Elijah Conley, distinguished alumnus and recent Georgetown Law School graduate, will return to campus this week to speak with students and high school journalists about media literacy and careers in law.

Conley studied journalism-political science in Fulbright College before graduating magna cum laude in 2021 and starting at Georgetown. He was a staff member of The Georgetown Law Journal, graduating in May 2024. After completing a clerkship for a judge at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, he will return to Washington, D.C., later this year to work in litigation.

Conley was a first-generation college student from Izard County when he arrived in Fayetteville. At the U of A, Conley was active in the Honors College Path Program and Associated Student Government.

"Elijah's personal story is compelling, and we are excited that he will be able to reconnect with mentors and inspire young people who are interested in law, government and journalism," said Gina Shelton, interim director of the Center for Media Ethics and Literacy, which is hosting his visit.

During his time on campus, Conley will speak to over 250 students in classroom, small-group and one-on-one settings. Classes included Media Law, Media and Society, Ethics in Journalism and Foundations for Video News.

He will be a guest speaker for the student chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Pre-Law Society on Friday, Feb. 7, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Kimpel Hall 203H. That event is open to the public, as are two other talks by Conley that day. At 10:45 a.m., he will meet with students and alumni at the UATV studio, second floor Kimpel Hall. From noon to 1 p.m., he will participate in a roundtable luncheon with former classmates in the Student Media Center, Kimpel 202.

"Sharing my journey and experiences is a way to give back to the university and community that laid the foundation for my career," said Conley, who was an analyst for UATV's Crossfire program as part of his time in an Honors Government and Media colloquium. "I hope to inspire students to pursue their passions and understand how education and mentorship can open doors to incredible opportunities."

Conley will be the featured guest speaker at the opening session of the Lemke Journalism Project on Saturday, Feb. 8. More than 50 teens from high school newspaper, yearbook and television programs spend six Saturdays on campus. LJP was founded 24 year ago to increase interest in multicultural reporting and journalism careers. Many of the participants would be first-generation college students.

"For high school students, spending time with Elijah, who came from a small Arkansas town and worked his way up to remarkable success, is invaluable. He will provide media literacy advice and promote opportunities at the U of A," said Bret Schulte, director of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media. 

For more information about Conley's schedule, contact Kaslyn Tidmore, graduate assistant for the Center for Media Ethics and Literacy, at tidmore@uark.edu.