College of Law Leadership
Administration
The College of Law is led by Randall C. Berg Jr. Dean Nicholas W. Allard. The leadership team oversees key areas, including strategic planning, academic affairs, student and faculty development. They guide the day-to-day operations that fulfill the College's mission of providing quality legal education.
Nicholas W. Allard
Randall C. Berg Jr. Dean
J.D., YALE LAW SCHOOL
M.A., OXFORD UNIVERSITY
Telephone number Office Phone: (904) 256-7033
Email address Email: nallard@ju.edu
Dean “Nick” Allard joined JU as the Founding Dean of the College of Law. He previously served as Dean of Brooklyn Law School (2012 - 2018) where he also concurrently served as President (2014-2018 and Professor of Law (2012-2020). He is a distinguished attorney, having held leadership positions in some of the most highly regarded firms in the world. Most recently, Dean Allard has been Senior Counsel based in the Washington, D.C., office of Dentons US LLP, counseling clients in the fields of privacy, telecommunications, advanced broadband networked communications, technology, health, energy, environmental law, compliance and higher education. He has been a member of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Government Affairs and chairs its Standing Committee on the Law Library of Congress. Dean Allard holds prominent volunteer leadership positions at Princeton University, Oxford University, the Rhodes Scholarship Trust, Cambridge University, Catholic University of America, and as a long time Trustee of the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. He received his JD from Yale Law School and holds a BA from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. He is a Rhodes Scholar and holds an MA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University. Dean Allard’s legal education continued during clerkships with the late U.S. Chief District Judge Robert F. Peckham (N.D. CA) and the late U.S. Appellate Judge Patricia M. Wald (D.C. Cir.).
Margaret Dees
Vice Dean
J.D., University of Florida
B.M., Jacksonville University
Telephone number Office Phone: (904) 256-7885
Email address Email: mdees@ju.edu
Margaret Dees, Esq. is a Jacksonville University alumna and has served the university as a member of the Board of Trustees and in key senior leadership positions. Dees serves as Vice Dean, overseeing business operations, accreditation, legal community, and governmental relations for the College of Law. She additionally serves as the lead on external relations for the University. Previously, Dees served as Senior Vice President of Economic Development & External Engagement where she managed Jacksonville University’s external relationships with state and local government and acted as liaison to both public and private economic investment entities, community grant-making agencies, and institutes. In an earlier role, Dean Dees served as head of Enrollment Management & Communications for the University, overseeing admissions, financial aid, international recruitment, and marketing & communications. Dees served as Director of Institutional Advancement for Florida Coastal School of Law before returning to her alma mater to serve under President Tim Cost. Dean Dees began her career in law with nearly ten years at Holland & Knight, LLP, practicing in employment, higher education, government relations, and litigation. In her community, she has served on numerous boards and initiatives, including the Jacksonville University Board of Trustees. Dean Dees is a member of Leadership Jacksonville Class of 2007 and a past recipient of the Jacksonville Business Journal Women of Influence Award. She received a JD from the University of Florida and a bachelor's degree in music from Jacksonville University.
Courtney A. Barclay, APR
Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs
Associate Professor of Communication and Law
Ph.D., University of Florida
J.D., University of Florida
Telephone number Office Phone: (904) 256-7114
Email address Email: cbarcla1@ju.edu
Courtney Barclay has nearly 15 years of experience in higher education. Dean Barclay joined the faculty at JU as professor in the Department of Communication, specializing in public relations and media law. With an interdisciplinary focus, she holds a joint faculty appointment in Communication and Law. Her research analyzes First Amendment implications of law and policy impacting the emerging uses of technology and new media platforms, including chat bots, online data tracking, drones, and social media. She has presented this research at national and international conferences, and is the author of "Commercial Speech in a Social Space," a chapter in the forthcoming third edition of Social Media and the Law. Dean Barclay also holds a national Accreditation in Public Relations and served on the 2020-2022 state board of directors for the Florida Public Relations Association. Before joining the faculty at JU, Dean Barclay taught media law at Syracuse University and, in 2009, served as a Visiting Scholar at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, mentoring summer law clerks and directing a modernization of the organization's tracking of Freedom of Information requests, appeals, and litigation. Dean Barclay earned a joint PhD/JD at the University in Florida from the College of Law and the College of Journalism and Communication.
Lauren Knight
Associate Dean for Student Success & Bar Prep
Assistant Professor of Law
J.D., FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
Telephone number Office Phone: (904) 256-8859
Email address Email: lknight4@ju.edu
Professor Lauren Knight began her legal career practicing in Jacksonville, Florida. She has recently served as the Chief Operating Officer for a law firm in Savannah, Georgia. As a law professor, she taught and tutored law students and undergraduate students in academic success, LSAT and Bar preparation, criminal law, legal writing, professional responsibility, and remedies. Professor Knight’s research centers on the student experience in law school and legal training. She previously taught at Mercer University School of Law, Savannah Law School, and South University.
Kathleen Griggs
Assistant Dean of Student Development and Practice
J.D., Florida State University
B.S., University of Florida
Telephone number Office Phone: (904) 256-7452
Email address Email: kgriggs2@ju.edu
Katie Griggs, Esq. serves as the Assistant Dean of Student Development & Practice.
Dean Griggs received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University
of Florida and her Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law. Her
prior experience includes serving as a prosecutor, corporate contract negotiator,
and higher education professional. Prior to joining Jacksonville University, Dean
Griggs worked at two legal higher education institutions in the areas of academic
success, bar preparation, experiential learning, and career services.
Thomas Taggart
Associate Dean of Students, College of Law
Associate VP of Student Experience
M.S. Miami university
B.S., miami university
Telephone number Office Phone: (904) 256-7663
Email address Email: ttaggar@ju.edu
Tom Taggart serves as the Associate Dean of Students at the College of Law, and he
enjoys advising, supporting, and mentoring law students throughout their academic
journey. Dean Taggart has 16 years of experience in higher education administration,
and he currently manages all student support services, student organizations and affiliations,
and serves as a direct conduit to campus resources for all student needs. In addition,
he provides guidance and support with bar applications, character and fitness processes,
and bar licensure. He also serves as Associate Vice President of Student Experience
for students on the main Arlington campus. In that role, he serves as student ombudsman,
advocate, and problem-solver for all undergraduate and graduate students. He actively
promotes student success, engagement, leadership, and service opportunities for students.
In an earlier role, Dean Taggart served as Chief Admissions Officer for the University,
overseeing recruitment, admissions, and student matriculation. Before joining the
administration at JU, Dean Taggart served as Associate Dean for Student Affairs at
Florida Coastal School of Law where he oversaw student services, student life, diversity
and inclusion, disability accommodations, and bar licensure processes. Dean Taggart
earned a B.S. in Chemistry and an M.S. in Engineering from Miami University in Oxford,
Ohio.
Colleen M. Skinner
Director of Law Library and Assistant Professor of Law
J.D., Florida Coastal School of Law
M.L.I.S., Florida State University
Telephone number Office Phone: (904) 256-8862
Email address Email: cskinne4@ju.edu
Colleen Skinner has been a law librarian since 2008. In that role, she has provided research support in many areas, including immigration and externship clinics, foreign and international law, and being an embedded Librarian for administration and faculty research needs. She also has extensive research skills in Westlaw, Lexis Nexis and teaching research workshops. Ms. Skinner enjoys sharing her skills with students and helping them become expert researchers. She earned her B.A. in Criminology from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon, her Masters of Information Science from Florida State University and her Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law.
Missy Davenport
Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions,
College of Law
J.D., Florida Coastal School of Law
B.S., Jacksonville University
Telephone number Office Phone: (904) 256-7169
Email address Email: mdavenp@ju.edu
Missy Davenport, Esq. is a Florida licensed attorney with many years of experience
in higher education administration, academic success programming, and bar exam preparation.
She is a proud Dolphin with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Jacksonville University
and a Juris Doctor degree from Florida Coastal School of Law. Before joining the
Jacksonville University College of Law, Ms. Davenport was the Pro Bono Director at
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, served as a prosecutor in the 4th Judicial Circuit, practiced
family law, and was the Director of Academic Success and Bar Preparation at Florida
Coastal School of Law.
Virginia Berg
Director of Major Gifts
MBA, University of west Florida
B.S., Auburn University
Telephone number Office Phone: (904) 256-8858
Email address Email: vberg@ju.edu
Virginia serves as the Director of Major Gifts for the College of Law. Prior to joining JU, she served as Chief Development Officer for a literacy-focused non-profit and also as Director of Government Relations and Community Engagement for Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ). Before moving to Jacksonville, Virginia served as Appointments Director to Governor Rick Scott as well as Finance Director for Let’s Get to Work PC. She currently serves as chair of the Jacksonville Public Library Board and is a member of the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation.
Virginia received her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and her MBA from the University of West Florida.
Katie Garwood
Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
M.S., Jacksonville University
B.A., Flagler college
Telephone number Office Phone: (904) 256-8854
Email address Email: kgarwoo@ju.edu
Katie Garwood serves as the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for the College of Law. A Florida native, Katie earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Media Production from Flagler College, and later a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Jacksonville University. Before joining the College of Law, Katie was the Assistant Director of Communications at Jacksonville University. Prior to that, she spent several years working as a newspaper reporter in Northeast Florida.
Ronald P. Angerer, II, B.C.S.
Academic Success Counselor
J.D., Florida Coastal School of Law
B.s., Florida gulf coast university
Telephone nEmail addr Email: rangere@ju.edu
Ron Angerer is a Florida licensed attorney who, prior to joining Jacksonville University in 2024, practiced law in the Jacksonville, Florida community for more than ten years. Mr. Angerer’s practice largely focused on labor and employment and related civil rights matters, and he was recognized as an expert in labor and employment law by the Florida Bar in 2020. Mr. Angerer’s published scholarship has focused on labor and employment law, and his work in the Florida Bar Journal was named the Article of the Year by the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Florida Bar.
Robin Deis
Executive Administration Manager
Telephone number Office Phone: (904) 256-8868
Email address Email: rdeis@ju.edu
Accreditation Information
Accreditation is the hallmark of quality and high standards for legal education and admission to the Bar. The Jacksonville University College of Law is provisionally approved by the American Bar Association (Council of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738), and, in accordance with ABA rules, will continue to pursue full accreditation. Law schools that are provisionally accredited are entitled to all the rights of a fully approved law school. Similarly, from an ABA perspective, graduates of provisionally approved law schools are entitled to the same recognition that is accorded graduates of fully approved law schools.
Jacksonville University
General Counsel
2800 University Blvd N, Jacksonville, FL 32211
904-256-7549