- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to Celebrate Commencement Dec. 17

John Hill — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 15:11:02 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will celebrate its fall 2022 graduates on Saturday, Dec. 17. More than 700 students are eligible to graduate during the fall 2022 semester. The commencement ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. in the Jack Stephens Center. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. to the public, and graduates need to arrive by noon. Parking information is available online. The 1 p.m. ceremony will feature undergraduate and graduate students from the College of Business, Health, and Human Services, the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, and the William H. Bowen School of Law. Dr. Dean Kumpuris, chair of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors, and Joshua Silverstein, professor of law and recipient of the 2022 Bailey Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching, will serve as the commencement speakers. Back by popular demand will be celebratory photo backdrops created by Just Peachy. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will also hold contests for the best-decorated graduation cap. The William H. Bowen School of Law will hold a hooding ceremony to celebrate 15 graduating law students as well as the first graduate of the Master of Studies in Law program. Dean Theresa Beiner and the Honorable Melanie Martin, Little Rock District Court Criminal Judge and president of Bowen’s Alumni Association, will speak at the event, which will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, in the Friday Courtroom at Bowen. The event will be live-streamed . The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock commencement ceremony will be live-streamed on the and the .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Begins Search for Dean of William H. Bowen School of Law

John Hill — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 14:27:52 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has announced a national search for the next dean of the William H. Bowen School of Law. Established in 1975 by the Arkansas General Assembly, the Bowen School of Law offers an innovative, nationally respected, high-quality legal education focused on hands-on learning. Bowen is dedicated to core values of access to justice, public service, and professionalism. Bowen offers Arkansas’s only part-time law degree, the state’s only Master of Studies in Law, and the nation’s only concurrent JD/Master of Public Service in conjunction with the Clinton School of Public Service. It is also home to seven legal clinics that provide legal services to community residents in need as well as the Center for Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform. Paula Casey, professor emeriti of Bowen and former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, will serve as chair of the search committee, which constitutes a variety of leaders from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the legal community. “I am honored to be leading the search to fill this vital leadership role for the Bowen School of Law,” Casey said. “Bowen, with its talented and dedicated faculty, offers a strong doctrinal education and a broad array of clinical offerings. The dean is tasked with a critical job of educating the next generation of legal minds as well as guiding our extensive clinics that help so many Arkansans in need of legal advice.” Additional search committee members from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock include Anastasia Boles, professor of law; Terrence Cain, professor of law; Rebecca Feldmann, director of the Veterans Legal Services Clinic; Shanna Fitzgerald, budget director; Rejena Grotjohn, assistant dean for student affairs and diversity initiatives; Wanda Hoover, assistant dean for external relations; Almas Khan, assistant professor of law; Joni Lee, vice chancellor for university affairs; Melissa Serfass, professor of law librarianship; and Kelly Terry, associate dean for experiential learning and clinical programs. Community search committee members include Mark Hayes, executive director of Arkansas Municipal League; Michelle Ator, partner at Friday, Eldredge & Clark; U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe Volpe; and Tasha Taylor, partner at Taylor & Taylor Law Firm. The new dean is expected to start over summer 2023 and will succeed Theresa Beiner, Bowen’s first permanent female dean who has served in that position since 2018. Beiner, who joined Bowen in 1994, is stepping down to return to faculty. The position is listed .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Bowen School of Law Announces Financial Gift from Walmart to Create Enhanced Community Policing Project

John Hill — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 16:56:52 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law’s Center for Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform announced that Walmart Inc. has contributed $210,000 to the Center to develop an enhanced community policing project. The program aims to foster greater collaboration between local law enforcement and the communities they serve and protect. The project will apply foundational research to reimagine and enhance law enforcement outreach efforts by working with Walmart and its stores in local markets. This work will include development of training materials, assessment tools, best practices for engaging in local communities, and a pilot program in Northwest Arkansas. “Walmart is committed to strengthening community cohesion through police community engagement programs,” said Frank Johnson, Senior Director, Community Law Enforcement Liaison at Walmart. “We recognize that building trust with law enforcement is a key enabler for communities to thrive.” The reimagined program will align with the recommendations from the Arkansas Governor’s Task Force Report on Policing released in November 2020. One primary recommendation was that law enforcement work more diligently to increase trust within local communities, in part by conducting engagement events in rural and minority communities to build greater trust between citizens and the police, as well as a better understanding of the law. “The collaboration between the Center and Walmart can provide immediate outcomes in community policing and improve the relationships between Arkansas communities and law enforcement agencies,” said Center Co-director andré douglas pond cummings. “We are enthusiastic about beginning this research and critical work.” The development phase will focus on establishing standards for Walmart stores to collaborate with local law enforcement agencies. Student fellows will research nationwide best practices on community policing programs, design a paradigm for Walmart as a community policing collaborator, and draft procedures and training materials. Participants will be asked to provide input to measure the program’s success. During the pilot phase, the Center will work with several cities, including in Northwest Arkansas, to deploy the guidelines and training materials. Data from the pilot locations will be used to finalize the program. “Data-driven solutions will be a crucial part of this project as we pilot and assess best practices in community policing,” said Center Co-director Anastasia Boles. “This collaboration has the potential to significantly impact justice outcomes.” Ultimately, the objective is to scale the program to a national level. Law enforcement agencies and store managers will use the new program model to develop and support local community policing initiatives. “This project is an excellent fit with the Center’s expertise and its other initiatives,” said Theresa Beiner, Bowen’s dean. “We are pleased Walmart has chosen to work with the Center and Bowen.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s graduate programs named to 2022 U.S. News and World Report Rankings

John Hill — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 19:19:12 +0000

Several graduate programs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock were named in the 2022 Best Graduate School rankings by U.S. News and World Report. Some of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s top graduate programs listed in the most recent U.S. News and World report include: 36th in Best Criminology Schools, 39th in Best Part-time Law Programs, and 111th in Best Public Affairs Programs. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock also ranked in the #154-202 category in Best Engineering Schools. “These rankings from U.S. News and World Report confirm what we have known for some time,” said Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock has a lot to offer in graduate education. These programs are shining examples of the great things that happen at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Criminal Justice has been ranked 36th in the . The School of Criminal Justice is home to the state’s only doctoral program in criminal justice as well as two master’s degree programs, one of which is completely online. “We are thrilled that our Criminal Justice and Criminology program is being nationally recognized by the U.S. News and World Report,” said Dr. Tusty ten Bensel, director of the School of Criminal Justice. “Our school is dedicated to ensuring that we provide the best possible education for our undergraduate and graduate students through innovative teaching strategies, one-on-one mentoring, and community-engaged research. It’s exciting that our colleagues across the nation see this too.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law has been ranked 39th among the . Part-time law programs play a vital role in legal education, as they allow working professionals to balance a career while earning a law degree through evening and weekend courses. Bowen offers the only part-time law program in Arkansas. In specialty rankings, Bowen was ranked 25th in Best Legal Writing Programs and 52nd in Best Dispute Resolution Programs. Bowen has also been noted as one of the law schools where graduates have considerably lower average indebtedness and graduate with an average student loan debt of under $70,000. “We are pleased our part-time program has been recognized by U.S. News,” said Dean Theresa Beiner. “With our location in the state capital and our low student debt, we are proud to offer our working students a quality education that allows them to accomplish their career goals.” The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Public Affairs brings together academic, applied research, and training units that share a focus on government, politics, nonprofit organizations, and public service. The School of Public Affairs houses a Master of Public Administration degree as well as graduate certificate programs in nonprofit management and conflict mediation. The program has been ranked 111th in .

Gift from Rose Law Firm funds fellowships for law students

John Hill — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 19:28:54 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law has received a gift from Rose Law Firm as part of its 200^th anniversary philanthropic initiative. The law school will use the funds to create two public interest fellowships. “Rose Law Firm has been blessed to survive and thrive for two centuries,” said managing member Robyn Allmendinger. “It is in that spirit of gratitude that we have committed to give back to our community in honor of our 200th anniversary. These gifts will benefit several legal aid, nonprofit, and educational institutions in our state, including the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law.” The public interest fellowship is an emerging initiative at Bowen. Through these fellowships, the school will provide monetary stipends to student fellows filling unpaid positions providing public service during the summer semester. The program supports Bowen’s core values of access to justice, public service, and professionalism by providing opportunities for students who wish to pursue careers in public interest legal work. “We are delighted to participate and support this new and exciting initiative,” said Brian Rosenthal, member and chair of the 200th anniversary committee. “For nearly a half a century, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law has served our profession and community. Both our firm and our state have been the beneficiaries of its well-trained students. Our donation is a reflection of the law school’s continued public service mission, which we hope continues well into the future.” The goal of the program is to increase students’ exposure and training in public interest work and thereby increase their post-graduation employment prospects in these areas of the law. The law school will help students identify fellowship opportunities. Interested students will secure employment with the entity for which they wish to work. Once students are matched with a particular program, students will apply to the law school for funding. After reviewing applications, a law school committee will choose students for participation. Rose Law Firm’s gift will provide ten weeks of financial support for two summer fellows. “Many of our students attend law school to make a difference in their communities,” said Theresa Beiner, dean of the law school. “We are pleased Rose Law Firm identifies with this need and sees the value in supporting these opportunities. We are grateful for their support.” The law school plans to award the first fellowships during summer 2021 if public health considerations permit it.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to hold panel discussions on African American and LatinX politics, Arkansas hate crime legislation

John Hill — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 21:47:21 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host two virtual panels on Thursday, Oct. 29, discussing African American and LatinX politics and the proposed Arkansas hate crime legislation. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of World Languages and the Multicultural Center will host a virtual event, “The Black & Brown Electorate: A Roundtable Discussion on African American & LatinX Politics and the 2020 Election,” from 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Dr. Cristina Bejarano, professor of political science at Texas Woman’s University and Dr. Kendra King Momon, professor of politics at Oglethorpe University, will give presentations on the current state of politics in the African American and LatinX communities. The speakers will host a roundtable discussion following the presentations. Those interested in attending may register at the. During the second event, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law OutLaw Legal Society and Black Law Students Association will host a virtual panel to discuss hate crime legislation in Arkansas. The “Legislating Against Hate: A Conversation on Proposed Hate Crime Legislation in Arkansas” will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Arkansas is one of only three states in the U.S. without a hate crime law, but there is a bipartisan effort to pass hate crime legislation during the next legislative session. The proposed legislation would “enhance penalties for offenses committed due to a victim’s race, color, religion, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, homelessness, gender identity, sexual orientation, sex, disability, or service in United States Armed Forces.” The panel will include Theresa Beiner, dean of the William H. Bowen School of Law, Arkansas Sen. Jim Hendren, Arkansas Rep. Fred Love, and Eric Reese of the Human Rights Campaign. Christina Schutt, director of the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, will speak on the historical impact of hate-based crime in Arkansas. The event may be.

Gustafson named associate dean for academic affairs at Bowen

John Hill — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 16:31:42 +0000

Professor Lindsey Gustafson has been named the associate dean for academic affairs at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, effective Aug. 17. She succeeds Professor Michael Flannery, who is rejoining the law school faculty after more than two years of service as associate dean. “I’m excited to serve Bowen’s students and faculty in this new role. Law school can be an intimidating, stressful endeavor, and our current climate promises to make it even more so,” Gustafson said. “But we have a fantastic faculty committed to training ethical advocates dedicated to public service and improving access to justice. Bowen has hardworking students who are willing to sacrifice to improve their lives and the lives of others. It is an exciting time to be part of law teaching and administration.” Gustafson joined the law school in 1998 and was named Arkansas Bar Foundation Professor of Law in 2019. During her academic career, Gustafson has worked extensively on improving student scholarship and peer-edited scholarship and is an expert in legal pedagogy. She has received the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award for Bowen in 2004 and 2014. She has published articles on effective law teaching, improving student scholarship, and on the impact of technology on student writing. She has also frequently presented at both regional and national legal writing conferences and to law school faculties on effective teaching methods. “Lindsey is an excellent colleague, and she is committed to the success of the law school and our students,” said Theresa Beiner, dean of the law school. “She will be an outstanding associate dean, and I am looking forward to working with her in this role.” In addition to her teaching and research accomplishments, Gustafson has served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Legal Writing Institute and is a co-director of the Institute for Law Teaching and Learning, which is co-sponsored by Bowen.

Wickliffe one step closer to fulfilling childhood dream of becoming a lawyer

John Hill — Fri, 15 May 2020 16:07:28 +0000

Jacob Wickliffe, of North Little Rock, has graduated cum laude from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law and is close to fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a lawyer. “Graduation is bittersweet,” Wickliffe said. “I loved my law school experience. I created lifelong friendships and gained numerous professional and personal mentors. It will be interesting to transition into this new phase of my life and to finally become a lawyer. I’m nervous but very excited at the same time.” The first-generation law student begins a bar examination preparation course at the end of May and will take the bar exam in July. After earning his undergraduate degree in 2016, Wickliffe chose Bowen for its location close to home, emphasis in public service, and affordable tuition. “I earned my undergraduate degree in business management, but I knew a career in business was not my calling,” he said. “I was conflicted between pursuing a degree in higher education or my long-term dream of becoming an attorney. I took a year off to make sure it was my true calling. I want to practice law and maybe one day get involved in the higher education realm of law. After visiting and researching different law schools, I made my decision to attend Bowen based on affordability and interactions with faculty and staff.” While at Bowen, Wickliffe said he had three mentors who really helped him succeed at law school. “The first is Dean Theresa Beiner. She was my advisor through the writing and publication process of my law review note,” he said. “Whenever I needed moral support or a guiding word, she was there for me. My second is Kristen Minton, director of academic support and bar success. I had the honor of working with her as a teaching assistant this year. She’s taught me the ins and outs of the legal field and the interplay between law school, the bar exam, and practicing law. Finally, Dean Rejena Grotjohn has been my mentor since day one. She’s helped me through every avenue of law school. She’s always the first person I call with difficult learning questions.” Wickliffe’s law review note was published this spring. It’s entitled: “Answering the ‘Million Dollar’ Question: The Meaning of ‘Sex’ for Purposes of Title IX, Title VII, and the Equal Protection Clause, and Its Impact on Transgender Students’ Membership in Fraternal Organizations.”

Jacob Wickliffe

“The note discusses the legal definition of sex, its interpretation over the years, and what it means now,” he said. “The note is unique in that it discusses the legal definition of sex’s impact on a transgender student’s ability to join a fraternity or sorority. Specifically, if a transgender male seeks to join a fraternity, is he allowed to join a fraternity based on his gender identity, or is he prevented from joining based on his sex designated at birth? I believe that fraternities and sororities are empowered to be transgender inclusive and should base membership criteria on a student’s gender identity.” Wickliffe made the most of his time at Bowen with multiple law clerk experiences. He clerked at the Arkansas Attorney General’s office in the Civil Department, the Monterrey Law Firm, and the Arkansas Municipal League, where he focused on civil litigation. During the spring semester, he externed for Judge Joe Volpe in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Arkansas. “I enjoyed all the clerkship experiences because they all taught me something different and focused on different areas of the law,” he said. “Externing with Judge Volpe, however, was my favorite. Judge Volpe was in the middle of criminal docket duty, so I had the privilege to observe multiple criminal hearings.” While Wickliffe always planned for a career in criminal law, he said his multiple clerkships have left him open minded to other possibilities in the legal system. His clerkship with the Monterrey Law Firm, for example, helped him see how immigration law and criminal defense can work together in a practice. And his work in Bowen’s Office of Student Affairs and as a teaching assistant in bar exam prep classes also has him thinking about a career in legal education in the future. “Given my experience in student life during undergrad, the position in student affairs at Bowen was an easy transition and was a good fit. It was fun to see how undergraduate education and law school dovetail but are distinctively different,” Wickliffe said. “I like the supportive nature of the Bowen community.” A fun fact about Wickliffe is that he has worked at American Pie Pizza in Maumelle since 2009, which has helped pay for his education. He and his twin brother, Jarod, have a pizza named after them. The Wickliffe Twin Creation is a buffalo chicken bacon ranch combination pizza.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock alum Wylie Cavin donates $269,000 for Bowen law school scholarships

John Hill — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 15:36:30 +0000

A graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law is hoping his gift of nearly $270,000 will help other Arkansas law students complete their education. Wylie Cavin III, a 1986 graduate of the William H. Bowen School of Law, has donated $269,000 to the law school. The gift will be used to create the Wylie D. Cavin III Endowed Scholarship for Bowen students. “The law school has meant so much to me and my career,” Cavin said. “I knew I wanted to practice business law. With Little Rock being the capital city, I thought ��Vlog��ý Little Rock would be the best place to learn business law, and that turned out to be true. I wanted to leave a legacy and give back to the school for everything it did for me.” To honor Cavin for his generous donation, the Bowen School of Law renamed the Dean’s Conference Room after Cavin during a Jan. 22 celebration at the law school. “We are happy that Mr. Cavin has returned to Bowen for this occasion and are honored to receive his generous gift,” said Theresa Beiner, dean of the Bowen School of Law. “This gift will continue to benefit students by creating additional scholarship funds to help offset the costs of their legal education. We appreciate the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Development Office’s work with Mr. Cavin and Bowen to make this gift a reality.” Cavin, a Little Rock native who now lives in Austin, Texas, is a 1975 graduate of Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock and a 1979 graduate of Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. After graduating from college, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy and served four years of active duty aboard destroyers. He is a former commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Bowen alum Wylie Cavin III (left) and Bowen Dean Theresa Beiner (right) tour the William H. Bowen School of Law. Photo by Ben Krain.

He graduated from Bowen in 1986, having served as editor-in-chief of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Law Review. He later served as an adjunct instructor of banking law at Bowen. “You can’t forget where you came from,” Cavin said. “Bowen was a great experience for me. All the professors were down to earth and approachable. Hopefully, I’m returning some of what I received through my gift.” After law school, Cavin joined Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, PLLC, where he practiced corporate law from 1986 to 1995. In 1996, Cavin entered the banking industry by joining First Commerce Corporation in New Orleans. Cavin co-founded Red River Bancshares, Inc., a publicly traded bank holding company, in 1999, where he worked until his retirement in 2010. The scholarship will benefit full- and part-time Bowen students in good academic standing and can be used for tuition, books, fees, and room and board. Financial need will be strongly considered.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Bowen Law School, court system create Arkansas State Court Fellows Program

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 14:48:17 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law and the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts have announced the creation of the Arkansas State Court Fellows Program. The program will educate law students about the profession of court administration and the career opportunities available in the state and federal court systems. Court administrators are essential components in the administration of justice. As the modern court system has become more complex, professional administrative staff allows judges to more efficiently fulfill their constitutional responsibilities. Court administrators work to provide executive direction and policy development for the court, ensuring efficient and effective judicial operations. Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Kemp and State Court Administrator Marty Sullivan will be at the law school on Nov. 8 at noon to discuss the program with Bowen students. This will be the first of three one-hour presentations during the fall semester. Each session will focus on the work and role of court administrators in Arkansas. During the January 2020 intersession, Bowen will offer a one-hour credit course on the administration of the courts. The course will be open to all Bowen students who have completed their first year of law school but who are not scheduled to graduate in May 2020. After the completion of the course, students will be eligible to apply to the Arkansas State Court Fellows Program. Two students will be selected as fellows and invited to attend and observe the annual meeting of the Arkansas Association of Court Management and the Arkansas Trial Court Administrator Conference in May 2020. During June and August 2020, the Administrative Office of the Courts will enroll the fellows and support their attendance and participation in the national court manager certification program offered through the National Center for State Courts. The program, consisting of six three-day courses usually offered with an enrollment fee of $750 per course, will be provided at no cost to the fellows. At the end of the program, the fellows will be certified court managers, a national credential recognized by state court systems throughout the country. In July 2020, each fellow will be placed as a paid intern in the office of a circuit court judge and court administrator so they may observe and participate in the work of a court administrator. The State Court Partnership, a collaboration between Bowen and the National Center for State Courts, will provide assistance and support to the fellows following their selection and during their service. This will include preparing them for their service as fellows, establishing and managing the details of their internship, and serving as the first point of contact when questions arise from the fellows or from the Administrative Office of the Courts. “This program offers a great opportunity for Bowen students to both learn about and engage in the profession of court administration,” said James Gingerich, director of the State Court Partnership and former director of the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts. “At a national level, qualified and experienced court support professionals are in great demand. This partnership between Bowen and the Arkansas courts can serve as a model for other states where the search for highly skilled court employees, especially those with a law degree, is a high priority.” In addition to this fellowship, the law school’s Career Services Office will actively search, compile, and share job postings in court administration in state and federal courts, particularly those requiring completion of a law degree, and assist interested students in their pursuit of a career in court administration. “We are excited about this unique collaboration with the Administrative Office of the Courts and the State Court Partnership,” said Bowen Dean Theresa Beiner. “Court administrators are valuable members of public service communities, and they are important in helping courts address access to justice concerns. This program will help educate our students on the role administrators play and provide trained professionals for Arkansas’s court systems. It furthers Bowen’s core values of access to justice and public service.”

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to Celebrate Commencement Dec. 17

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Begins Search for Dean of William H. Bowen School of Law

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Bowen School of Law Announces Financial Gift from Walmart to Create Enhanced Community Policing Project

����Vlog��ý Little Rock’s graduate programs named to 2022 U.S. News and World Report Rankings