Professional Journey
I have spent over a decade building, scaling, and operationalizing global data privacy and technology governance programs within fast-paced, data-rich SaaS environments. My career has bridged the gap between complex legal regulations and practical product implementations at companies like Clear Capital and GQR. After GQR, I left working as corporate counsel and moved fully into operations. I direct global privacy strategy and regulatory compliance at StarRez (with heavy involvement in AI governance, accessibility, and other areas), recently transitioning into our Security department to align privacy protections closely with technical infrastructure.
Notable Achievement
In November 2025, I attended the Builders AI Forum at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, alongside Vatican officials, bishops, clergy, and Catholic AI leaders from around the world. My participation included representing the intersection of Catholic ethics and technology governance. That opportunity reflects what a JD grounded in natural law and human dignity makes possible. I was discussing my Ave background with one of the organizers, who shortly after invited me to attend.
How My JD Adds Value
My legal education provided me with the rigorous analytical skills needed to dissect, interpret, and implement complex global regulatory requirements on a daily basis. What surprised me most about working outside of traditional practice is how much I enjoy building technical fluency, translating legal theory into operational realities, which recently inspired me to learn Python coding and GitHub to better collaborate with engineering and security teams.
Advice to Current Students
Do not limit your JD to the courtroom or a traditional firm. The technology sector desperately needs professionals who can read the law but understand product architecture, engineering workflows, and system security. Building technical literacy will make your legal background an invaluable strategic asset.
Why Ave Maria Law?
I chose Ave Maria Law because I wanted a rigorous legal education deeply rooted in an ethical framework and a profound respect for human dignity. And I converted to Catholicism while I was there! That foundation completely shaped my career path, guiding me away from traditional litigation and into the cutting-edge fields of data privacy and AI governance, where safeguarding human rights and ethical technology design are paramount. Pope Leo XIV has made the Church’s leadership around AI-related issues a major priority for his pontificate.
