Our professional staff encourages prospective and current
students, as well as alumni and employers, to contact them about
any of the Office’s services or programs.
Dawne
M. Smith, Esq.
Assistant Dean of Career Services
Dean Smith received her Juris Doctor from the University of
Pennsylvania Law School, where she was an Editor of the Law Review,
and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Liberal Arts, magna cum
laude, from Adelphi University. Dean Smith joined St. John’s
University School of Law in July, 2002, after serving as the
Director of Career Services at Rutgers University School of
Law-Newark for six years, and the Assistant Director of Career
Services at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law for two and one
half years. Before pursuing a career in law school administration,
Dean Smith practiced for six years as a commercial litigator at
large firms in New York and Texas.
Jeanne Ardan,
Esq.
Director of Career Services
Jeanne Ardan received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from St.
John’s University School of Law, where she was Articles and Notes
Editor of the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review, and her
Bachelor of Arts in English from Fordham University. Director Ardan
joined St. John’s University School of Law in August, 2002, after
three years as the Director of Placement and Business Development
at the Kelly Law Registry. Prior to that, she worked at two
mid-sized firms in New York as a litigator.
James
A. Conlon, Esq.
Assistant Director
James A. Conlon received his Bachelor of Science
degree from St. John’s University and his Juris Doctor Degree from
St. John’s University School of Law. He is admitted to
practice law in the State of New York, the United States Supreme
Court and the Southern and Eastern Districts of the State of New
York. He is a member of the New York State Bar
Association, the American Bar Association and the Nassau County Bar
Association. He is a former Senior Assistant District
Attorney for the King’s County District Attorneys office in
Brooklyn, New York. In March 2004 he was appointed General
Counsel for the State Employment Relations Board (SERB). He
was responsible for the administration and supervision of all Board
cases including unfair labor practice charges, representation
cases, as well as arbitration and mediation cases. He was
also an Administrative Law Judge for representation hearings in the
agency. Currently he is on the Board for the Labor Employment
Relations Association, Long Island Division; he is on the Board for
the Valley Stream Youth Counsel, was on the Board of Directors of
St. John’s University School of Law Alumni Association and a Past
President of the Brooklyn Chapter. He is also Chair of the
Government Relations Committee of the Long Island Chapter of the
National Multiple Sclerosis Society where he has lobbied for
disability rights with legislators from Albany and Washington
D.C. Mr. Conlon went into the United States Air Force during
the Vietnam War and was a highly decorated veteran being honorably
discharged in 1977. In 1995 he was selected the National
Multiple Sclerosis Society Father of the Year for the Long Island
Chapter. In June of 2002 he was honored by the National
Multiple Sclerosis Society who presented him with the 2002
Outstanding Leadership award for his service to the Society and his
efforts advocating for the rights of people with disabilities and
their families. In January 2003 he was the recipient of the
Young Alumni Award by the St. John’s University School of Law
Alumni Association at their annual luncheon.
Rena
M. Varghese, Esq.
Assistant Director
Rena Varghese received her Juris Doctor from Cornell Law
School, where she was an Editor of the Cornell International Law
Journal and member of the Moot Court Executive Board. She
received her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Political Science,
with a Minor in Computer Applications, from New York
University. Rena joined St. John’s University School of Law
in June 2006, after practicing real estate and structured finance
at Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP.
Helena
Rojas
Assistant Director of Employer
Relations
A two-time graduate of St. John’s University, Ms. Rojas
received a Bachelor’s Degree in History prior to pursuing a
Master’s Degree in Student Development and Practice in Higher
Education. Helena has been with the Office since 2000, and
previously held the position of Recruitment Coordinator. As
the Assistant Director of Employer Relations, Ms. Rojas serves as a
liaison between students, the School of Law, and employers.
In addition to employer outreach and job development, Helena
oversees the Fall and Spring Recruitment Programs as well as all
Job Fairs in which St. John’s School of Law
participates.
Antoinette I. Pugliese, Esq.
Assistant Director of Career
Services
Antoinette I. Pugliese received her Juris Doctor from Hofstra
University School of law, where she was a Senior Editor of the
Family Court Review, and her Bachelors of Arts in English and
Sociology, cum laude, from Stony Brook University. Antoinette
joins St. John’s University School of Law, after practicing as a
litigation associate at a boutique New York City law firm and then
as the Director of Legal Recruitment and Business Development at
Kelly Law Registry.