Kelly Nuckolls joined the U of A School of Law as the assistant director and visiting assistant professor of law for the Master of Laws Program in Agriculture and Food Law. She began her duties on Dec. 6, 2021.

"I am honored and excited to join the LL.M. in Agricultural and Food Law Program," Nuckolls said. "I am thrilled about the opportunity to not only teach future food and agriculture lawyers, but to also work with them on projects that will significantly impact our food system." 

Nuckolls previously worked in Washington, D.C., as a senior policy specialist at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, better known as NSAC, where she advocated for federal policies related to sustainable agriculture, including the farm bill, food safety and food labeling laws. She also assisted with grant management and the creation of multiple educational resources in her role at NSAC.

Prior to NSAC, Nuckolls worked at the University of Maryland Agricultural Law Education Initiative, where she provided legal education on a variety of agricultural law topics to farmers in Maryland and Delaware.

Nuckolls has also taught Food Law and Policy to second- and third-year law students at George Mason University Law School in Arlington, Virginia, and U.S. Farm and Food Policy to undergraduate students at Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, Vermont. Nuckolls serves as a board member for the Women, Food and Agriculture Network and as an Advisory Council member for the Food Law Student Network. She is licensed to practice law in the state of Iowa.

An alumna of the LL.M. in Food and Agricultural Law from the U of A School of Law, Nuckolls received her J.D. from Drake Law School and her B.A. in political science from Fort Hays State University.

"I am so delighted to have Kelly join us," said Susan Schneider, director of the LL.M. Program and the William H. Enfield Professor of Law. "She brings a wealth of experience in agricultural and food law, demonstrated success in fundraising and excellence in teaching. She will strengthen our program by adding new opportunities for outreach and to our course offerings."

The School of Law offers a competitive J.D. as well as an advanced LL.M. program, which are taught by nationally recognized faculty. The school offers unique opportunities for students to participate in pro bono work, externships, live client clinics, competitions, and food and agriculture initiatives. The school strives to identify, discuss, and challenge issues of race, color, ethnicity, and the impact(s) they have on students, faculty, and staff members in an effort to achieve a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community. From admitting the Six Pioneers who were the first African American students to attend law school in the South without a court order to graduating governors, judges, prosecutors, and faculty who went on to become President of the United States and Secretary of State, the law school has a rich history and culture. Follow us at uarklaw.