Leeds Named Among Nation's Legal Education 'Leaders in Diversity'

Photo Submitted

Dean Stacy Leeds

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The National Jurist magazine has named University of Arkansas School of Law Dean Stacy Leeds among a group of Leaders in Diversity.

In its fall issue, the magazine highlighted 20 professors, chosen from nearly 100 nominations, who have gone beyond the norm to further diversity efforts in legal education.

"Dean Leeds is a great example of how educational leaders should work everyday to foster greater access for students, faculty and staff as well as a more inclusive campus community," said Charles Robinson, vice chancellor for diversity and community and interim vice provost for student affairs. "We are very fortunate to have her as part of the Razorback family."

According to the article by Mike Stetz, 88 percent of the nation's attorneys are white. Law schools must diversify their student bodies in order to ensure that those in key legal professions, such as public servants, judges, prosecutors, general counsels and heads of corporate, government, nonprofit and legal organizations - a group whose career path often involves law school - reflect the population as whole.

Leeds is profiled along with law professors at Loyola University, Saint Louis University, Washington University, the University of California (Los Angeles, Davis and Irvine) and Georgetown. She was chosen for her experience, leadership, accomplishments and innovation.

The profile notes that Leeds, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, is currently the nation's only American Indian dean of a law school and one of a handful of American Indian law professors. She has served as a mentor, student organization advisor, moot court coach and career counselor for countless diverse law students. Her non-academic activities include membership on the American Indian Law Center's board of directors. The center has awarded more the $52 million in scholarships in its 45-year history.

It also acknowledges Leeds' initiation of two separate diversity pipelines during her tenure as dean. Through the LSAC DiscoverLaw.org Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Program and the Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Summer Leadership Summit, the School of Law has hosted more than 200 high school and undergraduate students on the University of Arkansas campus during the last four summers.

The story will also run in the next issue of The National Jurist's sister publication preLaw. The magazines are among the nation's leading news sources in legal education. The National Jurist reaches an estimated 100,000 law students, and preLaw is read by more than 45,000 prospective law students. Professors and law school administrators receive both publications.

About University of Arkansas School of Law: The University of Arkansas School of Law prepares students for success through a challenging curriculum taught by nationally recognized faculty, unique service opportunities and a close-knit community that puts students first. With alumni in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, two territories and 20 countries, it has been ranked among the top 10 "Values in Legal Education" by the National Jurist magazine for three consecutive years and is among the top 41 public law schools, according to U.S. News and World Report.

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 only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas 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.