Class Notes 1990-1999

Class of 1990

Alec Farmer, ’90, was recognized as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business in 2018.

Gena Gregory, ’90, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best 100 Lawyers in Little Rock in 2015.

Joe Gregory, ’90, joined Rock Dental Brands as General Counsel.

Stan D. Smith, ’90, has been named to the 2015 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America. He was also recognized in Best Lawyers as a Lawyer of the Year 2020.

Professor Michael Watts, ’90, has been appointed to the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy by Gov. Mike Beebe.

Class of 1991

C. Tad Bohannon, ’91, is now the chief legal counsel for Central Arkansas Water. He was also recognized as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business in 2018.

Tjuana Byrd, ’91, has been named the President of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas.

Kelly Eichler, ’91, was appointed to the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees.

Michelle Fernald, ’91, was chosen by Texas Lawyer as one of 19 “Winning Women”. Michelle is deputy chief, US Attorney Office, Western District of Texas, Austin.

Judge Hugh Finkelstein, ’91, serves as District Judge for Department 1 of the Little Rock District Court. He was also appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson as a Special Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas.

Marshall Ney, ’91, was elected to serve on the management committee for Friday, Eldredge and Clark, LLP.

Kent Pray, ’91, was named as a 2020 Legal Elite in Arkansas Money and Politics, for being 1 out of 100 of Arkansas’ top attorneys, specializing in areas of the law ranging from sports law to bankruptcy.

G. Alan Perkins, ’91, an attorney with PPGMR Law PLLC, has been elected as a fellow to the American College of Environmental Lawyers. He was also recognized in Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2018.

Scott Strauss, ’91, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best 100 Lawyers in Little Rock in 2015.

Connie Hickman Tanner, ’91, is Chief Program Officer, Child Welfare and Juvenile Law, for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

John Wyvill, ’91, was elected as Vice President of the National Association of State Directors for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and he is currently the Executive Director of the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.  He received a 2019 State of Nebraska Excellence in Leadership award for exceptional performance as the Executive Director of the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Class of 1992

Robert Danecki, ’92, was named as a 2020 Legal Elite in Arkansas Money and Politics, for being 1 out of 100 of Arkansas’ top attorneys, specializing in areas of the law ranging from sports law to bankruptcy.

Grant Fortson, ’92, was named as a 2020 Legal Elite in Arkansas Money and Politics, for being 1 out of 100 of Arkansas’ top attorneys, specializing in areas of the law ranging from sports law to bankruptcy.

Pam Hathaway, ’92, was selected to be a part of the inaugural class of the Public Service Academy.

Mandy Hull, ’92, is the new Managing Counsel for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs campus. 

David L. Ivers, ’92, has been named to the 2015 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America. 

David Martin, ’92, has been recognized by the 2021 Chambers USA “guide to top lawyers and law firms nationwide” for his work at the Rose Law Firm.

Melanie Martin, ’92, was elected Little Rock District Court Judge.

Jeanne L. Seewald, ’92, has been appointed to serve as chair of the Intellectual Property Law Certification Committee for the Florida Bar Association.

Class of 1993

Blair Evans, ’93, is Senior Counsel for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – ALSAC in Memphis, Tennessee.

Edie Ervin, ’93, was named the next United States magistrate judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Betty J. Hardy, ’93, has been named to the 2015 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America. 

Fran Hickman, ’93, is now an Administrative Law Judge with the Arkansas Public Service Commission.

Wendy Johnson, ’93, was appointed to the Arkansas Ethics Commission.

Pamela E. Panasiuk, ’93, is now attorney/owner at Epperson Panasiuk Law.

Brian Reddick, ’93, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best 100 Lawyers in Little Rock in 2015.

Class of 1994

Judge Chris Carnahan, ’94, was appointed as a district judge in Faulkner and Van Buren counties. He was also appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson as a Special Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas.

Lile Choate, ’94, is the Vice President and Trust Officer for Simmons Bank.

Jeannie L. Denniston, ’94, has been appointed the Conway Co. District Judge by Gov. Mike Beebe.

Kim Evans, ’94, has joined the Board of Trustees at Hendrix College. She is the Senior Director of Foundation Relations at UAMS.

Chris Gardner, ’94, has been appointed a Special Associate Justice to the Arkansas Supreme Court by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Renae Hudson, ’94, has been named Senior Assistant Attorney General by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.

Bill James, ’94, was presented with the Ike Scott Fellowship by the Pulaski County Bar Foundation. He was also recognized in Soirée Magazines Best 100 Lawyers in Little Rock in 2015 and Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2018 and 2019.

Matthew Jones, ’94, was named one of AY Magazine’s “Men of Distinction.”

Mike Munnerlyn, ’94, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2019.

David Sachar, ’94, served as an expert panelist for the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime in Seoul, South Korea in 2018.

Diana Turner, ’94, was named a 2018 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by  Arkansas Access to Justice.

Reba Wingfield, ’94, was named as a 2020 Legal Elite in Arkansas Money and Politics, for being 1 out of 100 of Arkansas’ top attorneys, specializing in areas of the law ranging from sports law to bankruptcy.

Class of 1995

Michelle Ator, ’95, was recognized as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business in 2018. She was recognized as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business in 2019.

Jason Files, ’95, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best 100 Lawyers in Little Rock in 2015.

Daniel Herrington, ’95, was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson as a Special Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas.

Colette Honorable, ’95, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Alex Ifrah, ’95, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2018. She was also elected to serve on the management committee for Friday, Eldredge and Clark, LLP.  Ms. Ifrah was recognized in Best Lawyers as a Lawyer of the Year 2020.

Terry Lucy, ’95, serves as an Administrative Law Judge for the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission.  Terry was recognized as a UALR Donaghey Scholars alumnus.

Don McKinney, ’95, has been named to the 2015 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America. 

Chantel Mullen, ’95, published My Legacy Planning Portfolio: Leaving a Legacy instead of Leaving a Mess with co-author Earlene McKee.

Kristi Moody, ’95,  was named general counsel of Windstream Holdings, Inc. Moody joined Windstream in 2006 as senior litigation counsel. She was named vice president of law in 2012 and deputy general counsel in 2013. Ms. Moody served as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission commissioner.  She was named as a 2020 Legal Elite in Arkansas Money and Politics, for being 1 out of 100 of Arkansas’ top attorneys, specializing in areas of the law ranging from sports law to bankruptcy.

Teddy Skokos,’95, is a general partner at Millionaire Greetings.

Mary Ellen Ternes, ’95, has joined Crowe & Dunlevy in Oklahoma City as director of the Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources and Litigation & Trial Practice Groups.

Danyelle Walker, ’95, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best 100 Lawyers in Little Rock in 2015.

Jeannie Winston, ’95, was named as the 2018 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by Arkansas Access to Justice.

Class of 1996

Tjuana Byrd, ’96, is the recipient of the 2014 UALR Alumni Association President’s Award and was recognized as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business in 2018 and Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2018. Ms. Byrd has been appointed to the State Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention board by Gov. Mike Beebe.  She was recognized as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business in 2019.

Georgiana DeBoer, ’96, is now an Immigration Technical Writer with GDeBoer Immigration Technical Writing Services in Orlando, FL.

Mark N. Halbert, ’96, was named partner with Phelps, Dunbar, LLP in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Matt Hartness, ’96, recognized in Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2019.

Kyle Heffley, ’96, joined Kutak Rock as of counsel in the firm’s Rogers, AR office, serving with the national litigation practice group. 

Anthony A. (Tony) Hilliard, ’96, served as the Arkansas Bar Association President.

Felicia Corbin Johnson, ’96, serves as the State of Tennessee Division I Circuit Court Judge in Memphis, Tennessee.

Jason Kelley, ’96, was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson as a Special Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court in May 2016.

David C. Lyles, ’96, has become a member of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners.

Gina Reynolds, ’96, is a Capital Conflicts Attorney at the Arkansas Public Defender Commission.

Bob Sexton, ’96, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2018 and 2019. He was recognized as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business in 2019.

Mary Streett, ’96, is Senior Vice President of U.S. communications and external affairs for British-based oil company BP.

Class of 1997

Elizabeth Andreoli, ’97, was named to the 2015 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America.

Misty Borkowski, ’97, was recognized in Best Lawyers in America for the 2020 edition.

Michelle Browning, ‘97, was elected partner at Wright Lindsey Jennings of Little Rock. 

Charles Darwin “Skip” Davidson, ’97, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2018.

JaNan Davis, ’97, joined the Association of Arkansas Counties as a litigation attorney.

Roger Fitzgibbon, Jr., ’97, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best 100 Lawyers in Little Rock in 2015.

Jason Hendren, ’97, was elected as the Southwest Regional Director for DRI.

Curtis Hitt, ’97, was appointed a Special Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Jason Hendren, ’97, is a partner at Wright, Lindsey, Jennings. He also serves on Bowen’s Dean’s Advisory Council and is the past president of the Alumni Board of Directors.

Phyllis Jones, ’97, has been appointed U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern & Western Districts of Arkansas.

Jeb H. Joyce, ’97, was recognized in Best Lawyers as a Lawyer of the Year 2020. He was named a managing member of Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC in Springdale in March 2021. 

Traci LaCerra, ’97, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2018.

John O. Payne, ’97, joined Gill, Ragon, Owen as counsel.

John Scott, ’97, has been recognized on the Best Lawyers in America list for Construction Law.

David Sterling, ’97, was appointed Special Associate Justice to the Arkansas Supreme Court by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Class of 1998

Gary Austin, ’98, has been named secretary of the W. Harold Flowers Law Society.

Patrick Benca, ’98, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best 100 Lawyers in Little Rock in 2015 and Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2018 and 2019.

Robert Brech, ’98,has been named the state budget director of the Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration in Little Rock.

Holly Dickson, ’98, was selected to serve on Mayor Scott’s Transition Team as a member of the Public Safety Subcommittee.

Bob Edwards, ’98, served as the President of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association.

Jennifer Wilson-Harvey, ’98, was named as a 2020 Legal Elite in Arkansas Money and Politics, for being 1 out of 100 of Arkansas’ top attorneys, specializing in areas of the law ranging from sports law to bankruptcy.

Cody Hiland, ’98, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Heather Larkin, ’98, was named one of Arkansas’ Top Influencers for 2020 by Arkansas Money & Politics.  

Wes Lasseigne, ’98, is Area Counsel (AR, MS, AL) for Chicago Title.

Michael McCarty Harrison, ‘98, has been elected partner of the Friday, Eldridge & Clark law firm.

The Honorable Dustin McDaniel, ’98 has been named a board member for the U of A Alumni Association. Mr. McDaniel is also serving on the Bowen Law School’s Dean Advisory Council. He was also recognized in Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2018.  Mr. McDaniel was recognized as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business in 2019.

Robin Baldwin Merrill, ’98, has been certified as a specialist in Estate and Trust Law by the State Bar of Arizona.

John Moore, ’98, is President and CEO of Helena Bancshares and Helena National Bank.

Pamela Epperson Panasiuk, ’98, recognized in Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2019.  Pamela was also named as a 2020 Legal Elite in Arkansas Money and Politics, for being 1 out of 100 of Arkansas’ top attorneys, specializing in areas of the law ranging from sports law to bankruptcy.

Chris Thomason, ’98, has been named the 2018 Hempstead County Educator of the Year.

Todd Whatley, ’98, is of counsel for Wilson + Miller, PLLC.

Class of 1999

Associate Dean for Faculty Development Terrence Cain, ’99, received the William H. Bowen School of Law 2018 Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service.

John Collins, ’99, was named as a 2020 Legal Elite in Arkansas Money and Politics, for being 1 out of 100 of Arkansas’ top attorneys, specializing in areas of the law ranging from sports law to bankruptcy. He was named one of AY Magazine’s “Men of Distinction.”

Lamar Davis, ’99, has been named Executive Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.’s South Region. He will serve as MISO’s primary liaison with the governors and state regulatory and legislative policymakers in the region.

R. Margaret Dobson, ’99, was appointed as a Special Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Bryan Duke, ’99, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best 100 Lawyers in Little Rock in 2015 and Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2018.  He was recognized in Best Lawyers in America for the 2020 edition.  Mr. Duke was named as a 2020 Legal Elite in Arkansas Money and Politics, for being 1 out of 100 of Arkansas’ top attorneys, specializing in areas of the law ranging from sports law to bankruptcy.

Missy McJunkins Duke, ’99, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2018 and 2019.  She was recognized in Best Lawyers in America for the 2020 edition.

David L. Eanes, ’99, is an attorney with Taylor King and Associates Law Firm in Arkadelphia.

Angela Echols, ’99, was appointed to the Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities by Gov. Mike Beebe.

J. Carter Fairley, ’99, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best 100 Lawyers in Little Rock in 2015.

Jesse Gibson, ’99, is serving as the ATLA president for 2018-2019.

Jake Goheen, ’99, was recognized in the Daily Record for his work on the nonprofit organization – The September Fund – that was created to award scholarships to children of first-responder parents.  Jake passed away on December 18, 2019. A memorial service will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, at Smith Benton Funeral Home.

Julie DeWoody Greathouse, ’99, was recognized as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business in 2018.  She was recognized as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business in 2019.  Julie was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2018 and 2019.  Julie was also named as a 2020 Legal Elite in Arkansas Money and Politics, for being 1 out of 100 of Arkansas’ top attorneys, specializing in areas of the law ranging from sports law to bankruptcy.

Matthew House, ’99, was named one of AY Magazine’s “Men of Distinction.”

Lloyd W. “Tre” Kitchens, III, ’99, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best 100 Lawyers in Little Rock in 2015 and Soirée Magazines Best Lawyers in 2018 and 2019.

Michael Lamoureux, ’99, was named as a Top 40 under 40 by Arkansas Business. Senator Lamoureux has been hired by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to be his chief of staff.

Joseph McKay, ’99, was elected to serve on the management committee for Friday, Eldredge and Clark, LLP.

Scott McCrillis, ’99, is now a Sales Tax Partner with Montgomery Coscia Greilich, LLP in Plano, TX.

Dustin McDaniel, ’99, was recognized as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business in 2018.

Robert Smith, ’99, was elected to serve on the management committee for Friday, Eldredge and Clark, LLP.  He was recognized in Best Lawyers as a Lawyer of the Year 2020.

Stuart Spencer, ’99, has been promoted to Legal Policy Advisor/General Counsel for the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.  He has joined Mitchell Williams Selig Gates & Woodyard as counsel in the Little Rock office.

Mica Strother, ’99, was appointed to the Arkansas State Claims Commission by Gov. Mike Beebe.  Ms. Strother was named to the Mountain Home Education Foundation’s Hall of Honor in 2016. Ms. Strother has joined the Razorback Foundation Office in Central Arkansas as Director of Development.

Perry Wilson, ’99, was recognized in Soirée Magazines Best 100 Lawyers in Little Rock in 2015. Mr. Wilson was featured in both the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on March 24, 2019 for his impressive accomplishments as chairperson of the board of trustees at Lyon College.  He was recognized as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business in 2019.

Justice Rhonda Wood, ’99, is a member of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Justice Wood has been appointed to the Youth Justice Reform Board by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Bishop Woosley, ’99, was recognized as one of the 250 Most Influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business in 2018. He has also been elected the first Vice President of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries.