross offers individualized counseling services to students and alumni. She is also responsible for outreach to alumni and employers, coordinating the law school’s recruitment programs, providing professional development training and tools to students and alumni, and producing public interest opportunities for students.

“I love seeing the students develop and move from law student to practicing professional.

My favorite experience in my role is watching a student graduate, begin their career, and then ask them back to mentor our current students. Every time they allow me to share in their success is a delight. Since taking over Alumni Affairs, I have also been able to see the further progress of our alumni. They are so talented and a deeply caring and receptive alumni community.

AVE MARIA LAW

Office of Professional Development Preparing Students for the Legal Profession

Ave Maria School of Law, the Office of Professional Development, and our Ave Maria Law alumni know how challenging this year has been for everyone, especially for our Class of 2020. It is not every class who has to finish law school, graduate, take the bar exam, and search for their first position during a once in a century health crisis. Twelve years ago, our Ave Maria Law graduates faced a challenge of a different sort—the Great Recession.

Know that no matter what happens, the Office of Professional Development, our alumni, and the entire law school community are here for you.”

“Having a plan is essential, but keep your heart open. I believe that our profession is a calling. And as such, sometimes we are called down a path we didn’t see when we first began this journey.”

Ave Alumni, we would love to hear about your news and accomplishments.

Please contact Dean Lucas-Ross to keep us updated.

JENNIFER LUCAS-ROSS, ESQ.

Associate Dean of Professional Development and Alumni Affairs jlross@avemarialaw.edu • (239) 687-5351

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Alumni WHERE ARE THEY NOW? MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT Sandy Pineda is a 2014 graduate of Ave Maria Law. Sandy

is currently in-house counsel for King Jesus Ministries, one of the largest conservative evangelical churches in the country. Sandy has done a great deal of good work with the church after her law school graduation, as well as with a prominent Miami immigration law firm.

How did your experience at Ave Maria Law help shape the person you are now and the attorney you’ve become over the years since graduation?

My experience at Ave Maria Law helped shape the person I am now through the morals and principles and high-level education.

Ave Maria Law helped form my critical thinking skills and with its wide verse of classes and internships, helped me grow as a legal professional every day. I was confident that after graduating Ave Maria Law that I was prepared to embark on the purpose of my life to be an attorney. Professors such as Ligia de Jesus and Ulysses Jaen really pushed me as a student to believe in myself and were pillars to my success in law school and beyond when I left Ave Maria Law to obtain an LL.M. at American University Washington College of Law. Can you share a snapshot of your current job as in-house counsel at King Jesus? What do you enjoy most about your job?

King Jesus International Ministry is an international fully bilingual ministry which is a conservative Evangelical church, founded by Apostle Guillermo Maldonado in 1996, a Honduran native. He is the CEO of King Jesus and serves on the Evangelical Coalition for Trump in his personal capacity as a spiritual advisor. Apostle Maldonado has served as a spiritual advisor and has been invited to the White House multiple times and prayed in the House of Representatives. His work is known throughout the nations and we have a network of about 350 + churches.

King Jesus also does work for religious freedom and social service. For religious freedom, we help and donate to a church in Pakistan who was attacked and imprisoned for practicing their Christian religion. Our monies helped the local pastor obtain local attorneys to free the Christians who were being persecuted by their government for practicing and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have two orphanages in Honduras which has a total of 65 children who we maintain, clothe and offer education to. We

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SANDY PINEDA, CLASS OF 2014

also have a food pantry that has served over 4,000 families and distributed just this month of July 743,600 pounds of food and served 9,295 families. The legal department is essential to these activities taking place since we have to buy insurance and have waivers signed, logistics, volunteers, etc.

Due to COVID-19, I have worked closely with management to re-open the church, and I was able to extend an invitation to the Miami-Dade Mayor Gimenez to come to our premises to approve our re-opening plan and guidelines. Mayor Gimenez approved our plan and stated that we have thought of everything to protect our congregants. This was critical prior to our re-opening because we wanted to provide a haven. In Miami-Dade County, there has been a large surge of COVID-19 cases so we had to limit the amount of people who attend the services at 25% capacity. I have helped our ministry build relationships with the local community government leaders through my legal efforts to help us move forward. It is crucial that we help the community and we do so by providing them counseling, teaching and community support.

My current job is very diverse. One day, I am reviewing multimillion dollar contracts, the next I am reviewing and preparing a trademark application, or drafting internal policies.

I plan the Board Meeting agenda, request that certain leaders of departments bring financial reports, or their department reports so we can see the state of the current and past affairs. As a board member, I have certain responsibilities and duties to the Board and the Corporation. I review every pending legal case or demand letter, and respond accordingly. I advise the CEO, COO, HR Director, Finance Director, Media Director and everyone in management

regarding legal issues or how to expand and help built efficient work flows and have heavy and deep compliance with the law.

What I enjoy the most about my job is that I learn something new every day! Also, I love the people I work with – it is great to teach them about the law and work with such passionate, energetic and creative people. There is always an area of law that I did not know about and must research or someone comes to me with a legal scenario or idea – it is invigorating as a legal professional.

Prior to working at King Jesus Ministries, you were an attorney with Angel F. Leal, P.A. How did your responsibilities differ between jobs? Are there specific aspects of your job at Angel Leal you carried with you over to your position at King Jesus?

My responsibilities are completely different. It feels like I changed careers. At Leal, I was in court almost every week, had over 200 clients that I had to assist and it was very high volume immigration law practice. At Leal, I worked as a managing attorney supervising other lawyers, and implementing internal systems. In my current job, I must manage different areas of law, for example, trademark, entertainment, copyright, contracts, worker’s compensation, insurance, corporate formation, international, labor and employment, government and political, and Non-Profit, among some areas. Since some areas of law are so specific, we must hire outside counsel. I have the privilege of working with outside counsel who are experts in their respective fields of law that I select to help us. These outside counsels explain and review over documentation or help me create systems in place. At my current job, there has only been very experienced lawyers who have worked in this position. I thought it was going to be a daunting task, considering that there was a construction litigation ongoing case when I started the job. However, we finalized that case within 3 months of starting my position, on a case that was ongoing for 3 years.

The specific aspects of my job at Angel Leal carried over to my position at King Jesus is that we petition for workers and religious leaders, and all my time-management and litigation skills help me see ongoing and risk management issues that we will have in the long run if things are not fixed. Additionally, I have always paid a lot of attention to compliance laws and organizational management.

Having a litigation background, has helped me avoid a lot of pitfalls for the ministry since I see things differently than everyone else does. As a ministry, we are very trustworthy since a lot of good, honest people work here, however, in working in the outside world, I saw a lot of the pitfalls that corporations and companies can fall into and I avoid that at all costs to my client. It is great to focus on one client and can execute and perform at high levels for the advocacy and management of the company. Also, depending on what our goals are and our mission is that year, I tailor my services and my focus to better assist all of the 27 departments that we have that may not know the functions of what the legal department does and how we can help them execute their work or their productivity.

King Jesus is also a platform for a lot of politicians to come speak and introduce themselves to the community. Since we have an international and national platform, the media loves to write stories about this. Since I started in my position, there was no Public Relations protocol. On January 3, 2020, President Trump rented out our main temple in Miami, Florida to have the first ever event of “Evangelicals for Trump”. I was the attorney who helped draft the leasing contract, and had to ask his campaign, which of course, we do not endorse, for certain rules and communicate with White House and Campaign staff. I learned a lot about the experience, and met many people who support and work for the acting President. I had to draft and create the PR protocol. This was an unprecedented event, and I had to read the IRS code on politics and religion and the restrictions that we have. I also had to advise the Main Pastor and CEO of the Church what was prohibited, along with the management and leaders. It was a learning experience for me and I am very happy that everything turned out well. I became the PR face for the ministry and drafted summaries and press releases that are legally required but with the aspect of our mission and our voice as a Christian ministry.

This is something that I did not trust that anyone else could do in our ministry since I am the only general counsel and lawyer that works here.

What advice would you provide to current Ave Maria Law students preparing for a career in law upon graduation?

My advice is savor the law school experience, obtain internships and externships in areas of law that you want to explore. When I started law school, I wanted to be a labor lawyer, but after some time, I really loved immigration law. Now, I have the privilege and honor to work in every area of law that relates to my home church and the list is endless. I have even learned about zoning law since we have some properties that we have had to obtain certificates of use and occupancy, with certain cities in Miami that have very particular zoning and ordinances. Network as much as you can, and get to know your professors and colleagues. Build good connections and always maintain your values and beliefs – do not doubt your abilities – and always learn more. I love to attend CLE’s and read articles and be a part of different organizations that help build my career. Always keep an open ear and eyes out for the new cutting edge cases and keep the fire burning for the passion of law, and take care of yourself. If you do not sleep or eat well, your clients and you will suffer so please love yourself and pamper yourself since we work hard!

Sandy, thank you for offering your time and insight.

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Alumni

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

INSIGHT FROM A FOUNDING CLASS ALUMNUS JOSHUA McCAIG, CLASS OF 2003 Joshua McCaig graduated from Ave Maria School of Law in 2003. Prior to law

school he was a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is a shareholder with the Polsinelli law firm in its Kansas City office. In 2007 he founded the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Kansas City and then founded the Catholic Bar Association in 2015, serving as its inaugural President from 2015-2017. Joshua is the current CEO of the National Lawyers Association, the largest professional bar association in the nation with a pro-life position as part of its platform. Mr. McCaig, through his accomplishments, is a great example of how he finds the importance of faith as a part of his career path.

What attracted you to attend Ave Maria School of Law? What would you say is the greatest gift you’ve taken away from your law school experience?

I was immediately drawn to the mission of Ave Maria Law and the unique opportunity of being a part of its founding. It was one of my greatest honors to be a part of the inaugural class and to spend three years with the most impressive group of people I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

In 2007 you started the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Kansas City. What prompted you to create this organization?

In 2006 we moved from Ann Arbor to Kansas City, where we went from a vibrant Catholic legal community to a wonderful city but one that did not have a formal Catholic lawyers organization. This prompted me to start one, so I organized a group of well-respected Catholic attorneys in the area, met with the local Bishops and the rest is history.

You were a part of uniting Catholic lawyer’s guilds into a Catholic Bar Association.

Congratulations on your accomplishments.

The Catholic Bar Association is a response to a need within the Church, a need to unite Catholic attorneys into an international organization, and is really an extension of the mission of Ave Maria Law. The CBA is, at its core, about building Catholic community. It is about providing a place where legal professionals can go to grow in their faith, a place where members can find support to live out their Catholic faith within their profession and a place where they can develop professionally through education and networking opportunities.

What would you say to those who ask about your faith, specifically how does it impact who you are as an attorney?

Christian discipleship is a way of life. We can say “I believe”, but do we really, for if we truly believe and if we truly have a relationship with Christ then following Him does not begin and end at the church doors, but carries into every aspect of our lives, including our professional life. As Christians we are called to be on mission, to evangelize and bring our faith to the world. Being an attorney means nothing to me but using my profession to proclaim Christ’s message of hope, mercy and salvation does.

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN HIS DREAM VOCATION ALEXANDER VERNON, CLASS OF 2005 Professor Alexander Vernon, Class of 2005, directs the Immigration Law

Clinic at the University of Detroit Mercy, where students assist people fleeing for their lives, struggling for family unity, and striving to regularize their status in the United States.

How did your experience as a student at Ave Maria Law shape who you are today?

My experience at Ave Maria Law gave me an opportunity to take my ideals and help me build a career. It gave me the concrete skills and training to realize a vocation to helping people.

When I reflect on what I get to do on a day to day basis, I realize I am living a life I would only have dreamed of before I had the doors opened up to me by Ave Maria School of Law. As an Immigration Lawyer I get to help save lives! I get to help people regain a sense of human dignity that is often ignored or denied. I get to help protect people from persecution, rescue people from torture and abuse, reunite families, build new families, and build dreams. I get to be a respected and trusted counselor, that people reach out to when they need help. And on top of all that, as a professor in a clinical program I get to help open the eyes of law students and give them opportunities to be advocates and do all the amazing things I get to do.

What insight would you share with law students today thinking about where they want to be following graduation?

I would say be prepared to do something else for the time being, but never lose sight of the goal of where you want to get to, and reach out to others who can help you take steps to get there. If you don’t have a job lined up and are considering going solo, make sure you have a good set of mentors who can help you get proficient in the areas of law you choose to practice in. Make yourself available to assist more experienced attorneys on a contract basis, to do preliminary hearings, administrative interviews, jail visits and lots of other things established attorneys don’t always enjoy doing and might be willing to pay you to do. Try to avoid unnecessary bridge burning, personally and professionally. Bridge builders tend to experience a great deal of personal satisfaction.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Career wise, I think it was important for me to know to look for positions that are not advertised. Be willing to “cold call” people. On the advice of my career counselor at Ave Maria, I reached out to every immigration lawyer I could find in the Detroit area to let them know I was looking for a position. Every time I sent out a volley of tailored resumes and cover letters, I got calls back within days from firms that were not advertising positions. That’s how I landed my first position with a lawyer I consider a mentor to this day.

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Alumni

Interview with:

CELESTE OGLESBY

JD, MBA

Director for the Office of Professional Development Celestine (Celeste) is the Director for the Office of Professional Development. Celeste has an integral role in areas of programming, counseling, and student development. Celeste joined Ave Maria School of Law in 2014. She is a graduate of University of South Dakota Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor. Celeste graduated from Temple University and Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées School of International Management with two Masters of Business Administration degrees in International Business. Her undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Management from Northwood University, Cum Laude. She has held various project management and marketing and communications roles in for-profit organizations, as well as legal roles in both domestic and international law firms.

Celeste, thank you for taking the time for this interview. You have been with the law school since 2014. How would you describe your experience being a part of the Ave Maria Law community?

Having graduated law school yourself, what information do you feel is most important to share with law students starting out in their journey?

When I look over my six year journey with the Ave Maria Law community, I am thankful for every student I have encountered, every colleague I have developed a connection with, and every faculty member who has helped make my job easier and my contributions successful. My full immersion into the career services, now professional development department, and the Ave Maria Law community, has allowed me to share my experiences, and to feel like I have made a great difference over the years. In addition, the experience has afforded me the opportunity to wear multiple hats, which have given rise to tremendous personal and professional growth. My goals were to always give my best at every task I approach, to make a difference, to become a multitalented, well-rounded individual who enjoys continuous professional development. My Ave Maria Law work experience helped me reach those goals.

The most important piece of advice I feel I provide when counseling students is to focus, listen, learn, ask questions, then develop a plan with multiple options, and when it comes to job strategies do not place all your eggs in one basket. Also, to stay open, flexible, and be willing to learn new things, and take on projects no one else wants.

What do you enjoy most about your current role as Director for the Office of Professional Development?

There is no one thing I enjoy about my role, it is a culmination of all my responsibilities that keeps me motivated. I must say that developing relationships with the students as they begin their first year of law school and watching their growth process as they blossom into legal professionals is very rewarding. It is a great sense of triumph to see students reach their goals and become the professionals they envisioned.

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In addition to your job responsibilities, you are a part of Ave Maria Law’s Diversity Committee. What is your involvement and how do you see this committee evolving? What is your hope for this committee and its goals?

Since serving as a committee member, I have been able to insert ideas, recommendations and try to gently nudge and change the mindset of the diversity committees’ focus. We are now taking on new initiatives that we anticipate should benefit the entire law school community. It has been a pleasure to work alongside a team of faculty, staff and students who now support and share the same goals. It is my desire to see continued growth, commitment, ongoing plans, consistent, and relevant change regarding diversity and inclusion. Currently, the committee is working on a strategic plan for Diversity and Inclusion, which will lay out our objectives and timelines.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given that you carry with you throughout your career?

The Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Simply put… treat others as you want to be treated.

Spotlight on:

MELISSA ALVAREZ

CLASS OF 2020

Melissa Alvarez made the most of her law school experience at Ave Maria Law. In addition to excelling in her studies, she took advantage of the Externship Program, allowing her to obtain first-hand legal experience before graduation. Melissa worked as an extern in the Office of the Public Defender, Collier County Attorney’s Office, with Florida Gulf Coast University’s General Counsel, as well as having gained experience in private law firms.

Why did you choose Ave Maria Law for your legal education?

Initially, I hesitated in choosing Ave Maria Law for my legal education. I thought that the location of the law school would limit my job opportunities. Luckily, I was wrong. Ave gave me a vast amount of opportunities for experience and growth. The school has a wide array of connections within and beyond the state. What I love most about Ave is the support system that is available to the students. Unlike other law schools, the professors at Ave are easily accessible and willing to meet with their students. Being a first generation college student and graduate school student, I struggled with finding mentors. At Ave, I was able to find the support and guidance to keep me going.

You participated extensively in the Externship Program at Ave Maria Law. How do you feel this helped you as a law student? How did it prepare you for your future?

The Externship Program was a great experience for me. I did my externship with Law Offices of the Public Defender for the 20th Circuit. I chose to do my externship with the Public Defenders because I have always had an interest in criminal law. The externship improved my writing and research skills. I drafted motions, attended hearings, and was able to see attorneys prepare for trial. I sat in misdemeanor and felony jury trials.

The externship helped prepare me for my future by allowing me to get a real insight and hands-on experience of the legal system. I would advise every law student to look into the externship program.

What are some of the key takeaways from your externship experiences that you will take with you throughout your career?

My biggest takeaway from my externship was the value of preparation and hard work.

Countless times I saw the difference in outcomes turn on the attorney’s work ethic. As law students, we are constantly reminded of the importance of work ethic. However, when you are able to see the consequences of an attorney with work ethic, or lack thereof, you quickly realize just how impactful our work is.

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Fort Myers Beach

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Ave Maria University Ave Maria Town

Lowdermilk Park 3rd street S.

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5th Avenue TIN CITY

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You are invited TO HONOR THOSE WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY

5th Annual Veterans Memorial Celebration Wednesday, November 11, 2020 7:00 p.m. ET; Pre-Show Begins 6:30 p.m. ET Nationwide Virtual Event: Join us from your computer or phone, at home or wherever you are!

Live Auction to benefit Scholarships!

Presenting the St. Martin of Tours Heroes Awards With Special Guests;

tary Event — Complimen mily iends and fa fr r u yo e it v In ! to attend too

TOM MONAGHAN,

PETER CANCRO,

LOU HOLTZ,

Chairman of the Board and Founder, Ave Maria Law

Founder and CEO of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc.

American Football Player, Coach, Analyst and member of the College Football Hall of Fame

Honor your loved one with a plaque on the Veterans Wall of Honor.

This magnificent permanent display in our Veterans Memorial Law Library features the names of our fallen heroes, veterans and those currently serving the armed forces. Honor your loved one in this lasting legacy with a gift of $2500 during the Virtual Veterans Celebration Live Auction on November 11. All proceeds benefit scholarships at Ave Maria Law.

PLEASE REGISTER AT www.avemarialaw.edu/veterans

BY NOVEMBER 10.

For more information, contact Jackie Burke: jburke@avemarialaw.edu • 239-687-5405

Hover camera on your smartphone over QR Code at left. Your smartphone reads the code and navigates to the intended destination/url.

The Princeton Review

MOST CONSERVATIVE LAW SCHOOL

2020

AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW

1025 Commons Circle Naples, Florida 34119 avemarialaw.edu

The Princeton Review

BEST

LAW SCHOOLS 2020

Licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, license number 4007. Fully accredited by the American Bar Association. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Consumer-Services, 1-800-435-7352.

Ave Maria School of Law recognizes the inherent value and dignity of all members of the human family. It values equal opportunity and seeks racial, cultural, and ethnic diversity. The Law School does not preclude admission or retention of students or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or status as a veteran or disabled veteran. The Law School maintains its Catholic character but is open to persons of all religious faiths who respect the goals of Ave Maria School of Law and whose conduct does not undermine the Law School’s religious goals or compromise its Catholic identity.