Monica Mensah, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
Monica, a native Houstonian, graduated from Rice University with a B.A. in Philosophy and a B.A. in Sociology. She earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. As the Assistant Dean, Monica oversees student enrollment and records, course registration, scholarships and financial aid, bar preparation, student counseling and advising, study abroad programs, and student programming and events. In addition, she works strategically with a broad group of offices on the University of Houston campus. Prior to joining the Office of Student Affairs, Monica practiced as a civil rights and employment law attorney.
Shahriar “Shah” Daram, Director of Registrar & Enrollment Services
Shah, a Houston resident for over ten years, holds a bachelor’s in political science and philosophy from the University of Houston Downtown. He furthered his education with an MBA focused on data analytics from SMU Cox School of Business. With a rich background in student affairs and enrollment services, Shah utilizes his data-driven approach to optimize student registration and enrollment processes at the Law Center. He is also closely involved in various activities in Office of Student Affairs (OSA), ensuring students have the support they need to succeed in law school.
Amy Martin, Director of Student Advisement
Amy graduated from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology and went on to earn her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law. In addition to being a seasoned trial and appellate criminal defense attorney, Amy served as a Harris County District Judge. After leaving the bench, she joined UHLC as adjunct faculty and has taught courses in appellate advocacy, legal writing, and bar preparation. As the Director of Student Advisement, Amy oversees academic advising including academic policies, course schedule planning, and graduation requirements; as well as provides support measures for student emergencies and academic disruptions.
Lisa Cohen, Director of Academic Success
Lisa, a native Houstonian, graduated from UH with a BA in Political Science with a minor concentration in Psychology. She earned her JD from UHLC. Lisa has taught as an adjunct for our Legal Analysis & Writing course for several years. She also taught as a professor of practice for our Street Law Program. As Director of Academic Success, Lisa will support law students in the successful completion of their law school journey. Her focus will be study skills, time management and organizational skills workshops, as well as one on one, direct student support and guidance. Lisa, in collaboration with our Academic Initiatives faculty and other UHLC leaders, will also work to design and implement a comprehensive program to assist students with preparing for and passing the bar exam. Lisa is glad to be “home” at UHLC!
Emelia Alvear, Assistant Director of Scholarships and Financial Aid
Emelia earned her B.A. in Consumer Finance from Ashford University. Having worked in both the private and public sectors of education, she holds years of expertise in the field as a financial aid administrator. Emelia has a mastery of the federal processing subject area having earned full credentialing from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Emelia takes an active role in serving students by encouraging financial literacy, providing financial aid counseling, and proactively helping students navigate the financial aid process.
Samantha Ary, Program Director
Samantha is currently responsible for overseeing disability services for the Law Center. Samantha received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Houston. Prior to joining the Law Center she worked for various departments on the UH main campus. She also served as an advisor and instructor at Texas Southern University.
Kristan Withers, Program Director
As Program Manager, Kristan provides support to the Office of Student Affairs by performing administrative duties related to planning and coordinating programs for law students. Kristan is also the go to person for law student organizations and law journals and oversees orientation for all student leaders. Before joining the Law Center, Kristan worked as an Administrative Manager for a natural gas consulting firm.
Charlette Jefferson, Program Manager
Charlette supports the Office of Student Affairs by managing exam conflicts and handling various administrative duties. With over 20 years of experience at the University of Houston Law Center, she has held various roles, including event planning, faculty services, and financial management. Charlette holds a BA in Public Relations from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and is a proud recipient of the University of Houston President’s Excellence Award.
