Held at the Little Rock Marriott, the annual Distinguished Alumni Luncheon raised critical funds for student scholarships and offered a moment to celebrate the lasting impact of Bowen’s legal education — in courtrooms, communities, and beyond.

Among this year’s honorees were Lt. Governor Leslie Rutledge ’01, who received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. She shared personal stories from her time at Bowen, tracing her path to becoming the first woman elected as both Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor in Arkansas. “The law is a powerful tool,” she said. “Use it wisely, boldly, and to lift others up. Lead with integrity and serve with tenacity.”

Brigadier General John Payne (Ret.) ’97, recipient of the Outstanding Public Service Award, spoke of his dual commitment to military service and civil litigation. He credited Bowen’s night program with making that balance possible. “Without a night program,” he said, “I most definitely wouldn’t be standing here today.”

Edith Chavez De Oseguera ’20, who accepted the Emerging Leader Award, delivered a moving speech about her journey as an immigrant, mother, and now advocate for underserved Arkansans. “No story, no matter where it begins, is ever too small to change the world,” she said.

Byron M. Eiseman, Jr., a longtime adjunct professor and mentor, was honored with the Friend of Bowen Award. He reflected on five decades of teaching and the legacy of Dean Bill Bowen. “When you think about teaching,” he said, “what you’re hoping is that those in your class will bear fruit in the long run.”

Dean Colin Crawford opened the program by acknowledging a year of change — and the strength of the Bowen community. “Bowen’s strength is built on the backs of all of you,” he told attendees. “Your continued involvement as mentors, advocates, and champions is absolutely central to us.”

The event also featured a heartfelt address from Aziza Taki, a first-year student and scholarship recipient. A first-generation student from small-town Arkansas, Taki shared how her experience at Bowen has already shaped her confidence and sense of purpose. She credited the community’s support for making that possible: “Your generosity doesn’t just open doors,” she said. “It builds bridges for people like me to cross into a future we once thought was out of reach.”

Proceeds from the luncheon support Bowen student scholarships — helping ensure that financial barriers never stand in the way of someone building a career in law and public service.

About the ĚÇĐÄVlog´«Ă˝ Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law
Located in Arkansas’s capital city, the ĚÇĐÄVlog´«Ă˝ Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law provides nationally recognized, practice-ready legal education deeply connected to the state’s legal system. With a strong emphasis on access to justice, public service, and professionalism, Bowen prepares graduates to lead in courtrooms, boardrooms, and communities across Arkansas and beyond.

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2025 Honorees

The program will celebrate alumni and friends whose leadership exemplifies Bowen’s values of access to justice, public service, and professionalism. This year’s honorees were selected by the Bowen Law School Alumni Board.

Leslie Rutledge ’01, Distinguished Alumnus Award. Arkansas Lieutenant Governor and the state’s first female Attorney General, Rutledge has devoted her career to public service through roles that include deputy counsel in the Governor’s Office, deputy prosecuting attorney, and attorney for the Division of Children and Family Services.

Brig. Gen. John Payne, U.S. Army, retired ’97, Outstanding Alumnus in Public Service. A veteran of Operation Just Cause and former commander of the 77th Aviation Brigade, Brigadier General (Ret.) Payne currently leads the Civil Division in the Office of Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. His military awards include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.

Edith Chavez De Oseguera ’20, Emerging Leader Award, A partner at United Law Group and an immigration and family law attorney, Chavez De Oseguera serves as a contractor for Arkansas Access to Justice, manages the Arkansas Free Legal Answers program, and supports the Mexican Consulate and nonprofits across the state. She has been recognized with Bowen’s Dean’s Distinguished Public Service Award and LALSA’s Alumni of the Year Award for Public Service.

Byron M. Eiseman, Jr., Friend of Bowen Award, A longtime partner at Friday, Eldredge & Clark and an adjunct professor at Bowen Law for 50 years, Eiseman helped found the Tax Section of the Arkansas Bar Association and has held leadership roles across civic, faith-based, and cultural organizations, including the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and the Baptist Health Foundation.

“These four honorees reflect the best of Bowen Law. Their leadership and service strengthen Arkansas and the legal profession,” said Colin Crawford, dean of the law school. “We are proud to recognize their achievements and the example they set for our students.”

“The Alumni Luncheon is more than a celebration of our accomplished honorees,” said Molly McNulty ’12, director of development and external relations. “It’s a bridge between Bowen’s proud history and the future we’re building through our students. Every ticket, every table, every gift is an investment in the next generation of lawyers. This event brings our community together to honor excellence and extend opportunity.”

Tickets are available at .

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It is a reality Dr. Rachel Fazio did not anticipate when she began conducting forensic evaluations across 11 counties. But once she saw the gaps between mental health care, legal knowledge, and the people caught in between, she could not ignore them.

Fazio is one of fewer than a dozen neuropsychologists in the United States who specialize in criminal forensic work. With a doctorate in clinical psychology and dual concentrations in neuropsychology and forensic psychology, she recently added a Juris Doctor to her credentials—not to change careers, but to strengthen her work at the intersection of medicine and law.

Neuropsychology, Fazio explained, focuses on brain-behavior relationships, such as how conditions like ADHD, dementia or traumatic brain injuries affect memory, decision-making and behavior. Forensic psychology, on the other hand, applies clinical training to legal settings.

“Technically, it’s any evaluation you would do for a court or administrative body,” she said. She read legal cases, participated in mock trials and was trained to testify, all before she ever set foot into law school.

Fazio moved to Little Rock for a role at the VA and soon began working as a forensic evaluator across 11 Arkansas counties. In 2022, she enrolled full time at the ĚÇĐÄVlog´«Ă˝ Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Earning a JD was not a pivot. It was a professional investment. “I was either going to do my forensic boards or get a law degree,” she said. “They both show that you care about what you do and require additional knowledge and certification.”

In contrast to state and federal systems, Fazio found that county jails in Arkansas varied dramatically. “Each county does things differently. Dramatically differently,” she added. Some had nurses on site. Others did not. Some contracted with private medical providers, while others left medication decisions to corrections staff. “There is not a uniform way to get mentally ill inmates in county jails the appropriate medications,” she said. Inmates often went without treatment if their prescriptions were not on a facility’s formulary or if they could not afford co-pays. Telehealth services, common since the pandemic, were sometimes unusable when inmates were too ill to leave their cells. “It can also cause a mental health crisis,” she said. “And that is just a glaring problem that is overlooked.”

As a student in Bowen’s full-time JD program, Fazio brought a seasoned professional’s lens to the classroom and found faculty who recognized the unique perspective she offered. Dean Lindsey Gustafson encouraged her early on, and Professor Joshua Silverstein became a trusted advisor. She also gained practical experience through externships, including one with the Central Arkansas Legal Services clinic.

Bowen also became the place where doors opened for her to share what she was seeing in Arkansas county jails. Fazio served as a resource to classmates and other members of the bar, writing for the Arkansas Bar Journal and speaking to the Saline County Bar Association about recognizing key warning signs and knowing when to communicate with a forensic evaluator in cases involving mental illness.

Fazio walked in Bowen’s May commencement ceremony and completed her final course requirement through a study abroad program in Rome this summer. With her JD now conferred, she plans to sit for the Arkansas Bar—not to practice law in a traditional sense, but to continue to practice criminal forensic evaluations and fitness to proceed.

Ultimately, Fazio hopes to improve communication between attorneys, evaluators, county jails, and hospitals. But she is quick to clarify her role. “As a forensic evaluator, I am unbiased,” she said. “But I have an ethical responsibility as a psychologist to advocate for someone when they can’t take care of themselves.”

Fazio hopes to see a future where attorneys are better informed, families are more empowered, and collaboration improves across legal and clinical lines. “If you have a seriously mentally ill family member in jail, keep an eye on them,” she said. “Put money on the books. Call the medical staff. Don’t let them slip through the cracks.”

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The luncheon will feature a panel discussion titled Celebrating 50 Years of the ĚÇĐÄVlog´«Ă˝ Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law: A Moderated Panel Discussion of Bowen’s Past, Present, and Future. The panel includes alumni from each decade of the law school’s history, offering reflections on Bowen’s legacy and its role in shaping the legal profession in Arkansas and beyond.

Panelists include R. Stark Ligon Jr. ’75, former executive director of the Office of Professional Conduct and inaugural director of the Arkansas Supreme Court’s Office of Ethics Counsel; Justice Barbara Womack Webb ’82, justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court; Michelle Ator ’95, head of the medical malpractice group at Friday, Eldredge & Clark;  Antwan Phillips ’09, partner at Wright, Lindsey & Jennings and at-large member of the Little Rock Board of Directors; Tamika Edwards ’11, director of human resources at Southwest Power Pool; and Mallory Wood ’25, who will soon join the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office in the criminal division.

The discussion will be moderated by Bud Cummins ’89, who served as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas and now works as a mediator and legal advisor in private practice.

“For half a century, Bowen has equipped generations of lawyers who now shape the legal landscape of Arkansas and beyond,” said Colin Crawford, dean of the law school. “This celebration honors the lasting impact of our mission and the people who carry it forward.”

Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online at through June 6.

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“I am thrilled to be joining my alma mater. As a former student and adjunct professor, I appreciate the value that a Bowen education provides,” said McNulty. “I am eager to work with the University’s administration, students, and alumni to build upon Bowen’s rich legacy and to celebrate its 50th anniversary of legal excellence.”

For the last ten years, McNulty served as a law clerk to the Honorable Raymond Abramson on the Arkansas Court of Appeals and previously clerked for the Honorable Joe Volpe in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Colin Crawford, Dean of the William H. Bowen School of Law, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Molly McNulty as our Director of Development and External Relations. Molly is widely respected across Arkansas for her intelligence, good humor, and unwavering commitment to a strong, thriving legal community. As a proud Bowen graduate, she exemplifies the values we hold dear: professionalism, access to justice, and public service. I look forward to working together to strengthen both our School of Law and the broader legal community.”

A native of Little Rock, McNulty earned a concurrent JD and Master of Public Service from Bowen Law and the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, and her Bachelor of Arts from Davidson College in North Carolina.

In addition to her professional achievements, McNulty is deeply committed to community engagement, actively participating in numerous organizations and initiatives that support the legal community and public service throughout Arkansas. She serves on the Arkansas Bar Board of Trustees and is the President-Nominee for the Rotary Club of Little Rock. McNulty is also the co-chair of Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XL, and sits on several boards of directors, including the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Camp Aldersgate, and the Historic Arkansas Museum Foundation.

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ĚÇĐÄVlog´«Ă˝ Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law held its 11th annual alumni awards luncheon Friday, October 13, honoring three notable alumni for their contributions to the legal community, their commitment to public service, and the impact of their leadership within the state and beyond.

“In my first year as dean, it is an honor to be able to greet the Bowen community at the most important alumni event of the fall semester and to be able to celebrate our three remarkable honorees,” said Dean Colin Crawford.

Kevin A. Crass received the Distinguished Alumnus award, the highest honor awarded to an alum by the Bowen School of Law. Crass is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group with Arkansas’s largest law firm, Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP.  He focuses his practice on significant, complex business litigation in federal and state courts, and he has also served as personal counsel to several of the State’s constitutional officers. Crass currently serves on the ĚÇĐÄVlog´«Ă˝ Board of Trustees, among several other important community involvements.

Judge Amy Dunn Johnson (’02) received the Outstanding Alumna in Public Service Award. Johnson presides as a family judge for the 6th Judicial Circuit Court. Prior to her election in 2020, Judge Johnson was the Executive Director of the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission, which exists to provide equal access to justice in civil cases for all Arkansans. She also served as the CEO of the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation and the Arkansas Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program.

Cody McKinney (’21) received the Emerging Young Alumni Award. McKinney is a Lieutenant in the United States Coast Guard serving as a staff attorney with the Coast Guard Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG). During his time at Bowen, McKinney served in the mediation clinic and as an editor at both of the school’s law journals, among other activities.

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