Schneider Named William H. Enfield Professor

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Susan Schneider, the William H. Enfield Professor of Law

Dean Stacy Leeds named Susan Schneider the William H. Enfield Professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law. Schneider teaches courses in agricultural and food law and serves as director of the law school’s master of laws program in Agricultural and Food Law. The program is the only one of its kind in the United States and is now available in an online format, drawing students from all over the world.   

The endowed professorship was created by Judge William H. Enfield of Bentonville, a former professor of the University of Arkansas School of Law. In addition to serving as a professor, Enfield had a 20 year career in private practice before serving as a Circuit Judge in the 19th Judicial District in Benton County.

“I am truly honored to be selected as the William H. Enfield Professor of Law,” said Schneider. “While I did not have the opportunity to meet Judge Enfield personally, his contribution to the Arkansas bar, his dedication to the law school and his commitment to justice are well known. I hope to serve with that as my inspiration.”

“Susan is a well-recognized expert in agricultural and food law, and thanks to her leadership, our long standing LL.M. program is expanding in new and exciting ways to include distance education globally,” said Stacy Leeds, dean of the School of Law. “Judge Enfield created a lasting legacy here at the School of Law, and Professor Schneider carries his spirit of excellence forward.” 

When he established the endowed professorship in 1999 Enfield said, “Remembering my experience as a professor, I wanted to find a way to help bring more quality legal talent to the university to teach future generations of lawyers.”

The first William H. Enfield Professor was John J. Watkins. The second honoree, Steve Sheppard, served as Enfield Professor for 13 years before leaving the University of Arkansas to serve as dean of St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas.

Enfield graduated from the School of Law in 1948. He passed away in 2010.

Schneider earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minn. She earned her J.D. at the University of Minnesota School of Law and her LL.M. in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law. Her private practice and advocacy work in agricultural law includes positions with firms in Arkansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Washington, D.C. She is a past president of the American Agricultural Law Association (AALA) and a two-term board member. She was the 2010 recipient of the AALA Distinguished Service Award.