Career and Professional Development Team
The Career and Professional Development team at Stetson Law empowers students and alumni to be competitive, market-ready candidates through our employer engagement activities and student preparedness services. Through our involvement in the legal, business, nonprofit, and government communities in our career markets, we gather valuable insight from the employer community, identify job opportunities, and compile job market intelligence.
In addition to employer outreach, we provide our signature Career Toolkit curriculum. This curriculum forms the basis of our student preparedness services, which aim to help students and alumni master career competencies via programming as well as individual coaching and feedback throughout the academic year. We also produce and lead the Stetson Solo Practice Network, which offers education, network building, and mentoring opportunities for our entrepreneurially minded alumni, regardless of practice setting.
As you will see below, we have a robust team of dedicated professionals with a diverse mix of backgrounds, skills, and experience to help serve our clients.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us at 727-562-7815 or [email protected].
Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development
727-562-7845 | [email protected]
Cathy Martin leads the Office of Career and Professional Development. With extensive experience in higher education leadership, human resources, and organizational strategy, she has held senior roles at Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and consulting firms, and now brings that strategic lens to supporting law students and legal employers.
At Stetson Law, Cathy designs and delivers career and professional development strategies that connect students with market-ready tools, employers with exceptional candidates, and alumni with lasting support. She is the creator of The Job Whisperer blog and a published author on nonprofit leadership. Cathy holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Stetson University.
Associate Director, Public Interest Careers & Pro Bono
727-562-7809 | [email protected]
Stephanie Storke supports students pursuing public interest careers and leads the College of Law’s pro bono initiatives. With nearly six years of experience as a staff attorney at TakeRoot Justice and the Goddard Riverside Law Project in New York City, Stephanie brings deep insight into the public service legal landscape. She has also served as a judicial law clerk, pro bono scholar, and legal intern in various state and federal settings.
At Stetson, she offers one-on-one advising, develops public service programming, and builds partnerships with mission-driven legal organizations. Stephanie earned her J.D. from New York Law School and her B.A. from the University of Miami.
Senior Associate Director,Career Paths,Outcomes and Connections
727-562-7961 | [email protected]
With nearly a decade of service at Stetson Law, Ryan Hoyle brings strategic guidance and institutional insight to his work with students and graduates. He will play and talk sports at any opportunity. Ryan is known for his thoughtful coaching style and his ability to connect students’ strengths to professional outcomes. He oversees the Office’s ABA and NALP (National Association Law Placement) employment data reporting, develops student programming and provides individualized career coaching.
Before entering higher education, Ryan practiced insurance defense law and served as a budget analyst in the U.S. Marine Corps. He holds a J.D. and M.A. in English from Florida State University and a B.A. from Bridgewater State University
Laura DeMayo establishes and maintains partnerships with employers across law firms, corporations, and government agencies to connect law students and alumni with meaningful career opportunities. She engages with the broader legal community on behalf of Stetson Law School through national conferences, alumni events, and professional organizations, strengthening the school’s visibility and deepening employer relations.
Drawing on her experience in legal practice and legal recruiting, Laura brings strategic insight into employer engagement, aligning organizational hiring needs with the strengths and career goals of students and alumni. Laura earned her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School and her B.A. from Providence College.
Sarthak Pattnaik supports students in developing essential career skills and professional confidence through individualized coaching, early engagement, and resource development. With a background in law, business analytics, and legal technology, Sarthak brings a multifaceted perspective to student advising and program design.
Prior to joining Stetson, he co-founded Nyaay.ai, an AI-powered legal assistant platform recognized by Spectrum Bay News 9 for advancing legal research efficiency. He has also worked across corporate legal teams, education startups, and higher education institutions. At Stetson, he guides students through resume and cover letter development, networking strategies, and foundational professional skill-building. Sarthak earned his MBA in Business Analytics from the University of South Florida and his LLM in Criminal and Security Law from KIIT School of Law, India.
Ryan Harvey leads career development efforts for students enrolled in Stetson’s Flex JD Program. He offers strategic guidance tailored to the unique challenges and strengths of Flex law students balancing school, work, and family responsibilities. Prior to Stetson, Ryan worked at a large law firm focusing on insurance defense and then a family-owned general civil litigation firm.
His legal experience spans various areas of civil litigation and legal publishing, including authoring briefs for Casebriefs LLC. A licensed attorney and certified MBTI Step I Practitioner, Ryan holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.S. in Pre-Law from Husson University.
Career and Professional Development Manager
727-562-7975 | [email protected]
Stacy Elizondo ensures seamless delivery of services across the Career and Professional Development Office. She manages the Symplicity platform, coordinates employer job postings, facilitates appointment scheduling, and supports students and alumni with reciprocity requests.
Stacy also supervises the office’s student assistants and maintains daily operations with exceptional care and consistency. She was named Stetson Employee of the Year in 2013. Stacy holds an Associate of Arts degree from Charles Stewart Mott Community College and has pursued coursework at the University of Michigan and the University of South Florida.