Title IX Officers

Title IX Coordinator

Emily Sherwood
Director of Community Standards
and Student Wellbeing 
216.397.4402
Email: titleix@jcu.edu

Deputy Title IX Coordinators

Rebecca Drenovsky, Ph.D.
Interim Associate Academic Vice President
Dean of Graduate Studies
Administration Building 133e
1 John Carroll Blvd.
University Heights, OH 44118
216-397-4451
rdrenovsky@jcu.edu

Christina Kusold
Coordinator for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
St. Ignatius Hall, Room 128
1 John Carroll Blvd.
University Heights, OH 44118
216-397-4425
ckusold@jcu.edu

Jennifer Rick
Assistant Vice President for Human Resources
Rodman Hall
1 John Carroll Blvd.
University Heights, OH 44118
(216) 397-1905
jrick@jcu.edu

Kerry Bebie
Deputy Athletic Director
DeCarlo Varsity Center, Room 110
1 John Carroll Blvd.
University Heights, OH 44118
(216) 397-1997
kbebie@jcu.edu

Ad Hoc Title IX Officers 

Title IX Officers are University employees (both faculty and staff) who are specially trained to serve on an ad hoc basis in a number of different roles.  Generally, Title IX Officers may serve as facilitators of an informal resolution process (either Pre-Complaint Resolution or Agreed Resolutions after a Formal Complaint has been filed), Investigators, members of a Complaint Review Panel (“CRP”), Process Advisors, or members of the Appeal Review Panel (“ARP”).  The Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion or designee, in consultation with the Title IX Coordinator, appoints the Ad Hoc Title IX Officers annually. 

In addition to the Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Title IX Coordinators listed above, the following individuals have received the requisite training to serve as Title IX Officers for the 2023-24 academic year:

• Laura Atkins, Assistant Provost for Student Success
• Tainne Dallas, Assistant Director, Career Services
• Adam Gilbert, Area Coordinator, Office of Residence Life
• Jamie Greenwolf, Assistant Director of Student Wellness
• Melanie Moss, Assistant Controller
• Lisa Ramsey, Academic Success Advisor
• Todd Bruce, Assistant Provost for Institutional Effectiveness
• Jennifer Rick, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources
• Angela Aviquivil, Assistant Director, Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion
• Mark Waner, Associate Professor, Chemistry Department
• Joanna Garcia, Associate Professor, Accounting Department
• Kathy Lee, Assistant Dean
• Selen Zarelli, Director, Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion
• Medora Barnes, Associate Professor, Sociology & Criminology Department
• Melinda Hilton, Enrollment Visits & Events Manager
• Inez Laureano, Associate Director of Financial Services
• Gregory Farnell, Professor, Sports Leadership Department
• Helga Dimitrov, Prospect Development Specialist, University Advancement
• Nathalie Nya, Lecturer, Philosophy
• James Krukones, Professor, History
• Mariah Webinger, Professor, Accountancy
• Andrew Welki, Associate Professor, Economic & Finance
• Elizabeth Cross, Administrative Assistant, Student Accessibility Services
• Brian Saxton, Associate Professor, Management, Marketing, and Supply Chain

Training Information

Title IX Officers receive regular training on the following topics:

• the definition of sexual harassment;
• the scope of the University’s education programs and activities;
• how to conduct an investigation and grievance process including hearings, appeals, and informal resolution processes, as applicable;
• how to apply definitions under the Sexual Harassment and Interpersonal Violence Policy consistently and impartially as to consent; 
• how to serve impartially, including by avoiding prejudgment of the facts at issue, conflicts of interest, and bias;
• on any technology to be used at a live hearing or in any other stage of the Resolution Processes;
• on issues of relevance of questions and evidence, including when questions and evidence about the Complainant’s sexual predisposition or prior sexual behavior are not relevant;
• issues of relevance to create an investigative report that fairly summarizes relevant evidence;
• other topics as necessary to adequately serve in their role as an investigator, or member of the CRP or ARP.

At the discretion of the Title IX Coordinator, the University may also retain external contractors to serve as ad hoc Title IX Officers.

Training Materials

Title IX Officers will be trained annually in August. Additional training may be offered throughout the year. Beginning in August 2020, materials used to train Title IX Officers will be posted here as training is completed. 

• Training for Title IX Officers by Hogan Marren Babbo & Rose, Ltd. (August 2020)
• Title IX Coordinator Training by the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)(August 2020)
• Zoom Video Tutorials (August 2020, and subsequently as necessary)
• ODHE Title IX Investigator Training (January 2021) 
• ODHE Decision-Maker Training - Slides and Training Materials (February 2021)
• ODHE Advanced Title IX Decision-Maker Writing Workshop (February and March 2021) 
• Bricker & Eckler LLP Title IX Coordinator Training - Slides and Training Materials (May 2021) 
• ODHE Basic Title IX Investigator Training (May 2021) 
• ODHE Basic Title IX Coordinator Training (May 2021)
• Schorr LLC - Considerations for Building a Title IX Advisor Pool (May 2021)
• ODHE Advanced Title IX Investigator Training (May-June 2021)
• Title IX Officer in-person training with Kathryne Grove (August 2021)  
• Title IX Officer virtual training with Kathryne Grove (September 2021) 
• Introduction to the Resolution Processes with Dan Fotoples (October 2021) 
• Title IX Training Slides with Bricker & Eckler (September 2022)
• Title IX Training Worksheet with Bricker & Eckler (September 2022)
• Title IX Training Corona College Report with Bricker & Eckler (September 2022)
• Title IX Officer Training with Emily Sherwood & Christina Kusold (August 2023)
• Title IX Training Slides with Bricker & Eckler (September 2023)
• Title IX Training Mock Scenario with Bricker & Eckler (September 2023)