Four UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law professors were recently awarded the school’s 2024 Faculty Excellence Awards.
Professors Anastasia Boles, Jordan Wallace-Wolf, and Rebecca Feldmann as well as andré cummings, associate dean for faculty development, were each recognized as outstanding faculty members of the law school.
“We received several applications for the Faculty Excellence Awards — a true testament to the caliber of academics we have here at Bowen,” said Kelly Terry, associate dean for experiential learning and chair of the William H. Bowen School of Law Faculty Excellence Awards Selection Committee. “The committee members reviewed all of the nomination packets in each category and held a vote to select the winner in each category. This year’s honorees and their work in the classroom, the communities we serve, and beyond, is truly one of the best reflections of Bowen.”
Professor Boles received the UA Little Rock Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching for the William H. Bowen School of Law. This award was created to recognize, encourage, and reward superior teachers, distinguishing them as teachers who maintain high expectations of their students and who ensure academic rigor in their courses. Professor Boles was nominated for the award by Bowen faculty member and Dean Emerita Theresa Beiner.
“Professor Boles exemplifies the qualities that this award recognizes,” Beiner says. “She is a master teacher; an innovative teacher who incorporates culturally proficient legal instruction in her courses, creating a more inclusive and engaging experience for all her students; and a mentor to the students in her classes as well as those who participate in her projects in Bowen’s Center for Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform.”
Professor Boles also received letters of endorsement from current and former students like Taylor Toombs, a graduating law student, who says:
“Professor Boles is a phenomenal example of a community leader, legal leader, and a mentor. Her dedication to me, in and outside of class, and to other students to guarantee their success is why she should receive the Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching.”
Associate Dean andré cummings received the UA Little Rock Faculty Excellence Award for Research and Creative Endeavors, an award designed to reward those whose creative endeavors have been particularly successful and are recognized locally, regionally, and nationally. Dean cummings also received the Faculty Excellence Award in Public Service, which exists to recognize individuals who have brought credit to UA Little Rock through their successful efforts in applying the content or skills of the academic disciplines in service to the community, state, or nation in areas of public interests.
“Dean cummings has been the driving force behind a collaboration which has resulted in the development of a body of groundbreaking legal scholarship that explores the way that the American legal system is a source of health-harming trauma for persons of color,” said Amy Dunn Johnson, a Bowen graduate and judge of Little Rock’s sixth judicial district. “Dean cummings has generously given his time, expertise, and tenacity to ensure that this body of work is shared with the broader community of lawyers, judges, law students, and scholars so that our justice system can improve. He is an exceptional researcher, advocate, and teacher and is imminently deserving of recognition.”
The Faculty Excellence Award in Social Justice was awarded to Rebecca Feldmann – assistant professor of clinical education and director of Bowen’s Veterans Services Legal Clinic. Professor Feldmann was nominated by Bowen Mediation Clinic Director Kelly Browe Olson.
“Professor Feldmann’s exceptional advocacy, dedication to service, and impact on social justice are truly inspiring and set a standard of excellence that reflect the core values of the law school and this award,” Olson said. “Her innovative educational programs, impactful advocacy for veterans, and community engagement initiatives have had significant impact on countless individuals and the broader legal field.”
Lastly, Assistant Professor Jordan Wallace-Wolf received the Rising Faculty Excellence Award, nominated by Associate Dean Lindsey Gustafson.
“Jordan has demonstrated exceptional promise in teaching, research, creative endeavors, and public service,” Gustafson said. “Despite his stellar academic accomplishments and experience, he joined our community with intellectual humility and grace. He expects of himself exactly what he asks of students – that they be consistently prepared, intellectually curious, and engaged in building their understanding and using it to serve the community. Jordan has enriched our intellectual, academic, and overall law school community. He is absolutely a rising star.., and we are lucky to have him.”
Each honoree will be recognized for their achievements at the UA Little Rock Faculty Excellence Awards Thursday, April 4. The honorees will also be considered for their awards at the university level.
