Attorneys and Staff

Melissa Wheatcroft joined Rowan University in November 2012 as Associate General Counsel. In that role, Melissa provided legal consultation to all colleges and departments and managed daily legal matters of the University. She became a member of the President’s Administrative Cabinet in 2013 and was promoted to General Counsel in October 2015. As General Counsel, Melissa advises the Board of Trustees and Executive Management on all aspects of University operations, including governance issues, higher education issues, contract development and negotiation, employee and student issues, real estate matters, and compliance with applicable state and federal laws. She joined the University after six years as Corporate Counsel at Bancroft (2005-2011) where she managed all legal affairs before being promoted to Vice President of Quality Management and General Counsel in 2006. She served in that role until 2011 when she became Vice President of Operations and assumed responsibility for all programs at Bancroft. Melissa began her legal career in private practice at Archer and Greiner, P.C., in the labor and employment department. She graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers Law School at Camden in 1999 and earned her undergraduate degree in Spanish also summa cum laude from St. Joseph’s University in 1996.
wheatcroft@rowan.edu

Tracy Asper Wolak
Associate General Counsel
Tracy Asper Wolak joined Rowan University in July 2018 as an Assistant General Counsel. Prior to joining Rowan, Tracy was an attorney in the Labor and Employment Group of Archer & Greiner, P.C. – where she began her career – for eighteen years. While practicing law at Archer, Tracy concentrated her practice on advising a wide range of clients, including small and large privately held companies, public entities and governmental and quasi-governmental entities, on all aspects of labor and employment law. As a practicing attorney, Tracy gained experience litigating a wide variety of cases before federal and state courts as well as administrative agencies. Specifically, Tracy handled cases involving discrimination and harassment allegations, wage and hour issues, violations of non-compete, non-solicitation, and other employment-related agreements, issues pertaining to leaves of absence and disability accommodations, unfair labor practices, whistleblower claims as well as other employment-related matters. Tracy received her undergraduate degree from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where she majored in Political Science. She received her law degree from Widener University School of Law (now Widener University – Delaware Law School). Tracy is admitted to the bar in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Tracy’s principal areas of responsibility in the Office of General Counsel are labor and employment counseling and litigation matters, student affairs and issues related to equal opportunity and access, including student conduct, unlawful harassment, Title IX, the Clery Act, the Violence Against Women Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act and immigration.
wolak@rowan.edu

Christine Pickel
Assistant General Counsel
Christine Pickel joined Rowan University as Assistant General Counsel in 2023. Prior to joining Rowan, Christine’s private law practice focused on the higher education and non-profit sectors where she guided her clients, as employers and education providers, through all phases of the regulatory compliance and litigation processes by developing and implementing appropriate policies, conducting internal investigations, responding to external investigations, engaging in risk management assessments, and defending litigated cases. She frequently appeared in state and federal court. In the course of her work in the higher education industry, Christine has developed expertise in the Clery Act, the Violence Against Women Act, Title IX, FERPA and the DFSCA. In addition to managing litigation for Rowan, Christine now uses her experience in these areas to develop policies and procedures and provide day-to-day guidance to members of the Rowan community. Christine is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, and is admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the District of New Jersey, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. She served as a law clerk for the Supreme Court of New Jersey, graduated with high honors from Rutgers University School of Law – Camden in 2004, and graduated with honors from The College of New Jersey in 2001.
pickel@rowan.edu

Craig Gargano
Assistant General Counsel 
Craig Gargano joined Rowan University as Assistant General Counsel in 2023. Prior to joining Rowan’s General Counsel’s Office, Craig worked in private law firms serving as legal counsel to numerous public entities on various matters including project finance, complex contract review and negotiation, procurement and public disclosure. As Assistant General Counsel, Craig provides legal advice on all matters of higher education to the University and its related entities. He uses his extensive transactional legal experience and expertise with entities to assist the University in contract negotiations, procurement, tax compliance, construction, real estate matters and technology issues/agreements. Additionally, Craig routinely interacts with various Rowan departments and personnel to facilitate the sharing of information and to promote efficient progress within the University. Craig’s interest in the law began during his undergraduate years when he spent summers working as a legal assistant in law firms in Philadelphia. Today, he uses the unique insights gained from a long background in both the law and finance to bring real world solutions and common-sense advice to Rowan. Craig received his undergraduate degree in both Finance and Political Science from Rutgers University in 1998 and his law degree from University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2002. Craig lives in Haddonfield with his wife and two daughters.
garganoc@rowan.edu 

Arsinoe Feld
OPRA Coordinator
Arsinoe Feld started at Rowan University in February 2022. She serves primarily as the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) Coordinator. In addition to coordinating Rowan’s responses to OPRA requests, she also ensures compliance with subpoenas and other requests for information served on the University. She also reviews a variety of contracts to ensure compliance with applicable law and policy, including affiliation agreements and events contract. Prior to joining Rowan, Arsinoe worked as an attorney in private practice firms where she handled a wide variety of litigation cases in state and federal court both in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and she is admitted to practice in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Arsinoe received her Undergraduate Degree in Psychology from Rutgers University. She received her law degree from Widener University School of Law.
feld@rowan.edu 

Tara Clevenger
Managing Administrative Assistant
Tara Clevenger joined UMDNJ in March 2013 as Secretary to the Department of Legal Management. In July 2013, UMDNJ's Department of Legal Management became a part of Rowan University’s Office of General Counsel. Among other things, she supports the attorneys in scheduling, budgeting, and contract processing. Tara joined the University after 14 years as a legal assistant/paralegal and office manager in a private law firm (1999-2013). She managed all aspects of residential and commercial real estate transactions, estate accountings, legal research, and preparation of a variety of legal documents. Tara graduated with honors from Gloucester County College’s Paralegal Studies program in 2005 and earned her undergraduate dual degree in Law/Justice and Psychology magna cum laude from Rowan University in 2002. Prior to receiving her Bachelor’s Degree, Tara earned her Associates Degree in Applied Science in Law Enforcement from Gloucester County College, graduating with honors.
cleventl@rowan.edu