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Michael Watkins
Chairman of the Board
Michael grew up in Washington, Missouri. He graduated from Ave Maria University in 2014 with a Bachelors of Arts in Theology. Upon graduating, Michael was commissioned as a Marine Corps Officer, and served a tour of duty as a Finance Officer. After concluding his Active Service, Michael obtained his Juris Doctorate at Georgetown University Law Center. Michael currently practices corporate law in Detroit, Michigan, where he also serves on the Board of Directors for the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museum's Michigan Chapter. Michael and his family are parishioners at the Detroit apostolate of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, St. Joseph's Shrine.
Christopher P. Ice
President and Chief Executive Officer
Christopher P. Ice, was named the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Regina Caeli Academy on April 7, 2025. Prior to joining RCA, Mr. Ice was the President and CEO of Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL.
Mr. Ice has numerous years of experience leading complex organizations in a variety of industries including Catholic higher education, Catholic non-profits, owning his own healthcare company and executive coaching and many years in commercial insurance industry. Mr. Ice is an author and shares his personal experiences of triumph and tragedy in his book, “Walking the Leadership Tightrope: How to Balance Career and Family through the Chaos of Crisis.”
Mr. Ice currently serves on the board for Wyoming Catholic College and is the co-founder of the Business Department Advisory Board at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Mr. Ice received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, KS, and earned his MBA from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is the proud father of seven children and grandfather of four and resides in Winter Park, FL.
Dr. Michelle M. López
Secretary
A native Texan, Michelle resides in Central Texas with her husband and son. After nearly 20 years as a student affairs administrator in higher education, she chose to spend several years focusing on raising her young son who is a current student at Regina Caeli Academy. A few years ago, her entrepreneurial spirit led to the founding of Next Gen Latinos, LLC, a company to champion emerging and experienced leaders toward authentic action to live a great story! She provides Executive and Team Coaching, Consulting and is on Faculty for an accredited coach training program, MentorCoach® LLC. Michelle holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Texas Woman’s University, a Master’s Degree from Texas State University and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Texas A&M University. She has served on numerous boards in roles from President to Director. Michelle is also a former elected official having served both on city council and school board.
Harrison Butker
Director
Harrison Butker is the Co-founder, President and COO of MDKeller, an American holding company based in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Kansas City, Missouri. The company's holdings include Shepherd’s, Clear Cut Brands, MDK|MGMT, Madison Manufacturing, and Regius. Each company operates independently, but shares in the core mission of "shared values, shared success.”
Aside from his entrepreneurial work, Mr. Butker is also the three-time Super Bowl Champion placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs and is one of the top kickers in the National Football League. A devout Catholic, he is married to his high school sweetheart and together they have three children. He and his family founded the Butker Family Foundation to support causes important to them.
Having just finished his sixth season with the Chiefs, Butker was blessed to kick the game-winning field goal in the AFC Championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals and the game-winning field goal in Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles. Butker is known for his God-given skills on the football field, but it is his Catholic Faith that brings him the most joy. He is an outspoken advocate for the Traditional Latin Mass, Pro-life causes, and being a man of virtue, to name a few. He has appeared on countless shows, podcasts, and articles speaking to being a man in a world that is becoming increasingly secular and absent of God. By grounding himself in his vocation as a husband and father, Mr. Butker has been able to use his platform to push others To The Heights.
Mr. James Brandon Clifford
Director
Brandon Clifford grew up in Northern Massachusetts and has resided in New England most of his life. He graduated from Saint Michael's College in Winooski, VT in 2002 with degrees in History and in English. A true "entrepreneur", Brandon has an extensive background in business ownership having owned multiple businesses and seeing them through every phase including, the initial concept, the opening phase, and building them up for eventual sale. He also has a passion for inspiring others to make the leap into business ownership and to take control of their future through franchising. In the past, Brandon has owned and operated a franchise consulting firm where he helped clients understand all the ins and outs of franchising and gather the information they need to make a smart franchise investment decision. Brandon is currently the COO of Business Alliance Inc., a franchise consulting network that consists of over 175 affiliate brokers representing more than 370 franchise brands domestically and internationally. Brandon is a nature enthusiast, and enjoys being in the outdoors, especially in the White Mountains, all four seasons of the year. His favorite moments are spent relaxing with his four children and his wife Christina at their home in New Hampshire.
Richard Ludwick
Director
Richard Ludwick, J.D., D.Ed., is a nationally recognized, innovative leader in higher education. He brings varied interests and thoughts together with creativity and purpose, building organizations to form successful students and flourishing communities. His strategic contributions strengthen institutions, systems, and national associations.
Dr. Ludwick served most recently as president of the University of St. Thomas in Houston (UST), beginning in 2017 and retiring from that role as president emeritus in 2025. Under his leadership, UST set records for enrollment, revenue, endowment, and Catholic identity. Prior to UST, he served as president of the nation’s oldest state-wide private colleges’ association in Indiana (ICI). He developed initiatives to benefit 110,000+ students and 31 institutions, enhancing public policy, collaboration, innovation, and partnerships. Earlier in his career, Dr. Ludwick served in various dean and vice president roles for institutions nationwide, including the University of Florida, and Albany Law School. Previously, he co-founded a successful law firm in Indiana.
Dr. Ludwick’s leadership extends across the country. Two governors appointed him as a commissioner for the Midwest Higher Education Compact. He served as a unique site team advisor for the Higher Learning Commission and a peer reviewer for SACSCOC. On the National Association for Independent Colleges and Universities State Executives, he helped form the Independent College Caucus in Congress. He served on the State Councils Board for the Council of Independent Colleges. He chaired the Coalition for College Cost Savings board, a membership group of more than 800 institutions, and his fellow Texas presidents elected him to chair their association’s (ICUT) board of directors.
Dr. Ludwick earned his Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Evansville, a Master of Arts from Columbia University, a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Oregon. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Melynda, and they live in Marco Island, Florida. They are blessed with two grown children, their spouses, and six grandchildren.
Reverend Canon Jean-Baptiste Commins
Honorary Board Director
Rev. Canon Jean-Baptiste Commins, a franco-american citizen, was ordained a priest of the Institute of Christ the King in 2015. He currently serves as the Pastor at St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit, Michigan and as director for the Institute's Young Adult and Youth Programs nationwide. Canon Commins received his high-school education in one of the Institute's prestigious schools near Paris, France prior to joining the seminary in Florence.
Canon Commins is currently pursuing a Master in Theology at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, in view of deepening his knowledge of the human person and the importance of the salesian spirituality at the school of Don Bosco for the integral formation of man.
What is the Board of Directors?
The Board of Directors (BOD) is ultimately responsible for Regina Caeli Inc. ("RCA'") as an organization. As with all nonprofit Board of Directors, the Board has three fiduciary duties:
i) duty of care: good faith effort to ensure the proper and prudent use of all RCA resources and assets (including: property, people, donations, and public goodwill)
ii) duty of loyalty: good faith effort to ensure that all decisions are in the best interests of RCA as a whole to further its mission (including: avoid conflicts of interest, disclose potential conflicts, not use board service for personal or commercial gain)
iii) duty of obedience: good faith effort to ensure proper and prudent adherence to RCA’s mission, governing documents, and applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Each of these duties must be executed in good faith, with ordinary care, and in the best interests of the organization.
The essential functions of the BOD include:
i) developing and promoting mission, vision, and value
ii) fundraising and stewarding resources with integrity and for financial stability
iii) ensuring alignment of the Executive Director with organization’s mission, vision, and value
iv) maintaining records and complying with relevant federal, state, and local laws for proper corporate governance
