Cynthia Nance to Return to Faculty After Five Years as Dean of the School of Law

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Cynthia Nance has announced she will return to the classroom in July 2011 after fulfilling her five-year commitment as dean of the School of Law.

Nance, who is both the first woman and first African-American dean of the law school, has overseen a period of remarkable achievement at the law school. The School of Law has improved in the U.S. News and World Report America’s Best Graduate Schools rankings each year she has served as dean, and has been included among the top 50 public law schools and top tier of all U.S. law schools the last two years. In addition, it has maintained a diverse student body, with 24 percent minority enrollment this past academic year.

Under Nance’s watch, the addition and renovation of the law school building were completed and dedicated in a ceremony that included former Associate Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. This August, President Bill Clinton and Gov. Mike Beebe were on hand for the dedication of the law school’s Richard B. Atkinson Memorial Courtyard.

“Dean Nance is a remarkable leader, and she cares passionately for the law school and its alumni,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “Her tireless work, personal warmth and outstanding reputation as a dean and labor and employment expert have brought much-deserved positive attention to the School of Law. She has set the bar high. I am grateful for her service as dean and look forward to working with her for many years to come.”

“I have enormous respect for Dean Nance and all she has done for the School of Law,” said Provost Sharon Gaber. “Not only has she guided the law school to unprecedented national prominence, she has connected and fostered relationships with alumni and friends across this state and country. She has overseen a successful strategic planning initiative and helped strengthen the school’s skills-based curriculum and externship programs. Her commitment to ‘giving back’ is reflected in the law school’s emphasis on encouraging pro bono and civic work by its students. The chancellor and I hoped she would continue as dean but understand and respect her desire and passion to return to teaching.”

“Serving as dean of the School of Law has been the highlight of my professional life,” said Nance. “I am grateful to everyone who gave me this opportunity and for the support of the faculty, staff, students and alumni of the law school. It’s been a great honor. I look forward to the future and getting back to what I consider one of the best jobs in the world – being a professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law.”

Nance was recipient of the inaugural Judge Andree Layton Roaf Award from the Harold Flowers Society, the 2009 T.E. Patterson Education Award from the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus, the 2007 American Association for Affirmative Action Arthur A. Fletcher Award and the 2006 NIA Professional Achievement Award. She also was honored as the 2005 Arkansas Bar Association Outstanding Lawyer-Citizen. In 2004, she received the University of Arkansas Alumni Association's Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award for Public Service. In addition, she has been honored as one of 25 Minority Trailblazers and 20 Women of Influence by Arkansas Business. Nance is past chair of the American Association of Law Schools Employment Discrimination and Labor & Employment Law Sections.

Gaber will be initiating a search for the dean’s replacement.