Meet the OGC Staff

Meet the OGC Staff

Avery McKnight

Avery McKnight, Esquire
Vice President and General Counsel

Avery McKnight serves as the Chief Legal Officer for Florida A&M University Board of Trustees and legal advisor to the President, Provost, Vice Presidents, and other University Administrators.

Iris

Iris A. Elijah, Esquire

Deputy General Counsel

Iris A. Elijah, Esq. serves as the Deputy General Counsel for Florida A&M University since 2023. Prior to joining FAMU, Attorney Elijah was the Associate General Counsel at Florida International University,  Assistant General Counsel for the State University System of Florida, Board of Governors, Assistant General Counsel for Florida A&M University, and an Attorney Fellow for FIU. Attorney Elijah was the first African American to serve as counsel for the State University System of Florida, Board of Governors, and FIU. Iris is a graduate of the FIU College of Law and University of South Florida. Attorney Elijah is deeply involved in her civic and legal community with service as the Vice President of the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, board member of the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers Foundation Board of Directors, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Immediate Past President of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division.

David C. Self, Esquire
Associate General Counsel

Practice Areas:

  • Real Property
  • Public Finance
  • Debt Management
  • Leasing

As an Associate General Counsel, David C. Self, II brings more than twenty five (25) years of private sector experience to the University’s legal staff.  Mr. Self specializes in real property, leases, debt management, public/private partnerships, public finance and general contract law.  In that capacity, Mr. Self advises the University on matters involving the campus “physical plant” – construction, expansion, campus leases and other contracts.  Mr. Self is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, B.J. and the University of Florida, College of Law where he served on the Law Review.  Mr. Self is an active member of several legal and civic organizations.

Kentayvia Coates
Associate General Counsel

Practice Areas:
  • Labor and Employment

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Saundre D. Wilson 
Paralegal

Saundre D. Wilson serves as the Paralegal for Florida A&M University, Office of the General Counsel.  As the primary litigation assistant, Mrs. Wilson provides high-quality support for the University’s attorneys to meet the University’s needs. She also supports other legal staff in administrative, regulatory, public records, and legal matters.  Mrs. Wilson brings more than 20 years of government, legal assistance, and paralegal experience to the University. Mrs. Wilson is active in various civic and professional organizations in her community.

Tiffany McKenzie
Assistant General Counsel

Practice Areas:
  • Student Matters
  • Public Records and Subpoenas
  • Discovery Coordination