Shantal Formia, J.D.
Assistant Dean, Career Services
sformia@stcl.edu, Counsels Alumni
Shantal joined the CRC in 2017 as the Assistant Director of Employer Relations and now serves as the Assistant Dean of Career Services. She earned her B.A. in Legal Studies and Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, and went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Prior to joining the law school, Shantal spent seven years in private practice representing banks, businesses, and insurance carriers in commercial litigation disputes – she is a member of both the Florida Bar and the Texas Bar and fluent in Spanish.
In her role as Assistant Dean, Shantal is responsible for the administration of the entire Career Resource Center including cultivation, management, and maintenance of employer outreach; development, execution and refinement of program offerings; and oversight of graduate employment data collection and reporting. Additionally, Shantal provides one-on-one career counseling to alumni.
Marie Garcia, J.D. ‘16
Director of Career Development and Engagement
mgarcia3@stcl.edu, Counsels Students Last Name P – Z
Marie, a native Houstonian, joined the Career Resource Center team after practicing family and construction law for boutique law firms in Houston, Texas. Marie graduated from Texas State University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice, received a J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston, and is a member of the Texas Bar.
In her role as Director of Career Development and Engagement, she counsels students on career goals and job search strategies across all facets of the practice of law, as well as non-legal and non-traditional areas where students can utilize their backgrounds and law degrees. Marie also develops educational skill-building programs and activities focused on professional development and career advancement.
Leah Allon, J.D. ‘21
Assistant Director of Employer Relations
lallon@stcl.edu, Counsels Students Last Name H – O
A native of Friendswood, Texas, Leah Allon joined the Career Resource Center after a diverse legal career spanning personal injury, insurance defense, prosecution, and criminal defense. She gained extensive trial experience in misdemeanor and felony cases and eventually ran her own criminal defense practice. This broad background allows her to guide students across a variety of career paths and practice areas.
She earned her B.A., with honors, in Sociology and a minor in History from The University of Texas at Austin, and her J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston, where she was active in the Student Bar Association (SBA), University of Texas Ex’s, and the competitive mock trial team. Leah is a member of the Texas Bar and the New Jersey State Bar and is fluent in Spanish.
In her role, Leah supports employer outreach and recruitment initiatives, helping students connect with opportunities in private practice, public service, and public interest organizations. She also provides one-on-one career counseling on job search strategies and career planning.
Marissa Sibal, J.D. ‘15
Assistant Director of Special Projects
msibal@stcl.edu, Counsels Students Last Name A – G
Marissa grew up in Sugar Land, a Houston suburb. Marissa graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Business Administration, received a J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston, and is a member of the Texas Bar. After law school, Marissa worked at a law firm specializing in residential foreclosures, then as a Contracts Advisor for an LNG project. Most recently, Marissa was general counsel for a construction company in Houston.
In her role as an Assistant Director of Special Projects, Marissa provides one-on-one tailored career advising to students and assists students with seeking and applying for judicial internships and clerkships.
Robin Hennegan, J.D.
Graduate Employment Data Consultant
Robin earned her B.A. in Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government from American University and her J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law and is a practicing member of the State Bar of Texas. Following graduation, Robin practiced at Houston-area law firms and as in-house counsel at a commercial real estate development company, where she handled a variety of real estate acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and financing transactions.
In 2016, Robin pivoted from practice and joined the Career Resource Team as the department’s Assistant Director of Special Projects, a role she held until returning to practice in 2022. In 2024, Robin rejoined the CRC team as a Graduate Employment Data Consultant, facilitating the collection and reporting of recent graduate employment data.
Donna Longoria
Administrative Coordinator
Donna is a native Californian and joined the Career Resource Center team in October 2018. Donna provides support for counselors and works collaboratively with students and employers while handling daily administrative and clerical support. She coordinates, schedules, and prepares all panel and networking events.
Donna manages the CRC’s Symplicity portal and oversees job postings and maintains employer and student files. She facilitates reciprocity requests from accredited law schools.
