Office of the General Counsel

Youndy C. Cook, is Vice President and General Counsel of the University of Central Florida where she leads the Office of the General Counsel in providing a full range of legal services to the University and its Direct Support Organizations (DSOs). Ms. Cook joined the Office of the General Counsel in April 2002, serving in several roles since then, including Associate General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, and Interim Vice President and General Counsel, before her appointment as Vice President and General Counsel in December 2021. Ms. Cook works with departments and units across the university on a wide variety of issues, including general advice, employment issues, litigation, student affairs, policies and procedures, regulations, and contracts.

Ms. Cook is active in the National Association of College and University Attorneys and the Florida Bar.  She was certified by the Florida Bar as an education law specialist starting in 2012. In addition to providing training around campus, she has spoken various times at education law and higher education conferences. Ms. Cook has served on various university committees and work groups over the years. A Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native, Ms. Cook received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Vanderbilt University and her J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law.

Principal areas of responsibility: Compliance (Other); Conflicts of Interest; Constitutional Issues; Crisis and Emergency Management; Discrimination and Retaliation; Employment and Labor; FERPA; Governance; Government Relations; Insurance; Litigation; Public Safety; Public Records; Regulations; Risk Management; and Student Affairs.

Onchantho Am is an Associate General Counsel at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine on the Lake Nona Health Sciences Campus. She provides legal support for health care affiliations, transactions, joint ventures, and counsel for various health-related activities in education, research, and clinical services. Onchantho also develops and reviews contracts for the College of Medicine, its clinical practice UCF Health, Student Health Services, and other health-related programs. She is responsible for addressing health care regulatory, liability, HIPAA, and compliance issues and assists with legal and university policy issues involving students, residents, faculty, and staff. As part of the UCF Office of General Counsel, she provides legal representation and advice to the university and its trustees, officers, and employees. Onchantho helps protect the university from adverse legal and financial consequences, advises on the decision-making process, and supports strategic initiatives of the College and University.

Before joining the University in June 2022, Onchantho served as an executive and chief legal officer for a local mental health substance misuse and child wellbeing nonprofit organization in Longwood, Florida. She received her Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law. She was awarded the Victor O. Wehle Award for outstanding work in Trial Advocacy and the Thomas E. Penick Jr. Award for Community Service. Onchantho received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Florida.

Onchantho’s peers have recognized her locally and nationally for her leadership. In 2021, she was honored as one of the Orlando Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award Recipients. In 2022, she was recognized as the National Association of Asian American Professionals Inspire Awardee and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida – Rising Phoenix Leadership Award.

Jordan Clark joined the University of Central Florida in 2003, and he serves as Associate General Counsel for the University. Prior to joining the university, he practiced in the areas of Mergers and Acquisitions/Corporate Securities in Miami, Florida with the law firms of Steel Hector and Davis LLP and Greenberg Traurig P. A.

Mr. Clark received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting with honors from West Virginia University and his Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Florida, where he was an associate editor for the Journal of Law and Public Policy. Mr. Clark is admitted to practice in Florida. Mr. Clark has been recognized by Florida Trend Magazine as Legal Elite for 2016 and 2017.

He is active in university and community affairs and sits as director on UCF Athletics Association, Inc., and a past chairman of Lake Eola Charter School board of directors and a founding member of the Galileo School for Gifted Learning board of directors.

Principal areas of responsibility: Athletics; Contracts (Athletics); Contracts (construction, procurement); Facilities and Construction; Finance; Health, Safety and Environment; Public Safety; Procurement/Purchasing; Real Estate; and Student Affairs.

Rebecca Hanus joined the Office of General Counsel in 2022 and serves as Associate General Counsel for the University. She previously worked in the UCF Office of Research and, prior to that, served as legal counsel and in the Office of Research at Clemson University.

Rebecca received her Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University and her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law, where she was an executive editor for the Journal of Intellectual Property Law.

Principal areas of responsibility: Contracts; Copyrights and Trademarks; Intellectual Property; International/UCF Global; Licensing; Privacy; Information Security; Procurement/Purchasing; Software Licensing

Shainoor Ladha-Karmali has served as Associate General Counsel since 2011. She also serves as a HIPAA Privacy Officer for the College of Medicine and HIPAA counsel for the university.  Prior to joining the university, she served as in-house counsel for Advent Health, a multi-regional integrated health care system, for over 12 years, specializing in Health Law.

Ms. Ladha-Karmali provides operational legal support and advice to the Academic Health Sciences Center, including the multi-specialty clinic, HealthArch (which works with community physician practices in improving health care delivery and quality), Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, the Graduate Medical Education program, among others. In addition, she handles a wide variety of health law related matters for various units, departments, and colleges at the university.

She advises leadership and others regarding health care regulatory requirements related to complex health care transactions and joint arrangements. She also advises on medical education standards, medical resident matters, patient care matters, patient privacy, data breaches, conflicts of interest involving health care industry, and federal requirements governing financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies.  She reviews, drafts, and negotiates health care related contracts for the university as well as other business contracts for the College of Medicine.

She currently serves on variety of committees at the university and at the College of Medicine and is spearheading the UCF Health Sciences HIPAA Collaborative to develop and implement uniform HIPAA Privacy and Security Policies for the university.

Ms. Ladha-Karmali currently serves on the American Health Lawyers Association Women’s Leadership Council. She has been a civil mediator since 2002 and served as a chairperson for a faith-based mediation board for 7 years.  She is a graduate of the Dean’s Leadership Enhancement Program (2017-2018).

Ms. Ladha-Karmali received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, cum laude, from University of Washington, her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Seattle University, and her Master of Business Administration from University of Central Florida. She is admitted to the Florida Bar.

Principal areas of responsibility: Health Law; HIPAA; Academic Health Sciences Center; Graduate Medical Education; Conflicts of Interest (Health Care Industry); Contracts.

Craig Novick joined the Office of the General Counsel in May 2022, and holds the position of Associate General Counsel. Craig serves as lead counsel on labor and employment matters. Prior to joining the University, Craig was a shareholder at Gray Robinson, P.A., where he practiced in the areas of labor and employment law.

Craig received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire and his J.D., cum laude, from Western New England College School of Law, where he was a member of the Western New England Law review.

Principal areas of responsibility: Academic Affairs; Constitutional Issues; Contracts (academic affairs); Collective Bargaining; Discrimination and Retaliation; Employment and Labor; Faculty Issues; FERPA; First Amendment/Free Expression; Insurance; Litigation; Policies; Public Records; Regulations; Risk Management; and Student Affairs.

Sara H. Potter joined the University of Central Florida in 2019, and she serves as Associate General Counsel for the University. Prior to joining the University, she practiced in the areas of labor and employment law and litigation at Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A. and GrayRobinson, P.A. both in Orlando, Florida.

Sara received her B.A. in Public Policy from Duke University and her J.D., summa cum laude, from Florida State University College of Law, where she served as President of the Moot Court team and Article Editor for the Florida State University Law Review. She is admitted to practice in the state and federal district courts of Florida.

Principal areas of responsibility: Academic Affairs; Clery Act; Collective Bargaining; Constitutional Issues; Contracts (academic affairs); Discrimination and Retaliation; Employment and Labor; Faculty Issues; Insurance; Litigation; Student Affairs; and Title IX.

Jeanette C. Schreiber, JD, MSW, serves as UCF’s Senior Associate Vice President for Health Affairs, Deputy General Counsel for Health Affairs, and Chief Legal Officer for the College of Medicine. She manages strategic development, including planning and implementation of health affairs business initiatives, partnerships and affiliations, such as the UCF Lake Nona Medical Center and the UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center. She oversees the Health Sciences Division of the Office of General Counsel at UCF’s Lake Nona Health Sciences campus which provides health care and related legal, regulatory, and compliance services and resources. Ms. Schreiber is responsible for the College of Medicine’s HealthARCH program, assisting over 3,000 community providers and provider networks in clinical and administrative services to advance quality, value and health care transformation. She serves on UCF’s Academic Health Sciences Center (AHSC) Executive Council and co-leads the AHSC Population Health Collaborative Council.

Before joining UCF, Ms. Schreiber was a partner for over 20 years in health law at the Connecticut-based firm Wiggin & Dana, LLP. She served as the primary outside health law counsel for the Yale-New Haven Health System for over 20 years, and assisted health care providers, networks and associations in planning, development and implementation of clinical services, facilities, affiliations and system development; health policy and government relations; compliance; patient care issues; and health information technology. She has worked extensively with local, state and national health care advocacy and trade organizations representing hospitals, physicians, home care agencies, and other providers.

Ms. Schreiber is board certified in health law by the Florida Bar and is a graduate of Harvard Law School (J.D., 1982, cum laude), Florida State University (M.S.W., 1978, highest honors), and Emory University (B.A. 1976, high honors).

Ms. Schreiber is an Orlando native. After returning home in 2007, she was a shareholder in Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson, P.A., before joining the UCF College of Medicine in 2008. Currently Ms. Schreiber serves on the Board of Directors of the Seminole County and Greater Apopka Habitat for Humanity.

Principal areas of responsibility include: College of Medicine, Academic Health Sciences Center; Governance (Health Sciences); Graduate Medical Education; Health Care initiatives and partnerships; HIPAA and Health Law; Public Records (COM); and Self-insurance program.

Sandra M. Sovinski is Deputy General Counsel, leading the Research-legal team, and also working across the University and with its direct support organizations on a wide variety of intellectual property matters. She also serves as counsel for the University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc., with Robert Wilson. Prior to joining UCF in 2010, she practiced in the areas of patents, trademarks, copyrights and related intellectual property matters for her firm, Innovative IP, LLC, and for the Atlanta IP boutique Myers & Kaplan Intellectual Property Law, LLC.

Ms. Sovinski is a Registered Patent Attorney, Board Certified in Intellectual Property Law. She received her Juris Doctorate from Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis, IN, where she was on the Deans List, was the winner of an International Law Review Writing Competition, and also received the CALI award for excellence. Ms. Sovinski is a native Floridian who proudly calls University of Central Florida her alma mater for her Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science, with a chemistry minor. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Sovinski was a forensic scientist, frequently testifying as an expert witness in the DNA and serological arts, and is co-author of numerous scientific publications in the field.

Ms. Sovinski volunteers as a speaker on intellectual property topics for various Central Florida small business and community organizations, is a member of the Florida and Georgia Bars, and has been admitted to practice in the Middle District Court of Florida, the Northern District Court of Georgia, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Principal areas of responsibility: Compliance (Research; Contracts (research, IRB); Copyrights and Trademarks; Export Control; Intellectual Property; Licensing; Patents; Public Records (Research); Research; Sponsored Research; and Technology Transfer.

Richard Welsh joined UCF in April 2023 as a Senior Associate General Counsel for UCF and the UCF Foundation. Before coming to UCF, Rich was an Associate General Counsel at Rutgers University, where he was the primary attorney for the Rutgers University Foundation and advised Rutgers on real estate matters involving healthcare, commercial development, and general university operations. Rich has broad public sector experience, having served as a Deputy General Counsel for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and legal counsel for a community college and its foundation. Rich started his career in private practice in an estates and trusts firm in suburban Philadelphia.

Rich focuses on transactional, tax, and corporate matters involving non-profit law, real estate, estates and trusts, grants, philanthropy, entity formation, acquisitions, policy development, and legislation.

Rich received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, LL.M. in taxation from Villanova University School of Law, and BA from Virginia Wesleyan University. Rich is admitted to practice law in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Robert W. Wilson is a Senior Associate General Counsel supporting UCF’s Office of Research. Robert provides strategic advice to UCF on business and corporate matters, including complex contract reviews and negotiations, intellectual property issues, clinical trial agreements, joint ventures, export control compliance, data privacy, and other research compliance and initiatives. He also serves as primary counsel to UCF’s Institutional Review Boards providing legal counsel on matters related to human subjects’ research and to UCF’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Robert also serves as the primary legal counsel to the University of Central Florida Research Foundation, a UCF direct support organization, providing legal and business advice regarding corporate governance, technology ventures and strategic investments, tax matters, and research compliance.

Prior to joining UCF in 2014, Robert practiced in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, securities and tax law for firms in Florida, Georgia and Texas.

Robert earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Florida, a Master of Accounting degree from the University of Florida, a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School and an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida. He is admitted to the State Bars of Florida, Georgia and Texas. In addition, he is a licensed (inactive) Certified Public Accountant in Florida.

Principal areas of responsibility: Clinical Trials; Compliance (research); Conflicts of Interest; Contracts (research, IRB); Copyrights and Trademarks; Export Control; Intellectual Property; IRB and IACUC; Licensing; Policies (DSOs); Privacy and Information Security; Public Records (Research); Research; Sponsored Research; Tax; and Technology Transfer.

Rebecca Pluguez position as Director of the General Counsel’s Office concentrates in the Association of Corporate Counsel’s model of Legal Operations which specializes in the management of a legal organization which includes change management, compliance, contract, eDiscovery & litigation, governance, innovation, intellectual property, internal resource, knowledge management, metrics & analysis, process & projects, strategic planning and technology management. Equally important, she is responsible for the supervision and management of the administrative personnel including Legal Service Coordinators, Legal Assistants, Office Assistants, and Student Assistants, and Interns.

Rebecca’s alma mater is the University of Central Florida where she received her B.A. in Legal Studies and her Masters of Nonprofit Management. Rebecca has been Chair and Co-Chair of the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Internal Resource Management Group and is involved in the ACC’s Steering Committee. Rebecca actively volunteers in diverse nonprofits and helps them through consultation and creating volunteer management plans, budgeting, writing grants, and strategic management plans.

Eliza Bardin serves as Associate Director for Healthcare Compliance and Compliance Officer for the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. In this role, Eliza works with College of Medicine administrators and faculty practice leadership to identify and mitigate risks related to delivery of patient care through UCF Health and to business relationships of the College and UCF Health. Prior to joining the University in May 2011, Eliza served in regulatory and corporate governance roles in the restaurant, hospitality, and publishing industries.

Eliza received her B.A. in English from Rollins College and her M.J. in Health Law from Loyola University Chicago.

Principal areas of responsibility: Compliance Program for College of Medicine clinical services; policies; gifts and honoraria; conflicts of interest.

Dawn Castro joined the University in January of 2017. She is the Associate Director for Gift Administration for the University of Central Florida Foundation, Inc. and is responsible for all aspects of the gift administration process, including drafting gift agreements, amendments, and processing. Dawn works closely with the Foundation’s gift officers and senior leadership on closing gifts. Dawn also provides support for the contract management system, compliance, policies, and support to the Foundation’s Legal Counsel with complex projects.

Dawn’s alma mater is the University of Central Florida where she received her B.A. in Legal Studies in 2016.

Nicholas Colon joined the staff of the General Counsel’s office in December 2022. He is the liaison between UCF departments and UCF attorneys to ensure approval and reconciliation of contracts. Provides training to UCF departments and staff on contract practices, policies, and procedures. Provides guidance on contract matters to UCF departments and staff.

Nick is a graduate of the University of Central Florida earning a B.S. in Applied Sciences. He held previous positions at UCF as an Advisor for the SVAD and Student Resource Specialist/Assistant University Registrar for the Registrar’s Office prior to joining the General Counsel’s Office.

Maria French joined the staff of the General Counsel’s office in 2013.  She is the primary point of contact for the office. In addition, she provides administrative support to the attorneys when needed.

Maria is a proud graduate of the University of Central Florida with a B.S. in Communications. She has previously worked in marketing and was a substitute teacher for many years.

Marcul Joseph joined the Office of the General Counsel in March 2023 where he serves as a Paralegal II. Marcul handles routine as well as complex public records requests through collaboration with various departments across the university. He organizes and maintains electronic litigation case files. He also assists the attorneys in the gathering, organization, and production of documents responsive to discovery requests and/or subpoenas in both state and federal court; and performs legal research as needed.

Marcul is a proud UCF Alumni who graduated cum laude from the University of Central Florida with a B.A. in Political Science, a B.S. in Legal Studies, and a Certificate in Diplomacy in 2016.

Amanda Leite joined the College of Medicine in 2012 and provides professional and administrative support to the Health Affairs Legal Department which includes assisting with documents, projects and groups organized and managed by the Senior Associate Vice President for Health Affairs and Chief Legal officer, College of Medicine. She assists with coordination of efforts related to Health Sciences entities and supports the coordination for planning of future Health Affairs strategic development and Population Health initiatives.

Amanda received her B.A. in Business Organizational Communication from University of Akron and has prior experience working in supportive operational roles in the retail and customer service industry.

Elimar Diaz Martinez joined the staff of the General Counsel’s office in 2018. She is the primary point of contact for the Office of Research. Elimar is responsible for managing the calendars and providing administrative support to the attorneys when needed. Before coming to UCF, Elimar worked as a Financial Aid Coordinator at Florida Technical College.

Elimar graduated from University Sacred Heart in Puerto Rico with a B.S. in Communications.

Melanie Meisner joined the College of Medicine Health Affairs Legal Team in 2012 and serves as the college’s primary Legal Administrator for UCF’s contract management system, which includes managing, monitoring and tracking all aspects of the contract review and execution process. In addition, Melanie assists with projects related to the strategic development for the College of Medicine, UCF Health, UCF Academic Health and the Academic Health Sciences Center.

Melanie received her B.S. in Marketing, Cum Laude, from Florida State University, and has prior experience working in the customer service industry and market research field.

Tanya Perry has worked in the General Counsel’s office since 2006, starting out as a paralegal before being promoted to Coordinator. Ms. Perry is the committee liaison for the Board of Trustees Governance Committee; maintains the university’s regulations process and website; assist with public records request; handles the calendar for the Vice President and General Counsel; and performs legal research as needed. Prior to joining the university, she worked as an Intellectual Property Paralegal for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing.

Ms. Perry received her B.S. in Business Administration from University at Albany in New York, and her M.B.A. from Webster University.

Paula Sagarino joined the Health Affairs Legal Department in 2016, and she works on a wide-range of matters involving corporate governance and compliance, licensure, self-insurance, leases, due diligence and strategic planning.

Paula graduated magna cum laude from Quinnipiac University with a B.A. in History and Legal Studies. Prior to joining UCF, she worked in the timeshare industry as a regulatory compliance manager, and she also spent ten years as a commercial litigation paralegal, supporting the franchise and appellate practice groups of a large law firm.