Two Professors from School of Law Receive Women's Giving Circle Grants for Projects

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Annie Smith, left, and Uche Ewelukwa Ofodile

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Women's Giving Circle at the University of Arkansas awarded over $10,000 in grants to two professors at the School of Law in a virtual ceremony that took place on Jan. 14. Annie Smith, associate professor of law and director of the public service and pro bono program, and Uche Ewelukwa Ofodile, E.J. Ball Professor of Law, received $5,325 and $5,000 in funding from the circle respectively. Their proposals were among the top 11 projects that received grants from a starting pool of 44.

"We are fortunate to have faculty like professors Smith and Ofodile in the School of Law who take so much pride in their work," said Margaret Sova McCabe, dean of the School of Law. "Their commitment to the betterment of Arkansas is truly inspirational, and we are so thrilled that their projects were selected."

Smith's project, the Arkansas Labor Trafficking Awareness Project, aims to increase awareness of labor trafficking among Arkansas professionals who are most likely to come into contact with it and to equip them with adequate resources to respond. Smith will work with her pro bono law students and design and disseminate Arkansas-specific quick reference guides translated into Spanish and Marshallese to educate law enforcement, first responders and service providers on how to identify and respond to labor trafficking. The selected audiences will also receive online on-demand training and educational videos.

"I am very grateful that the project was selected for funding by the Women's Giving Circle membership," Smith said. "Anti-trafficking efforts are plagued by widespread myths. My hope is that the Arkansas Labor Trafficking Awareness Project will help to challenge those myths, including the mistaken belief that sex trafficking is the only form of human trafficking."

Ofodile's project, Patent Bootcamp for Women and Minorities, is a one-day bootcamp, which aims to educate women and minorities at the University of Arkansas as well as entrepreneurs, innovators and high school students in Northwest Arkansas on the basics of patent law and the patent application process. The project will expand upon the success of the first patent bootcamp that was funded by the circle in 2019, which educated more than 100 participants on the dynamics of patent law. This year, the patent bootcamp will provide a thorough training on the U.S. and international patent system, patent application process, how women, minorities and indigenous communities can avoid theft and exploitation, and overcome challenges they face when they wish to protect their intellectual property.

"I am extremely grateful that the Women's Giving Circle considered my project worthy to be funded a second time," Ofodile said. "The grant will allow the School of Law to continue to join forces with the university, not only in the important task of breaking down gender, racial and economic barriers to patenting but also in the urgent task of encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship throughout Arkansas." 

The Women's Giving Circle was created by the founding members of the Women in Philanthropy Committee of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century. The circle comprises U of A alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university who make yearly contributions to generate funds for the annual awards. Since its founding, the circle has awarded over $1.4 million in funding to faculty and staff members from various units at the university.

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 fewer than 3% of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A 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.