Department Archives: Department of Legal Studies

Dr. Mercy Roberg joined the Legal Studies department at UCF in August 2023. Mercy Roberg’s educational journey reflects her commitment to both legal and educational empowerment. Dr. Roberg’s pursuit of academic excellence started at the University of Florida, where she attained a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Education with a […]

Denisse Córdova Montes is a human rights advocate and educator. Her work focuses on human rights approaches to food system inequities, state and local implementation of human rights, and the role of social movements in shaping human rights norms and discourse. From 2019-2024, she was Lecturer-in-Law at the University of Miami School of Law and […]

I am a Lecturer in the Department of Legal Studies at the University of Central Florida. I am a licensed attorney since 1993. I have practiced in the areas of Criminal Law and Family Law. I am passionate about teaching and I enjoy bringing real world examples of the practice of law into the classroom. […]

Christy L. Foley is a visiting lecturer at the University of Central Florida. Her legal work focuses on transactional small business law and entertainment law. She is also a Florida Supreme Court certified appellate, circuit civil, and county court mediator who is considered a pioneer in the field of e-mediation. Dr. Foley is a leader […]

Carlton Patrick is an interdisciplinary legal scholar who studies the cognitive and evolutionary foundations of law. His research attempts to draw a through-line from the natural sciences to the behavioral sciences, and from the behavioral sciences to the social sciences, by first asking empirical questions about why humans behave in the way they do, and then asking normative […]

Professor Merriam is an associate professor with a joint appointment to the Legal Studies Department and School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs. His research and teaching interests focus on national security law and constitutional law, focusing especially on constitutional issues associated with the military and military service. Professor Merriam also serves as an appellate […]

Dr. Alisa Smith is a Professor at the University of Central Florida. She earned her doctoral degree in criminology and criminal justice and her law degree (JD) at The Florida State University. Dr. Smith practiced criminal trial and appellate law for nearly 29 years, and her primary research interests include: Access to justice in the […]

Lisa S. Nored, J.D., Ph.D. serves as Professor and Chair of the Legal Studies Department at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Nored has served in multiple leadership roles throughout her career including her service as Professor and Director of the School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science and Security at The University of Southern Mississippi […]

Irene Pons is a Senior Lecturer in Legal Studies at the University of Central Florida and a licensed attorney with over 18 years of experience in family law. Passionate about teaching, she brings the law to life for her students through real-world examples, creative learning tools, and immersive technological experiences. Her work focuses on making […]

Areas of Expertise Florida Certified County, Circuit Civil, and Appellate Mediation Education Master of Science, 1983 Juris Doctor, 1987 University of Florida Research Interests Affirmative Action Alternative Dispute Resolution Mediation Arbitration UCF Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) Award spring 2017 The Florida Bar Association Seminole County Bar Association