ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

16401 N.W. 37TH AVENUE

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA 33054

Telephone: (305) 623-2321

Fax: (305) 623-2397

ABA Approved Since 1988

St. Thomas University School of Law is a highly‑diverse, student‑centered law school where the Catholic heritage of ethical behavior and public service flourishes. Founded in 1984, the School of Law is the only ABA‑accredited Catholic law school in the Southeastern United States. St. Thomas has received national attention for it's commitment to student and faculty diversity, and has had a special commitment to training lawyers who are members of South Florida's Hispanic and Black communities which have been traditionally underserved by the legal profession. The School of Law offers the traditional J.D. degree program, as well as four joint degree programs, two LL.M. degree programs, and a J.S.D. degree program.

 

The Law School is located in Miami Gardens, on the main campus of St. Thomas University. The School of Law complex includes a multi‑level library, a recently‑renovated Moot Court amphitheater, a cafe, faculty and administrative offices, and updated classrooms equipped with wireless networking capabilities, distance learning technology, and plasma screen televisions for the broadcasting of campus information. The stylish architecture, with its combination of indoor and outdoor study spaces, provides a comfortable setting for the study of law.

 

The law library is the heart of the law school. Our facility houses over 328,842 volumes and volume equivalencies, and is one of the most technologically advanced libraries of its kind. St. Thomas has ranked first among major law school libraries in student use of computerized research services, and our students receive extensive instruction in this area.

 

The exceptional faculty at St. Thomas University School of Law have earned their law degrees, and, in many cases, their advanced law degrees, from some of the nation's most prestigious institutions, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Georgetown, and New York University. Their record of publication in the leading law reviews is outstanding, and their practical experience is vast. A hallmark of St. Thomas is the faculty and administration's open‑door policy, enabling students to interact with leading scholars on a personal level.

 

In accordance with its mission, the School of Law offers students the opportunity to participate in a variety of clinics which not only bridge the gap between legal studies and the practice of law, but also serve underrepresented segments of the South Florida community. In the Clinical Field Placement Program, students are exposed to actual legal problems in the community in both civil and criminal matters by working with a supervising attorney. The classroom portion of the course gives students the opportunity to learn both substantive and procedural law that relates to their case assignments. The Immigration Clinic allows students, under the supervision of a law professor/attorney, to represent immigrants in deportation or exclusion hearings before immigration judges. The Bankruptcy Clinic allows students the opportunity to represent litigants in United States Bankruptcy Court under the close supervision of a bankruptcy expert. In the Family Court Clinic, law students have the opportunity to represent clients in both the Family Court and the Domestic Violence Court. Students learn the inner working of the family court and explore the basis for Family Court matters in Florida. In the Tax Clinic, the mission is two‑fold: it provides legal assistance to low income tax payers and informs individuals for whom English is a second language of their tax rights and responsibilities, and provides practical training in a rigorous academic and clinical setting for law students. Students have the opportunity to handle controversies with the Internal Revenue Service, including interviewing clients, preparing offers‑in‑compromise, filing petitions with the United States Tax Court, negotiating settlements with the Internal Revenue Service and appearing before the Tax Court.

 

The Law School offers four joint degree programs in cooperation with other graduate divisions of the University. A joint J.D./M.B.A. in Accounting couples skills traditionally in great demand in the corporate, tax and accounting worlds. The joint J.D./M.B.A. in International Business opens the burgeoning field of international transactional law to the new attorney. A joint J.D./M.S. in Sports Administration prepares participants for a diverse set of positions in the world of sports. The University's Sports Administration program is nationally recognized and the joint degree program has received favorable review in the leading sports management journal. The joint J.D./M.S. in Marriage and Family Counseling, one of the only programs of its kind in the country, fills a serious need in the family lawyer's repository of skills.

 

One Master of Law Degree Program is also offered at St. Thomas University School of Law: the LL.M. in Intercultural Human Rights. The LL.M in Intercultural Human Rights is an innovative program which offers in‑depth instruction on the critical issues of our time: the protection of human dignity across political, religious, social, economic and cultural lines. The faculty of global distinction includes top‑level United Nations officials and outstanding scholars, judges and practitioners in the field. Students are trained to conduct effective research and advocacy in the field of human rights. Human rights law and complaint procedures are addressed, as well as issues of refugees, women, children, indigenous people, religion, criminal law and international trade. For those who want to continue their human rights education the Law School also offers a J.S.D. in Human Rights

 

St. Thomas University School of Law offers an array of extra‑curricular activities. The Moot Court Board promotes excellence in legal research and written and oral advocacy. Members of the International Moot Court Board compete in international competitions, including the Philip Jessup International Moot Court Competition. The Mock Trial Board encourages excellence in litigation and trial advocacy through participation in state, regional and national advocacy competitions. The St. Thomas Law Review is a student‑operated scholarly journal which publishes articles submitted by students, faculty and members of the Bench and Bar. In 2006, St. Thomas launches the first law review edition of the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review. The Peter T. Fay American Inn of Court at St. Thomas is a chapter of the American Inns of Court founded in 1980 by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren E. Burger.

 

Student organizations reflect the rich diversity of St. Thomas University School of Law. Such organizations include the American Bar Association/Law Student Division (ABA/LSD), the Student Bar Association (SBA), the American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA), the Black Law Student Association (BLSA), the Phi Delta Phi Spellman Inn, the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL), the Hispanic American Law Society, the International Law Society, Plead the Fifth (the student newspaper), the Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity (PAD) and the Catholic Lawyers Guild.

 

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Dean:

Alfredo Garcia

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs:

CeCe Dykas

Assistant Dean for Student Services:

John Hernandez

Director of Law Library:

Karl Gruben (305) 623‑2341

Director of Admissions:

Fareza Khan (305) 623‑2384

Director of Career Services:

Merecedes Pino (305) 623‑2350

Assistant Dean for Academic Support:

Barbara Singer (305) 474‑2472

Director of Communications and Marketing:

Karen Malin (305) 474‑2435

Building and Budget Manager:

Olga Leyva (305) 623‑2346

Registrar:

Iraida Acebo (305) 623‑2329

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FULL TIME FACULTY

 

ALFREDO GARCIA, (Dean and Professor of Law), born Santiago, Cuba, January 13, 1952; admitted to bar, 1981, Florida. Education: Jacksonville University (B.A., 1973); University of Florida (M.A., 1974; J.D., 1981). COURSES: Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Torts, Evidence. Email: agarcia@stu.edu

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BENTON BECKER, (Visiting Professor of Law), born Washington, District of Columbia, February 22, 1938; admitted to bar, 1966, District of Columbia; 1967, Maryland; 1981, Florida. Education: University of Maryland (B.A., 1960); American University Law School (J.D., 1966). COURSES: Constitutional Law I and II, Evidence, Civil Procedure, Trial Advocacy Practice. Email: bbecker@stu.edu

 

GORDON T. BUTLER, (Professor of Law), born Baltimore, Maryland, November 13, 1943; admitted to bar, 1972, Texas and Georgia; 1977, Ohio; 2000, Florida. Education: Georgia Tech (B.S.E.E., 1966); University of Texas (J.D., 1971); New York University (LL.M., 1991); University of Dayton (M.B.A., 1994). COURSES: Tax, Corporations, Wills and Trusts. Email: gbutler@stu.edu

 

ANNA M. CHAN, (Associate Professor), admitted to bar, 1982, Florida. Education: University of California at Berkeley (A.B., 1972); University of Pennsylvania (J.D., 1980). COURSES: Legal Analysis, Research and Writing, Property. Email: achan@stu.edu

 

CARLO D'ANGELO, (Assistant Professor), born Queens, New York, December 20, 1970; admitted to bar, 1997, Florida; 2006, Texas. Education: Florida Atlantic University (B.A., Political Science, 1994); St. Thomas University School of Law (J.D., 1997). COURSES: Legal Research and Writing. Email: cdangelo@stu.edu

 

LARRY C. FEDRO, (Instructor), born Des Moines, Iowa, January 2, 1939; admitted to bar, 1963, Florida. Education: St. Petersburg Junior College (A.A., 1958); University of Florida (B.S.B.A., 1960; J.D., 1963). COURSES: Tax Procedure. Email: lfedro@stu.edu

 

JESSICA FONSECA‑NADER, (Assistant Professor), born Miami, Florida, July 29, 1972; admitted to bar, 1997, Florida. Education: Nova Southeastern University (B.S., Psychology, 1994); St. Thomas University School of Law (J.D., 1997). COURSES: Legal Research & Writing. Email: jfnader@stu.edu

 

LAUREN JEANNE GILBERT, (Associate Professor), born Norwalk, Connecticut, January 7, 1961; admitted to bar, 1988, District of Columbia; 2002, Florida. Education: Harvard University (B.A., 1983); University of Michigan (J.D., 1988). COURSES: Constitutional Law, Immigration Law. Email: lgilbert@stu.edu

 

DANIEL R. GORDON, (Professor of Law), born Sussex, New Jersey, October 30, 1947; admitted to bar, 1982, Florida; 1983, California. Education: Haverford College (B.A., 1970); Boston University (M.S., 1973); Northeastern University (M.P.A., 1974); Boston College (J.D., 1982). COURSES: Civil Procedure, Professional Responsibility, State Constitutional Law. Email: dgordon@stu.edu

 

JOHN HERNANDEZ, (Assistant Dean of Student Affairs), born Key West, Florida, August 21, 1957; admitted to bar, 1981, Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., 1978); Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 1981). COURSES: Torts, Professional Responsibility, Criminal Law, Sexual Identity and the Law, Remedies. Email: jhernandez@stu.edu

 

BEVERLY HORSBURGH, (Professor of Law), admitted to bar, 1987, Florida. Education: Smith College (B.A., 1964); University of Miami (J.D., 1987). COURSES: Contracts, Family Law, Women and the Law. Email: bhorsbur@stu.edu

 

JOHN M. KANG, (Assistant Professor), Education: University of California, Berkeley (B.A., 1992); University of California Los Angeles School of Law (J.D., 1996); University of Michigan (M.A., 2000; Ph.D., 2006). COURSES: Constitutional Law. Email: jkang@stu.edu

 

TAMARA LAWSON, (Associate Professor of Law), admitted to bar, 1995, California; 1996, Nevada. Education: Claremont McKenna College (B.A., 1992); University of San Francisco Law School (J.D., 1995); Georgetown University Law Center (LLM, 2003). COURSES: Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure I. Email: tlawson@stu.edu

 

LENORA P. LEDWON, (Professor of Law), born May 15, 1958; admitted to bar, 1983, Michigan. Education: Oakland University (M.A., 1981); University of Michigan (J.D., 1983); University of Notre Dame (Ph.D., 1993). COURSES: Evidence, Contracts, Law and Literature. Email: lledwon@stu.edu

 

ALFRED ROBERT LIGHT, (Professor of Law), born Atlanta, Georgia, December 14, 1949; admitted to bar, 1981, District of Columbia; 1982, Virginia. Education: Johns Hopkins University (B.A., 1971); University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (Ph.D., 1976); Harvard University (J.D., 1981). COURSES: Civil Procedure, Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Environmental Law. Email: alight@stu.edu

 

KATHLEEN MAHONEY, (Associate Professor), born Jersey City, New Jersey; admitted to bar, 1982, Florida. Education: Newton College of the Sacred Heart (B.A., 1971); Florida International University (M.S., 1975); University of Miami (J.D., 1982). COURSES: Legal Research and Writing, Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiation. Email: kmahoney@stu.edu

 

JOHN MAKDISI, (Professor of Law), born Washington, D.C., March 12, 1949; admitted to bar, 1974, Pennsylvania; 1992, Oklahoma; 2005 Florida. Education: Harvard College (B.A., 1971); University of Pennsylvania (J.D., 1974); Harvard Law School (S.J.D., 1985). COURSES: Property, Evidence. Email: jmakdisi@stu.edu

 

JUNE MARY ZEKAN MAKDISI, (Professor of Law), born McKeesport, Pennsylvania, November 1, 1953; admitted to bar, 1996, Oklahoma; 1998, Louisiana. Education: University of Pennsylvania (B.A., 1973; M.S., 1974); University of Tulsa (J.D., 1995). COURSES: Torts, Agency & Partnership, Family Law. Email: jmmakdisi@stu.edu

 

RICHARD H.W. MALOY, (Associate Professor), born New York, New York, August 5, 1926; admitted to bar, 1953, Florida. Education: Dartmouth (A.B., 1949); Columbia (J.D., 1953); University of Miami (LL.M., 1974). COURSES: Legal Analysis, Bankruptcy, Debtor‑Creditor, Wills‑Trusts, Remedies. Email: rmaloy@stu.edu

 

ANTHONY C. MUSTO, (Assistant Professor), born New York, New York, February 20, 1951; admitted to bar, 1975, Florida. Education: University of Miami (B.G.S., 1972); Catholic University of America (J.D., 1975). COURSES: Appellate Advocacy, Legal Writing, Advanced Legal Writing. Email: amusto@stu.edu

 

IRA S. NATHENSON, (Assistant Professor of Law), born Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 7, 1962; admitted to bar, 1999, Pennsylvania. Education: University of Pittsburgh (B.A., 1985); University of Pittsburgh (J.D., 1998). COURSES: Intellectual Property, Civil Procedure, Commercial Law, Business Law, Legal Process. Email: nathenson@nathenson.org

 

ELIZABETH A. PENDO, (Professor of Law), born San Jose, CA, July 6, 1967; admitted to bar, 1993, California; 1994, New York. Education: UCLA (B.A., 1990); UC Berkeley (J.D., 1993). COURSES: Civil Procedure, Federal Courts, Employee Benefits Law, Health and Human Rights. Email: ependo@stu.edu

 

LEONARD PERTNOY, (Professor of Law), born Pennsylvania, May 19, 1944; admitted to bar, 1969, Florida. Education: University of Louisville (B.A., 1966); University of Miami (J.D., 1969). COURSES: Florida Constitutional Law, Products Liability, Real Estate Transactions. Email: lpertnoy@stu.edu

 

STEPHEN PLASS, (Professor of Law), born Guyana. Education: Fairleigh Dickinson University (B.A., 1982); Howard University Law School (J.D., 1985); Georgetown University (LL.M., 1988). COURSES: Contracts, Employment Discrimination, Labor Law. Email: splass@stu.edu

 

PAULA REVENE, (Assistant Professor), born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1952; admitted to bar, 1987, Florida. Education: University of New Hampshire (1970‑1972); Pennsylvania State University (B.A., 1974); Nova University (J.D., 1987). COURSES: Legal Research & Writing. Email: prevene@aol.com

 

HARRIET RUBIN ROBERTS, (Assistant Professor), born Brooklyn, New York, August 31, 1947; admitted to bar, 1987, New York. Education: Sarah Lawrence College (B.A., 1971); New York University School of Law (J.D, 1986). COURSES: Professional Responsibility, Agency and Partnership, Corporations, Contracts, Corporate Finance. Email: hroberts@stu.edu

 

AMY DEBRA RONNER, (Professor of Law), born New York, September 15, 1953; admitted to bar, 1985, Florida. Education: Beloit College (B.A., 1978); University of Michigan (M.A., 1976; Ph.D., 1980); University of Miami (J.D., 1985). COURSES: Property, Wills and Trusts. Email: aronner@stu.edu

 

JAY STERLING SILVER, (Professor of Law), born Chicago, Illinois, September 18, 1952; admitted to bar, 1982, Pennsylvania. Education: Washington University (B.A., 1975); Vanderbilt University (J.D., 1981); University of Pennsylvania (LL.M., 1986). COURSES: Torts, Criminal Law, Legal Ethics. Email: jsilver@stu.edu

 

BARBARA SINGER, (Visiting Associate Professor), born Hammond, Indiana, August 19, 1950; admitted to bar, 1976, Indiana. Education: Indiana University (A.B., 1972; J.D., 1976); Cambridge University (LL.B., 1978). COURSES: Contracts, Property, Torts, Sales, Legislation, Land Use Planning, Wills and Trusts, Appellate Advocacy, Legal Research and Writing, Entertainment Law, American Legal History. Email: bsinger@stu.edu

 

MICHAEL SCOTT VASTINE, (Clinical Instructor), born Virginia, October 16, 1972; admitted to bar, 2001, District of Columbia. Education: Oberlin Conservatory of Music (B.A., 1995); Temple University (M.A., 1997); Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 2001). COURSES: Immigration Clinic. Email: mvastine@stu.edu

 

SIEGFRIED WIESSNER, (Professor of Law), born Neustadt/Aisch, Germany, February 26, 1953; admitted to bar, 1984, Germany. Education: University of Tuebingen (J.D., 1977; Dr.iur., 1989); Yale University (LL.M., 1983). COURSES: Constitutional Law, International Law. Email: swiessner@stu.edu

 

MARK JOSEPH WOLFF, (Professor of Law), born Syracuse, New York; admitted to bar, 1977, Florida. Education: Wadhams Hall Seminary‑College (B.A., 1973); Nova Southeastern (J.D., 1977); New York University (LL.M., Taxation, 1978). COURSES: Income Tax, Corporations, Estate and Gift Tax. Email: mwolff@stu.edu

 

CAROL LYNNE ZEINER, (Associate Professor), born Rockville Center, New York March 10, 1950; admitted to bar, 1979, Florida. Education: Florida State University (B.S., 1972); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., 1979). COURSES: Contracts, Property, Higher Education. Email: czeiner@stu.edu