Veterans Law Institute - Meet Our Team
Professor Stacey-Rae Simcox
Professor of Law
Director, Veterans Law Institute and Veterans Advocacy Clinic
B.S.C/B.A., Ohio University
JD, William & Mary School of Law
Stacey-Rae Simcox joined Stetson in July 2014 from the William & Mary School of Law, where she was the founder and director of the nationally recognized Lewis B. Puller Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic. Professor Simcox regularly speaks across the country on veterans law topics, provides training to other law schools on creating successful veterans clinics, and conducts outreach to homeless veterans. She is a veteran of eight years in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps on active duty and in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Adjunct Professor Morgan MacIsaac-Bykowski
Adjunct Professor, Veterans Advocacy Clinic
Associate Director, Veterans Law Institute and Veterans Advocacy Clinic
B.S.,Florida Southern College
JD, Stetson University College of Law
Morgan MacIsaac-Bykowski joined us as a Staff Attorney after graduating from Stetson University College of Law. She was later promoted to the Associate Director of the Veterans Law Institute and Veterans Advocacy Clinic. Recently appointed Adjunct Professor, she co-teaches Veterans Advocacy Clinic and Advanced Veterans Advocacy Clinic alongside Professor Simcox. She is a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) Bar Association's Board of Governors and on the Board of Directors and Advocacy Committee for the National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium (NLSVCC). She also served as the Editor-In-Chief of the CAVC Bar Association's Veterans Law Journal and as Ex-Officio of the Staff Advisory Committee at Stetson Law. Morgan has written articles, case summaries, and legal updates on veterans issues for various publications, including the American Bar Association Health Law Section Magazine. She has also co-written numerous amici briefs on behalf of the NLSVCC supporting veterans at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and Supreme Court of the United States. In 2022, Morgan was added to the American Association of Law School's Pro Bono Honor Roll. In 2024, she was presented with the Tom Reed Award for Information and Advice, which is awarded to a member of the NLSVCC who exhibited extraordinary commitment to assisting advocates in providing legal services to veterans and service members.
Johnny Pruiett
Assistant Director, Veterans Law Institute
VA School Certifying Official/ Veteran Student Liaison
B.A., The University of Texas-San Antonio
M.Ed., Angelo State University
Johnny Pruiett joined the Veterans Law Institute at Stetson in May 2023. After having served for over eight years in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, Johnny obtained his BA in American Studies and an M.Ed. in Student Development and Leadership. He also holds certification in advising. He comes to Stetson with years of experience at three large universities, having worked in various capacities, including programs that serve veterans and their dependents. Johnny has helped advise veterans through their educational paths, he has certified veterans and their dependents in an effort to ensure they receive their full benefits, and he has provided other ancillary support to make sure veterans successfully transition to civilian life.
Meghan Carter
Equal Justice Works Fellow
Sponsored by: Deere & Co., Lane & Waterman LLP, and Riley Safer Holmes Cancila LLP
B.S., Florida State University
JD, Stetson University College of Law
Meghan Carter graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 2024 and joined the team in fall 2024 as an Equal Justice Works Fellow. Prior to attending law school, Meghan graduated from Florida State University with her bachelor’s degree in Social Science Education. She was a high school teacher in Tampa Bay from 2018-2021. During Meghan’s time as a Stetson Law student, she successfully completed Veterans Advocacy Clinic I & II, and was a teaching assistant for VAC I. At the clinic, she developed a passion for advocating on behalf of veterans seeking disability benefits. As an Equal Justice Works Fellow, Meghan’s role will be representing veterans through discharge upgrade proceedings. The purpose of the project is to advocate for veterans who received an “Other-Than-Honorable” discharge due to post-traumatic-stress-disorder and/or military sexual assault.
Mary Samarkos
Veterans Law Institute Fellow
B.A., University of South Florida
JD, Stetson University College of Law
Mary Samarkos rejoined the team in December 2024. While in law school, she participated in the Veterans Advocacy Clinic as a student in both the Veterans Advocacy Clinic and Advanced Veterans Advocacy Clinic, assisting veterans on cases before both the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. After graduating from of Stetson University College of Law, she served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps on active duty for four years. During that time, she was stationed at Fort Liberty, North Carolina (formerly Fort Bragg) in the 82nd Airborne Division and at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. She is continuing her service in the Florida Army National Guard and is passionate about serving the military community both in and out of uniform. As a Veterans Law Institute Fellow, Mary represents veterans in their disability benefits appeals.