University of Arkansas School of Law

We are excited to welcome Hayden Lucas as associate director of development. Hayden will support the School of Law's philanthropic priorities by cultivating relationships with alumni, donors and friends of the university. He will contribute to fundraising initiatives, strengthen donor engagement efforts and assist in advancing development strategies that enhance the school's long‑term impact.

Read more: https://news.uark.edu/articles/82535/lucas-joins-university-advancement-as-associate-director-of-development

Professor Howard Brill was interviewed by the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for the article "Cannabis Firm Suit Moved to U.S. Court."

Read more: http://nwa.pressreader.com/article/282007564101537

Congratulations to Representative Carol Dalby!

Please join us in congratulating Representative Carol Dalby on being sworn in as the 129th President of the Arkansas Bar Association during the Association’s Annual Meeting in Hot Springs.
Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Karen R. Baker administered the oath of office on June 12.
A longtime leader within the Association, Dalby currently serves her fifth term in the Arkansas House of Representatives, where she represents District 100 and chairs the House Judiciary Committee. She is also a practicing attorney in Texarkana.
We look forward to Carol’s leadership and service in the year ahead as she represents and serves Arkansas lawyers across the state.

We are excited to welcome 36 students representing 22 colleges and universities across the country for the Summer Pre-Law Program (SPPARK). These future legal professionals are exploring law school, connecting with attorneys and judges, developing leadership skills and building lasting relationships with their peers.

We packed a lot into their first week. They learned how to brief a case, heard from current law students, toured the law school, explored the Admissions process and the Court of Appeals, participated in a mock Constitutional Law class, learned about the financial side of choosing and paying for law school, sharpened their legal research skills and even completed an LSAT practice exam.

Of course, it wasn't all work and no play! The group also enjoyed exploring Northwest Arkansas with trips to the movies, the Farmer's Market, Braum's, Hugo's and Lake Fayetteville.

Join us in congratulating Dean Cynthia Nance for earning two prestigious honors for her contributions to the legal profession: induction into the Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame and the American Bar Association Robert J. Kutak Award. 🎉

Read the full story: https://news.uark.edu/articles/82409/cynthia-nance-receives-prestigious-honors-for-contributions-to-the-legal-profession

Colton Godsey, a rising second-year student at , has been selected as a Civil Rights Fellow in the 2026 class of the Center for Equal Opportunity. This fifth annual class is the largest, most competitive class of fellows to date as the organization received a large volume of highly qualified applications from across the nation.

Congratulations, Colton!

Read more: https://news.uark.edu/articles/82368/school-of-law-student-selected-for-2026-civil-rights-fellowship

Calling all Arkansas Law alumni! 📣

We’re starting to plan the 2027 Law Alumni Reunion, and we’d love your input to help make it a memorable experience for everyone.

Please take a few minutes to complete our brief survey and let us know:

✅ Whether you’re interested in attending reunion events
✅ If you’d like to volunteer as a class representative or serve on the reunion committee
✅ Your ideas for activities, events, and ways to help classmates reconnect

Complete the survey here: https://forms.gle/zSPc2VfNe5f8q2pVA

Know fellow doing amazing things?

We’re also accepting nominations for our alumni awards, which recognize graduates whose professional achievements, service, and leadership reflect the values and excellence of the School of Law.

Learn more about award categories and submit a nomination: https://law.uark.edu/alumni/alumni-awards.php

We can’t wait to hear from you, and we hope to see you at the next reunion!

Amelia McGowan, assistant professor and director of the Immigration Clinic, presented a lecture titled "Muros más allá de la frontera: El desmantelamiento de asilo en los EE. UU." ("Walls Beyond the Border: The Dismantling of Asylum in the U.S.") as part of the symposium, "Encuentros sobre el Instituto del Refugio en Uruguay" ("Symposium on the Legal Framework for Refugee Status in Uruguay") at the Universidad de la República. The lecture drew a strong, engaged audience of faculty, students and community members.

We’re excited to share that Katheleen Guzman has been appointed to serve as School of Law Interim Dean, effective July 1.

Guzman earned a Bachelor of Arts with honors from the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and a J.D. with highest honors from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

She has been a member of the University of Oklahoma College of Law faculty since 1993 and served as OU’s law school dean from 2019-2024.

We look forward to welcoming her back home to Fayetteville!

Read the full story: https://news.uark.edu/articles/82363/distinguished-alumna-returns-to-university-of-arkansas-to-serve-as-interim-school-of-law-dean

Last week, Professor Susan Schneider presented the 2026 Food Law Update webinar that explored recent developments in food law and what they mean for today’s legal landscape to the American Agricultural Law Association (AALA).

She also presented on the state of American agriculture to LandWise Partners, a new organization set up to provide expert advice to farmers and ranchers across the United States. LandWise was founded by LL.M. Program alumnus Jim Eggleston, who serves as chairman of the board. It's 18 board members are experts in the full range of expertise needed by farmers and ranchers today, including soil science, water access and management, tax planning, carbon capture strategies, accounting, agricultural law, government relations and real estate finance.