Suzanne Penn, Associate Professor of Clinical Law at William H. Bowen School of Law, has been selected as one of the top University of Arkansas at Little Rock faculty members for 2017. She received a Faculty Excellence award for public service, recognizing her dedication to serving individuals who do not have access to legal assistance. In 2014, Penn created a clinical experience for law students in the Delta region of Arkansas, an area that has long been underserved by attorneys.
The Delta Project is comprised of two courses: The Delta Experience and the Delta Clinic. In the Delta Experience course, students travel to the Delta to educate low-income residents about grounds for divorce and what is necessary to obtain one without attorney representation. In the Delta Clinic course, students travel with Penn to Desha and Chicot counties to conduct client interviews, perform fact investigations related to case success, prepare divorce complaints and motions for fee waivers for clients. The students appear in courts as needed to represent their clients and also observe sessions of the courts.
Professor Penn earned a Juris Doctor from Tulane University and a bachelor’s degree with honors from Hendrix College.
She was honored during an April 13 reception at UA Little Rock George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology Auditorium. Part of this recognition includes a $5,000 award. Faculty Excellence Awards were given in two additional categories: teaching, and research and creative endeavors. Eleven other faculty members, who earned Faculty Excellence awards at the college level, also were honored. The 15 members of the UA Little Rock Board of Visitors reviewed the achievements and selected the winners.
Since 1989, when the first award was given, the event has provided a way to recognize the great work of UA Little Rock faculty and is made possible through the valued contributions of the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, and the UA Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle. This is the second consecutive year that a Bowen professor has been recognized for public service.
