Welcome
Welcome to Dr. Jim’s HR Shop and the International Artificial Intelligence Association
I’m Dr. James Ottavio Castagnera. I was an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar for more than 40 years, before switching to inactive status in 2024. My law career included 10 years with a major Philadelphia law firm, Saul Ewing, and 23 years as the associate provost and legal counsel for academic affairs at Rider University. I am an accomplished author with 25 books to my credit, nine of which are currently available in print and/or online (see the “Anthology and Books” page). I also bring a decade of public relations and crisis-communication experience to the table. Lastly, I did stints as a full-time law professor at the University of Texas-Austin and Widener University Law School, and as an adjunct professor while at Rider University and for nine years with Drexel University’s Kline School of Law.
I have been called by colleagues a “consummate professional.” I consider myself a “public intellectual,” who writes and speaks on, and advocates for the causes in which I passionately believe. In my view, the five existential threats facing all of us today are pandemics, climate change, nuclear war, fascism, and generative AI. Knowledge is key to meeting these threats.
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Meet our talented team:
Dr. James ottavio Castagnera
Dr. Jim Castagnera holds an M.A. in Journalism from Kent State University, and a J.D. and Ph.D. (American Studies) from Case Western Reserve University. He worked 10 years as a labor, employment, and intellectual-property attorney with Saul Ewing and 23 years as associate provost & legal counsel for academic affairs at Rider University, where in 2018 he received the university’s highest annual award for distinguished service. He also did stints as a full-time law professor at UT-Austin and Widener University Law School.
Having retired from Rider in 2019, he is engaged full-time in the dissemination of knowledge about the existential threats facing humankind: pandemics, climate change, nuclear war, fascism, and artificial general intelligence. He shoulders this task with all the communication tools at his disposal.
He has 25 published books to his credit. His latest book, Growing Up in America’s Golden Age and Growing Old in the Age of AI, is available from Cambridge Scholars Publishing. He is a content provider with thousands of followers on Linked-In and Facebook; an author and co-editor of a Substack newsletter; a columnist and blogger; and a highly experienced webinar provider and teacher.
Claire Holland
Claire Holland holds a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from Washington College and has been a freelance writer and copy editor for more than 15 years. She has worked with numerous publishers including Cengage, Routledge, McGraw-Hill, Peter Lang, Thomson Reuters, Wolters Kluwer, and Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
She is the author of 'I Am Not Your Final Girl,' an award-nominated and Amazon best-selling poetry book that draws on characters from horror cinema to confront the role of women throughout history in relation to feminism, violence, motherhood, and sexuality.
You can download a copy of Claire’s full resume here.
You can also visit Claire’s author website here.
Corey Holland
Corey Holland is an award-winning multimedia producer, director, videographer, and voiceover actor with more than 15 years of digital-media production and acting experience. Corey has also worked for several years as a freelance producer and videographer. Corey has produced videos in both higher education and corporate environments, allowing him to approach marketing from both a business and creative perspective. Corey possesses exceptional communications and technical skills, and has worked with and directed many talented teams on numerous productions, most of which were distributed on the web.
He is a highly talented voice actor, whose credits include work for Universal Studios in Burbank, where he resides.
His 2025 Visual Reel is available here.
You can download a copy of Corey’s full resume here.
What we offer:
Freelance Writing: Books, Chapters, Articles, Blogs,and Social-MediaPosts
Webinars on topics in Human Resources, ADR, Higher Education, and Artificial Intelligence
On-site and virtual trainings and presentations on Human Resources, ADR, Higher Education, and AI
Voice-over performances on any and all topics, and in any and all media (Corey Holland)
Testimonials
“I have had the pleasure of working with Jim Castagnera on a variety of legal writing and analysis projects for us at Wolters Kluwer, including the Employment Law Answer Book, monthly Labor Pulse articles, Cannabis Employment Law Compare, and more. Jim has deep understanding and experience in labor and employment law and he shares that practical knowledge through his excellent writing for the benefit of our law firm and corporate customers. Always the consummate professional, Jim delivers, on time and with quality, every time.”
-Joe Gornick, Product Manager, Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.
“I have worked with Dr. Castagnera for almost 20 years on the Thomson Reuters publications for which he provides both original content and updated materials, including Termination of Employment, Termination of Employment Bulletin and HR Series: Policies and Practices. His experience and knowledge in areas of human resource, labor and employment law allow him to provide Thomson Reuters and our customers with on-point, accurate, current and relevant information. His submissions are timely, thorough and well-written. Dr. Castagnera is very responsive to questions, and takes great pride in both good work and good working relationships.”
-Elaine Marie Tomko-DeLuca, Principal Attorney Editor, Thomson Reuters
“Again, thank you so much. You did a terrific job with the course. I've come across a lot of teachers, but in all sincerity, I think you've been the best one. I learned so much more than I expected to and now I have the confidence that I can hang in this kind of law school environment surrounded by highly-intelligent people.”
-Graduate Student, Drexel University
“Hey, Dr. C! We owe you much thanks, as you’ve become one of our most highly valued partners. I greatly appreciate every opportunity to work with you and am looking forward to many more.”
-Ty Pernsley, Manager, Premier Learning Solutions
“I wanted to thank you so much for speaking to our group on Monday. I think you gave some great conversation points for boards as they bring the workforce and volunteers back.”
-Sarah Lauritzen, Program Logistics Coordinator. Nonprofit Management Center, Midland, Texas
“Dr. Castagnera is an exceptionally good speaker. He is very knowledgeable, identified all of the relevant issues, and whenever necessary indicated that the law is unsettled or in a state of flux.”
- David Friedman, United States Postal Service, New York City
“He is such a smart, intelligent, and great speaker. I could listen to him speak forever !”
-Attendee at “How to Write a ChatGPT Policy for Your Higher Education Institution,” August 1, 2024
“It has been a pleasure working with Jim Castagnera on a variety of legal writing and analysis projects for us at Wolters Kluwer, including the Employment Law Answer Book, monthly Labor Pulse articles, Cannabis Employment Law Compare, and more. Jim has deep understanding and experience in labor and employment law and he shares that practical knowledge through his excellent writing for the benefit of our law firm and corporate customers. Always the consummate professional, Jim delivers, on time and with quality, every time.”
-Joe Gornick, Product Manager, Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.
“I have worked with Dr. Castagnera for almost 20 years on the Thomson Reuters publications for which he provides both original content and updated materials, including Termination of Employment, Termination of Employment Bulletin and HR Series: Policies and Practices. His experience and knowledge in areas of human resource, labor and employment law allow him to provide Thomson Reuters and our customers with on-point, accurate, current and relevant information. His submissions are timely, thorough and well-written. Dr. Castagnera is very responsive to questions, and takes great pride in both good work and good working relationships.”
-Elaine Marie Tomko-DeLuca, Principal Attorney Editor, Thomson Reuters
“Again, thank you so much. You did a terrific job with the course. I've come across a lot of teachers, but in all sincerity, I think you've been the best one. I learned so much more than I expected to and now I have the confidence that I can hang in this kind of law school environment surrounded by highly-intelligent people.”
-Graduate Student, Drexel University
“Hey, Dr. C! We owe you much thanks, as you’ve become one of our most highly valued partners. I greatly appreciate every opportunity to work with you and am looking forward to many more.”
-Ty Pernsley, Manager, Premier Learning Solutions
“I wanted to thank you so much for speaking to our group on Monday. I think you gave some great conversation points for boards as they bring the workforce and volunteers back.”
-Sarah Lauritzen, Program Logistics Coordinator. Nonprofit Management Center, Midland, Texas
“Dr. Castagnera is an exceptionally good speaker. He is very knowledgeable, identified all of the relevant issues, and whenever necessary indicated that the law is unsettled or in a state of flux.”
- David Friedman, United States Postal Service, New York City