Meet The
Faculty
Nationally recognized leaders in the legal profession, our professors have top-flight academic credentials and years of experience as practicing attorneys. More than 50 percent of full-time ONU Law faculty hold a Ph.D. or L.L.M. degree in addition to their J.D.
Committed to Teaching
In law school, it is critical to have access to top legal scholars to assist you in understanding and dissecting the law. Our law professors have graduated from some of the best law schools in the country and are experts in the field. Teaching is their number one priority. They will mentor you, open doors to opportunity, and equip you with the tools and skills needed for success in today’s complex legal environment.
Donald Anderson, Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice, Interim Director of Trial Team
Donald Anderson will serve as Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice and Interim Director of the Trial Team, teaching a Trial Advocacy for Trial Teams course. Professor Anderson comes to ONU Law from Stetson University College of Law in Florida, where he served in a similar role and coached their trial teams to regional and national championships. Professor Anderson is also a Criminal Defense and Civil Trial Litigation attorney, representing individuals in the state, federal and administrative court systems. In addition to managing his own firm, Professor Anderson has also worked for several leading law firms and worked as an Assistant Public Defender handling hundreds of criminal cases including murder, 10-20-Life, drug trafficking, DUI’s, and all felony crimes. He obtained his JD from Stetson University College of Law.
H. Beau Baez, Assistant Professor of Law
ONU Law welcomes Professor H. Beau Baez to its faculty. Professor Baez will teach tax courses as he has significant experience in federal income tax, business entities income tax, and state & local tax. Prior to coming to ONU Law, he served on the law faculties at the University of Idaho, Northern Illinois University, University of North Dakota, Purdue University Global (Concord Law School), Charlotte School of Law, and Liberty University. Professor Baez obtained his J.D. and his LL.M. (Tax) from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. After graduating law school, he worked for the Multistate Tax Commission in Washington, D.C., and in 2004 transitioned to full-time teaching. In his free time Professor Baez is a YouTube creator; producing academic success videos for law and pre-law students. He is also an avid hiker, enjoying time in the great outdoors. Currently Professor Baez is working on an article called Legal Education’s Negative Reinforcement of the Rule Follower Archetype, which explores, from a Jungian perspective, the possibility that legal education is contributing to the mental health crisis in the legal profession. He is also writing an academic success book, which utilizes scientifically validated techniques to help law students improve their exam writing skills and study habits.
Rick Bales, Professor of Law
Rick Bales teaches a wide variety of ADR and labor/employment courses, Torts, and Civil Procedure. He has spoken throughout the world (particularly in Southeast Asia) on using full-course simulation projects to enhance experiential learning. He has published more than 80 scholarly articles and authored or co-authored eight books on a variety of topics related to labor/employment/ADR. His most recent book is Cambridge Handbook of US Labor Law: Reinventing Labor Law for the 21st Century (co-edited with Charlotte Garden). In addition to teaching and writing, Bales is a part-time labor arbitrator. He is a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators and serves on FMCS and AAA panels.
Joanne Brant, Professor of Law
Joanne Brant has taught law students at Ohio Northern since 1991. During that time, she has received multiple awards for teaching, scholarship and advising the ABA National Moot Court team. She has also taught law students at The Ohio State University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. She has delivered presentations at AALS Annual Meetings, served as chair of the AALS Section of Law and Religion, served on an ABA inspection team and served on the Ohio Attorney General's Ethics and Professional Responsibility Council. She clerked for the Honorable Pierce Lively, who was then the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Her undergraduate degree is from Cornell University and her law degree from Case Western Reserve University.
Kimberly Breedon, Assistant Professor of Law
ONU Law welcomes Professor Kimberly Breedon to its faculty. Professor Breedon will be teaching Property and Wills & Estates. She comes to ONU Law with extensive teaching experience in the areas of Wills & Estates, Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, and Legislation & Statutory Interpretation. Professor Breedon most recently served as an Assistant Professor of Law at Barry University Law School in Orlando, Florida. Prior to that she was a Visiting Professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. She also served as a Visiting Legal Researcher at Columbia Law School in New York through the sponsorship of the Columbia Law School Center for Law Teaching. Professor Breedon obtained her Juris Doctor with Order of the Coif honors from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, and her Master of Laws with highest honors from Columbia University Law School in New York.
David Crago, Professor of Law
David Crago joined the ONU Law faculty in 1991. Prior to joining the faculty, he was a partner with the firm of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue in Columbus, Ohio, where he specialized in business and commercial litigation. He served as dean of the college from 2001 to 2012 and as provost of the University from 2012 to 2017. He was awarded the 2007 Legal Educator Award by the Ohio State Bar Association for his contribution to the OSBA, the lawyers of Ohio and the public.
Bruce Frohnen, Professor of Law
Bruce Frohnen joined the ONU faculty in 2008. Previously, he served as legislative aide to a United States senator, visiting scholar at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and secretary and director of program at the Earhart Foundation. He publishes extensively in the areas of public law and constitutionalism. His co-edited volume, American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia was the subject of a front-page article in The New York Times. He has published over 100 articles, essays, chapters and reviews in journals including the George Washington Law Review and the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy.
Scott Gerber, Professor of Law
Scott Douglas Gerber joined the ONU Law faculty in 2001. He is also an associated scholar at Brown University’s Political Theory Project and a member of the Ohio Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He has published nine books and more than 180 articles, book reviews, op-eds, and sundry pieces. He has made approximately 100 presentations, including at Harvard Law School, Princeton University, Stanford Law School, and Columbia Law School. He is a four-time winner of the Fowler V. Harper Award for excellence in legal scholarship and a three-time recipient of the Daniel S. Guy Award for excellence in legal journalism. In 2020, he was awarded the inaugural Christopher Collier Prize from the Connecticut Supreme Court Historical Society.
Jennifer Gregg, Assistant Director of Academic Success
Jennifer Gregg joined ONU Law in 2021 and serves as Assistant Director of Academic Success. Professor Gregg graduated from Miami University with a double major in Public Relations and Journalism. She then worked as a legal secretary at a medium sized law firm in Cleveland, OH. After two years, Professor Gregg left the law firm to attend law school at Michigan State University; graduating magna cum laude in 2007. After passing the Virginia Bar Exam, she began her career as a lawyer at a small law firm in Alexandria, VA. From there, she worked at George Mason University School of Law as the Judicial Education Coordinator at the Law & Economic Center, then as Senior Associate at Keithley Law, and as an Associate at Malinowski Hubbard, PLLC.
Dustin Johnston-Green, Director & Reference Librarian/Assistant Professor
Dustin Johnston-Green currently serves as the director of the Taggart Law Library as well as reference and electronic resources librarian and holds the rank of associate professor. Prior to his appointment at Ohio Northern, he worked at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo’s Charles B. Sears Law Library while completing his Master of Library and Information Science and his Juris Doctor. He graduated with both degrees from SUNY at Buffalo in 2016.
Jean-Marie Kamatali, Professor of Law, Director of the Center for Democratic Governance and Rule of Law
Jean-Marie Kamatali teaches in the areas of human rights, immigration law, transitional justice and law reform. He is former dean of the law school at the University of Rwanda. He also participated in the legal and institutional rebuilding and reform of post-genocide Rwanda. He has taught at the University of Notre Dame Law School, Kent State University, and Indiana University Indianapolis and South Bend. He has also taught at the University of Leuven in Belgium. He is a regular consultant for the U.S. Government and the United Nations. His media appearance and op-ed contributions include NPR, Voice of America, Democracy Now, C-Span and New York Times.
Melissa Kidder, Director of Legal Clinics and Associate Professor of Law
Melissa Kidder, BFA ‘05, JD ‘08, graduated from Ohio Northern University in 2005 with a BFA and degrees in musical theatre and criminal justice. Rather than going into theatre, she decided to go to law school and graduated from the Pettit College of Law in 2008. She began her career as a staff attorney at the Ohio 3rd District Court of Appeals and then came to ONU as assistant director of academic support. Having an opportunity to practice law, she went to work for Eastman & Smith Ltd. as an associate attorney in the estate planning section. She was thrilled to return to ONU as director of legal research and writing, and she now serves as the director of legal clinics and externships and associate professor of law.
Lisa Light, Director of Student Services
Lisa Light serves as our Director of Student Services and an Adjunct Professor for Legal Research and Writing. She is a 2012 Ohio Northern University graduate majoring in Sports Management. Lisa then returned home and obtained her JD from the University of Akron School of Law. Prior to joining ONU Law, Lisa was working as an assistant prosecutor with Montgomery County in the appellate division. While there, she wrote numerous appellate briefs and argued numerous cases in the Second District Court of Appeals. Lisa also filed memoranda with the Ohio Supreme Court. Prior to her experience with the prosecutor’s office, Lisa practiced domestic relations and probate law with a firm in Columbus. Lisa is excited to return to Ohio Northern University and looks forward to making an impact with ONU Law.
Allison A. Mittendorf, Instructor of Legal Writing
Allison Mittendorf has taught at ONU Law since 2004 and was appointed director of legal research and writing in 2019. Prior to joining the Ohio Northern University law faculty, she served as an assistant public defender and legal aid attorney for five years and worked in private practice specializing in insurance defense and property rights. Currently, Mittendorf is the District Three trustee for the Ohio Women's Bar Association and a Title IX investigator for Ohio Northern University.
Liam O'Melinn, Professor of Law
Liam O'Melinn joined the College of Law in 2001 and was promoted to full professor in 2007. He has also taught as a visiting professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Law School and Syracuse University College of Law. Prior to joining the law faculty at ONU, O'Melinn was an assistant professor in the Department of Justice, Law and Society at American University, where he earned the Award for Outstanding Teaching in the General Education Program. Prior to teaching at American University, he was a lecturer and instructor in history at Yale University. O'Melinn served as a law clerk to the Hon. Leonard I. Garth, United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, and held a Golieb Fellowship in Legal History at NYU Law School.
Liannie Parahoo, Staff Attorney, Assistant Director of Legal Clinics
Liannie Parahoo joined the Ohio Northern University Legal Clinic in December 2017. Prior to ONU, she practiced at a small firm in Barbourville, Ky., in various areas including state and federal criminal defense, personal injury, bankruptcy, appellate work and social security disability. She was an active member of the Criminal Justice Act panel representing indigent defendants at the federal level. She previously taught as an adjunct professor at Union College (Ky.) and Southeast Community College. Parahoo received her JD, with honors, from Roger Williams School of Law and her BS, magna cum laude, from Union College (Ky.).
David W Raack, Professor of Law & Director of Advocacy
David Raack is originally from St. Louis, Mo. After attending law school in Missouri, he practiced law for three years. He did graduate programs in law at Temple University and Columbia University. In addition to contracts law, his primary area of interest is environmental law. Raack serves as ONU Law's director of advocacy and the faculty advisor to the Moot Court program at the College of Law.
Charles Rose III, Dean of the College of Law
Prior to joining ONU, Charlie Rose served on active duty in the United States Army for 20 years, retiring from the Judge Advocate General’s Corps prior to joining the faculty at Stetson University College of Law. He led their nationally recognized Trial Advocacy Program, maintaining their no. 1 ranking in trial advocacy for 12 consecutive years. Rose is an expert in trial advocacy, evidence, skills teaching pedagogy, criminal procedure and military law. He is a prolific author and lecturer in these fields and has presented to audiences worldwide.
Stephen R. Shaw, Externship Director
After 36 years serving as Third District Court of Appeals Judge, Stephen Shaw, JD ‘75, serves as ONU Law’s externship director. Prior to serving on the bench, Shaw served as chief assistant Allen County prosecutor, felony and appellate divisions, assistant Allen County prosecutor for juvenile court and also worked as a private practice attorney in Lima and as an adjunct professor of law at ONU Law. As externship director, retired Judge Shaw works one-on-one with students to find an experiential learning opportunity that best suits their needs, experience level and interests. Throughout the semester, he serves as the faculty advisor while the student is working with their supervisor and getting invaluable hands-on practical lawyering experience. He continuously mentors students on their work product, professionalism, and professional development. Retired Judge Shaw obtained his LL.M in Judicial Process from the University of Virginia in 1995.ONU Law proudly has 100 percent placement in its externship program.
Kelly Stevens, Assistant Director of Bar Preparation
Kelly Stevens, JD '18, serves as the Assistant Director of Bar Preparation, teaching ONU Law's Bar course of study throughout the academic year, and supporting our students as they prepare for the Bar Exam throughout the summer months.Professor Stevens is a licensed attorney whose primary focus was Family Law where she negotiated separation agreements, prenuptial agreements, access and custody of children, and specific issues relating to Family Law. Professor Stevens is a proud ONU Law alumnae and is thrilled to provide the level of support and connection to our current students that she received when she attended ONU.
Stephen C. Veltri, Professor of Law
Stephen Veltri practiced law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in commercial, bankruptcy, securities and antitrust litigation. He has published many articles in the field of commercial law and has served in several leadership positions with the Uniform Commercial Code Committee of the Business Section of the American Bar Association. He has chaired the Section’s Subcommittee on Payments and served as an editor of the Business Lawyer. He has served as Interim Dean and Associate Dean of the College of Law and has been honored by the Student Bar Association as the most effective teacher in the College 12 times. Professor Veltri earned his bachelor’s degree in History and Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh, his law degree from Georgetown University and his master’s degree in law from Columbia University.
Bryan Ward, Associate Dean and Professor of Law
Bryan Ward joined the ONU Law faculty in 1999 after five years in the general practice of law with a focus on bankruptcy and commercial litigation in Troy, Ohio, and the greater Dayton, Ohio, area. He received his JD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Ph.D. in political science from Ohio State University. Ward serves as Associate Dean and teaches in the areas of criminal law and criminal procedure. He writes in the areas of criminal sentencing and criminal procedure. Ward also frequently gives continuing legal education presentations in the areas of legal ethics and professionalism, as well as legal issues affecting churches.
Preparing You for Life After Law School
Faculty members bring a wealth of real-world experience and professional insights into the classroom. This ensures students will develop the necessary skills for a successful legal career.
We may be a small law school, but our graduates are doing big things and others are taking notice. When you choose ONU Law, you are choosing a college with a rich tradition and a vast and accomplished network of attorneys—5,300 strong—who want to see you succeed.