Development and Alumni Relations - Meet Our Staff
Brandon Prescott
Executive Director
With years of experience at higher education institutions and nonprofits, Brandon Prescott has shown exceptional fundraising prowess throughout his career. He has a proven track record of securing six- and- seven-figure gifts through effectively cultivating partnerships with corporate and community foundations as well as state and local governments. He has worked in critical development roles at University of South Florida College of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Sustainable Harvest International, Mount Saint Mary’s University, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Council for Children’s Rights, and The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation.
He has also performed volunteer work at numerous nonprofit organizations. Ensuring efficiency and effective engagement with current and future alumni alike, Brandon has a strong command for all relevant CRM and engagement platforms in the digital space.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Louisiana Tech University and an Institute for Leaders in Development Certification from University of Denver.
Patricia Toups
Director of Alumni and Annual Giving
A long-time resident of St. Petersburg, Patricia Toups earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Stetson University. Toups has worked in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations since 2001 in various roles. As associate director of development, Patricia brings a broad breadth and knowledge to the development team that includes historical timelines, practices and procedures, fiscal management and most importantly, a loyalty and devotion to Stetson Law, the alumni and students.
Patricia previously worked in the Office of Admissions at Stetson Law from 1980 to 1984. In 2004, she was named Employee of the Year. She received the Dean's Award for service to the law school in 2007 and 2012. She has two sons, a daughter and granddaughter. One of her sons is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law.
Karen Ryals
Development Officer
Karen Ryals, a native Tampan, has spent the past 30 years working in nonprofit leadership and fundraising. She is the former Chief Development Officer for the Humane Society, Tampa Bay. She has specialized over the years in annual giving and donor development. Karen also has experience in planned giving and capital campaigns. She will oversee new cutting-edge annual
giving programs and managing existing campaigns including the Law Firm Challenge, Student Emergency Fund, and Book Awards.
Ryals has worked at numerous nonprofits in the Tampa Bay area and has been very active in the community as a volunteer. She received her B.A. in Education from the University of Florida and her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Florida State University.
Patricia Stone
Database Administration Support
Patricia Stone is native to the Tampa Bay area and is the Database Administration Specialist for the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. She joined the College of Law in January 2016 and worked in the Registrar’s Office and the Dean’s Office before transitioning to this team. In her current role, she supports the work of the Development Operations functions (gift accounting and processes, database management and reporting tools, and donor stewardship) and provides administrative support to the entire staff of the Development and Alumni Relations Office.
Stone earned her B.A.S. in Paralegal Studies from St. Petersburg College in December 2015 and is currently a law student in the College of Law’s part-time program. While law school keeps her very busy, she enjoys spending her free time reading, ballroom dancing, and being with her family
Tomeka Jackson
Administrative Support
Tomeka Jackson provides administrative support for the entire department, and in particular, works closely in helping to prepare for the College of Law's multitude of events. A graduate of Florida Metropolitan University (BS – Criminal Justice) and a graduate of Nova Southeastern University (MSCJ – Criminal Justice), Jackson most recently worked at Raymond James Financial in St. Petersburg.
In her free time, Jackson enjoys shopping, traveling and visiting with family and friends