Meet the Student Affairs Team

Janet E Stearns

Dean of Students & Lecturer in Law

jstearns@miami.edu

(305) 284-4551
Janet Stearns, Dean of Students and Lecturer in Law, joined the University of Miami Law School in October, 1999 as director of International and Foreign Graduate Programs. In 2007 she was appointed Dean of Students. Since 2011, Dean Stearns also regularly teaches Professional Responsibility. The ABA COLAP recognized Dean...

Jessie E Howell

Director, Student Inclusion & Accessibility

j.howell2@miami.edu

(305) 284-9907
Jessie received her JD from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2001. Prior to coming to the CDO, she was Associate Director of Career Services at St. Thomas University School of Law, and Director of Career Development at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Before law school, Jessie earned her BS in Criminal Justice...

Farah Barquero

Director, Programs

f.barquero@umiami.edu

(305) 284-2464

Odetta Clarke

Assoc. Director, Programs

o.norton@umiami.edu

(305) 284-3270
Odetta Clarke is a 2012 graduate of Miami Law. She came to Miami after earning her B.A. at Columbia University, a Master’s degree at the University of Rochester, a Master’s in Fine Arts at the University of Michigan, and serving as a Fulbright Fellow in Dakar, Senegal. Prior to law school, Clarke worked in an eye surgery...

Madeline Raine

Asst. Director, Programs
Assistant Director of Student Life

mck68@miami.edu

Madeline is a proud alum of the University of the University of Miami School of Law. She earned her J.D. in 2018 and went on to practice civil litigation for 3 years, before returning to academia to pursue her passions in higher education. Madeline received her M.S. in Higher Education Administration at Florida International University, where...

Jack F. Townsend

Assoc. Director, Programs

j.townsend1@umiami.edu

Jack Townsend began his undergraduate career at University of Miami in 2011 as a Dual Degree Honors Student on the Pre-Law Track. As an undergraduate student, Jack pursued a major in International Studies and a minor in the Classics. He also spent a semester at the University of London studying Post-Colonial English Literature. Townsend then...

Merissa L Yancey

Sr. Program Coordinator

mlw173@miami.edu

Merissa Yancey joined Miami Law in Fall 2021. In her role as Senior Program Coordinator of Student Organizations, she is dedicated to working with our student leaders to ensure seamless support of all activities and events, and efficiently managing the finances of SBA, LAFAC, and the Student Affairs team. Merissa received her master’s...