Director of Agricultural and Food Law Program Wins Prestigious Award

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Professor Susan Schneider

The American Agricultural Law Association recently honored Susan Schneider, professor of law and director of the University of Arkansas master of laws program in Agricultural and Food Law, with its Distinguished Service Award. The Distinguished Service Award is given to a member of the American Agricultural Law Association who demonstrates sustained excellence in contributing to the development of agricultural law, the professional development of agricultural law practitioners, a better understanding of the law by rural citizens, and other noteworthy service reflecting the commonly understood ideals and purposes of the American Agricultural Law Association.

The award is the highest honor granted by the American Agricultural Law Association.

"Professor Schneider's excellence as a teacher, advocate and researcher make her very deserving of this award," said Cynthia Nance, dean of the School of Law. "The Distinguished Service Award speaks to the respect and influence she holds in the field of agricultural law."

Schneider graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minn. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota School of Law and her Master of Laws in agricultural law from the University of Arkansas School of Law. Schneider's private practice experience includes agricultural law work with firms in Arkansas, Minnesota, North Dakota and Washington, D.C. She served as a staff attorney at Farmer's Legal Action Group Inc. and at the National Center for Agricultural Law Research & Information. In addition to teaching at the University of Arkansas School of Law, she has taught agricultural law and related subjects at William Mitchell College of Law and at the Drake University Summer Agricultural Law Institute. Schneider is a past president of the American Agricultural Law Association and a member of the Board of Directors of Farmers Legal Action Group Inc.

This marks the fifth time in the past 24 years that people with ties to the School of Law have received the Distinguished Service Award. Professors Donald B. Pedersen and Christopher Kelley, former executive director of the American Agricultural Law Association Bill Babione, and former Dean Jake Looney all were recipients.