Meet the Team

Kathy Fox, Assistant Dean of Admissions (she/her/hers)

Dean Fox has long held the philosophy that law student success is built on the relationship between admissions and career development. One of the most enjoyable aspects of her 20-year career in legal education is helping new students envision “what a career in or around the law can be.”

In her recruitment efforts, Fox emphasizes to students considering law school the benefits of belonging to a Big Ten university while learning the law in an environment with small class sizes and more engagement with professors.

She is well-known for using data-driven approaches to law recruitment while consistently raising the metrics of incoming law school classes. She held the positions of Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management at Syracuse University College of Law in New York and Assistant Dean of Admissions at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit. She started her career at Cooley Law School in Lansing.

Fox, a native of Milwaukee, Wisc., earned her J.D. from what is now Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Minneapolis-St. Paul and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas – Opus College of Business. She holds a BA in history from the University of Wisconsin.
Email: kathyfox@law.msu.edu

Kimberly Wilkes, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid (she/her/hers)

Director Wilkes oversees and implements all aspects of admissions from recruitment, application processing to enrollment retention. Wilkes aims to foster an MSU Law community built on collaboration and inclusivity. Director Wilkes is a first-generation non-traditional college student earning two bachelors, in Marketing and Advertising magna cum laude and her M.A. in Strategic Communications, all from MSU. She serves on the MSU Law Access & Inclusion Committee and has been a member of the MSU Law family since 2012. Director Wilkes partners with prelaw advisors, prelaw groups and provides advising to all individuals looking to lead, serve and transform in the area of law and works to ensure all interested individuals have the information they need regarding the MSU Law community. 
Email: wilkeski@law.msu.edu

Mary Ann Ferguson Esq., Assistant Dean for Diversity and Equity Services Office (she/her/hers)

Dean Ferguson is the founder of MSU College of Law’s Diversity and Equity Services Office. She was the first member of the Law College’s staff who identifies as a Black and African-American Woman to hold a decanal title.  Within her multi-faceted roles, she seeks to ensure that MSU Law’s prospective, admitted and current community realizes the Law College’s multicultural, equity, diversity, inclusion and access mission. Further, she serves as MSU Law’s liaison to the broader MSU campus, academy and legal profession on the importance of increasing and sustaining diversity. With the unwavering goal of giving life to silenced voices, she is internationally known for her mantra “accepting identity, appreciating voice and achieving justice for all.” Dean Ferguson holds a bachelor’s degree, with honors, from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Juris Doctor degree from Michigan State University College of Law. She is a licensed attorney.
Email: fergusma@law.msu.edu

Audra A. Foster, Director of Pipeline Programming (she/her/hers)

Ms. Foster leads the development and implementation of pipeline programming as part of the College’s commitment to expanding access to students who historically have been underrepresented in the legal profession. She works with the Dean’s Suite, Admissions, the Diversity and Equity Services Office, and the Office of Student Affairs to develop strategies to introduce students in middle school, high school, and college to age-appropriate programs designed to help them prepare for a successful career in law.

Foster completed her undergraduate studies at Michigan State University, where she earned a B.A. in Accounting with Honors. She went on to earn her J.D. from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School where she was Communications Editor for the Journal of Practical and Clinical Law.

Prior to joining Michigan State University College of Law, Foster served twenty-five years in academic administration and student services roles. There, she designed and implemented programs for academic success and career development including programs focused on historically underrepresented students who had not previously considered a career in law.
Email: audra.foster@law.msu.edu

Theresa Allen, Admissions Application Coordinator (she/her/hers)

Ms. Allen coordinates and manages the processing of all J.D. applications for the Office of Admissions. She works closely with the Assistant Dean and members of the Admissions Committee to ensure that applications are reviewed in a timely manner. She also is responsible for the preparation of admission decision letters and reports. Ms. Allen has been a member of the Admissions staff since 2000.
Email: allenthe@law.msu.edu

Kelly Kovacic, Admissions Coordinator (she/her/hers)

Ms. Kelly Kovacic works side by side with the admissions team, providing administrative support and processing information to assist in the recruitment and enrollment of law students. She is the essential first resource for prospective and admitted law students and their families. Kelly has more than 12 years of well-rounded experience in the Criminal Justice field, obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree from Ferris State University and Associate of Applied Arts-Criminal Justice from Delta College.
Email: floresr@law.msu.edu