Meet Our Senior Administrators

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

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

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

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

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

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

• 239-687-5501
•  btanderson@avemarialaw.edu

Bianca is a Miami native. She grew up near Schenley Park, attending Catholic schools until studying at the University of Miami, where she graduated with a degree in Political Science. Bianca then earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. During law school, she was inspired by her internship at the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center to dedicate herself to public service. A member of the Florida Bar, she spent most of her ten-year legal career in immigration practice in South Florida serving low-income communities through non-profit work. She transitioned away from legal practice and went on to graduate from the University of South Florida with a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science. Bianca then spent nearly a decade at the University of Miami School of Law as a Librarian Associate Professor, where was the subject specialist on foreign and international law. She taught legal research, supported faculty scholarship, and published on legal research topics in foreign and international law. She is a founding member and part of the Steering Committee of the SAILS project, a collaborative research effort to study the relationship between international law scholarship and practice. Most recently, she served as the Director of Research and Information Services at Shutts & Bowen, LLP, Miami’s oldest law firm, where she spearheaded projects on legal technology innovation and artificial intelligence.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Education

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

Areas of Expertise

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

Professional Experience

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

Honors and Professional Affiliations

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

Key Works

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

    https://ssrn.com/author=895820

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

• (239) 687-5442
• mrengifo@avemarialaw.edu

Monica Rengifo is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Ave Maria School of Law. She joined the IT Department in August 2013, initially focusing on web content, design, and the development of new web applications. After serving as Assistant IT Director, she was promoted to CIO in March 2018.

As CIO, Monica oversees the institution’s information technology (IT) infrastructure and computer systems, ensuring they align with the school’s goals and objectives. She leads the IT department, spearheads strategic technology initiatives, and ensures data security and system integrity. Her role encompasses IT strategy development, project management, network operations, internal service delivery, and business continuity planning. Additionally, she plays a key role in policy development, setting strategic objectives, and establishing security protocols.

Monica earned her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Hodges University in 2001. She is a creative problem solver with extensive expertise in programming, database management and project management. Her diverse skill set and leadership continue to drive innovation and efficiency within Ave Maria School of Law’s IT operations.