Women's Law Student Association Honors Two Accomplished Alumnae

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Theresa Fette (J.D. '03) and Connie Lewis Lenisng (J.D. '77)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas School of Law Women's Law Student Association will honor Theresa Fette (J.D. '03) and Connie Lewis Lensing (J.D. '77) with the Gayle Pettus Pontz Award during a reception at 5 p.m. Monday, March 7, at University House.

The Women's Law Student Association presents the Gayle Pettus Pontz Award to a female graduate or a woman with connections to the local legal community who best represents the accomplishments of women and the legal community as a whole and who promotes WLSA's objectives of helping women thrive in law school, creating a community that will raise awareness of women's issues and advancing women in the legal profession.

"Theresa Fette exemplifies what persistence, hard-work and drive can accomplish," said Quincy Jordan, third-year law student and president of the Women's Law Student Association. "She is an inspiration."

Fette is a founder and chief executive officer of Provident Trust Group, a leading self-directed retirement plan administrator and alternative-asset custodian. She has created exponential growth in Provident's seven years, increasing its assets under custody from $300 million to more than $3 billion.

Fette was named to Vegas Inc.'s 2015 40 Under 40. Her unique managerial and entrepreneurial style has been recognized by Fortune, which honored her among its most powerful women entrepreneurs for 2012.

She holds an LL.M. in taxation from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law and master's and bachelor's degrees in accounting from the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

"Connie Lewis Lensing has earned multiple awards for her excellence, both in the work place and the community," said Natalie Van Pelt, third-year law student and WLSA's vice president. "She is setting the standard high for aspiring attorneys like us, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to honor her."

Lensing is senior vice president in the legal department at FedEx Express, the world's largest express transportation company, and heads a department with offices in Memphis, Tennessee, and Orange County, California. She is a nationally recognized litigator and is is admitted to the bars of several Federal Circuits, Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee and the U.S. Supreme Court, where she argued a case during the 2007 term. 

She sits on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committees of both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Legal Reform and the National Civil Rights Museum.  She is a Board Member of Lawyers for Civil Justice and serves as president of the Leo Bearman, Sr. American Inn of Court. She Co-chaired the National Civil Rights Museum's Twentieth Anniversary Freedom Awards and was named to the 2013 Super Women in Business.  

Lensing is a member of the university's Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee and the School of Law's campaign committee. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law and a bachelor's degree in journalism from the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

 The legal and campus communities are invited to join the Women's Law Student Association and the School of Law in celebrating Fette and Lewis Lensing for their many accomplishments.

About University of Arkansas School of Law: The University of Arkansas School of Law prepares students for success through a challenging curriculum taught by nationally recognized faculty, unique service opportunities and a close-knit community that puts students first. With alumni in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, two territories and 20 countries, it has been ranked among the top 10 "Values in Legal Education" by the National Jurist magazine for three consecutive years and is among the top 41 public law schools, according to U.S. News and World Report.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.