Contact Career Services

Debra Henley is the associate dean for Career Services and Professional Development. She also teaches Legislative Practice at FSU Law. She previously served for seven years as executive director of the Florida Justice Association (FJA). Henley also served as legislative director of the FJA for 18 years, as a civil trial attorney with Connor and Martinez, as a member of the staff of the Florida House of Representatives and as commissioner on the Florida Commission of Ethics, among other positions. Henley graduated from the FSU College of Law in December 1987 with high honors. She has a wealth of legal experience and an extensive network of professional legal relationships.

Alumni Mike Markham ('88) practices in Business Litigation and Bankruptcy Law. He practices with Johnson Pope remotely from Tallahassee and is available to talk with students about law careers in this field and job search strategies. 

Since graduating from FSU Law in 1988, he has practiced with the Johnson Pope firm in the Tampa Bay area. As a bankruptcy attorney, he has interacted with attorneys in various specialties all over the country. Throughout his career, he has mentored and interviewed scores of candidates for attorney positions and understands the hiring process and jobs available to law school graduates.

Preston McLane is a 2009 graduate of the FSU College of Law. Preston currently serves as a Program Administrator for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Air Resource Management, where he directs the state’s regulatory planning activities, rulemaking, and grants programs under the federal Clean Air Act.

Preston previously served as an Environmental Administrator and Deputy Director with the Air Division. Prior to joining DEP, he was an attorney practicing environmental permitting, water use planning and permitting, professional licensing, administrative law, and art and cultural resource law. In addition to his career in environmental regulation. He also has a Ph.D. in art history and served as the Director of the Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts from 2018 to 2022.

Alisa “Lisa” Duke moved to Tallahassee with her family in 2001. Her main area of practice after she graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in 1986 was health care law, with a focus on transactional, regulatory, and compliance work. She represented a variety of health care providers and facilities and often presented educational seminars to doctors, nurses, health care administrators, and other lawyers on topics such as risk management, fraud, medical records, compliance, and human resources. Immediately prior to moving to Tallahassee, Duke served for five years as in-house general counsel for Medical Services of America, Inc, a large multi-state provider of health care services. Since joining FSU College of Law in 2016, Duke has worked to develop and nurture her relationships with our students and alumni.

Jennifer Heckman is the director of employer recruitment and a proud 2001 FSU College of Law graduate. Heckman was on the Moot Court team and was the 1L Final Four Best Oralist. She also was awarded first place in the National Telecommunications Moot Court Competition. Upon graduation, she practiced law at Ausley & McMullen for 10 years in the area of business litigation, representing businesses and financial institutions, state agencies, and the Governor’s Office in federal and state courts in Florida. She also practiced appellate law and served as ethics and election law compliance counsel for several multinational corporations. She went on to open and manage a private law practice representing financial institutions and providing guidance and advice on compliance with federal and state laws and regulations affecting the financial services industry. Heckman teaches financial regulation and compliance as an adjunct professor in FSU Law's Juris Master Program.

Sarah Jackson is the program associate for the Career Services and Professional Development Office. She was born and raised in Tallahassee. Jackson graduated from the University of South Florida and has served in several administrative positions in the State University System of Florida. Before entering the field of student services, she worked as an assistant to the director of a biotech incubator, gaining firsthand knowledge about start-ups, small business, and IP law in an expanding market. With her vast background in communication and interpersonal skills, she brings a unique quality to the office. Jackson is inspired by compassionate acts and service driven initiatives. In her free time, she likes to hike, sew, and volunteer at a local farm.