This year, Lydia Davis, a third-year law student who will be graduating in May, was chosen as Dean’s Fellow of the Year at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law.
Dean’s Fellows are upper-level students chosen to mentor 1L students during their first semester of law school. Dean’s Fellows apply for the positions and are selected based on their demonstrated leadership skills, excellence in academic performance, professionalism, and a desire to lead and care for their fellow students.
“Lydia was the best thing that could have happened to me my first semester, she was great. She’s very warm and welcoming and is open to any question,” said the students in her group.
Davis not only mentored for one year, but this is her second year as a Dean’s Fellow. “I did the program twice because honestly, I just find it rewarding and valuable,” said Davis. “I was fortunate enough that when I was a 1L I had an amazing group that very much played a part in my success in law school, and I just felt that if I could facilitate that for others it was my duty to give back.”
Dean’s Fellows’ duties begin in the summer when they make themselves available to every student in their assigned Student Success Teams (SSTs) that will be arriving for the Fall semester. Communications with incoming students may include everything from a simple welcome, to answering questions about Bowen and their classes, to making referrals to other appropriate offices.
“I believe what appeals to me about the program is that it can be such an asset to enduring and persevering through the first year,” said Davis. “This program provides an already-formed team to ask questions to and to help in those initial first weeks.”
The Dean’s Fellows are also critical to the success of the First Week orientation. During this week, they hold their first SST sessions to help students get off on the right foot in law school. They also lead a 1L community service project and assist the Office of Student Affairs with various logistics of the orientation week.
Throughout the fall semester, Dean’s Fellows develop a weekly lesson plan—personalized to their SST—to accomplish the learning outcomes identified in the approved Bowen Success Student Success Program (BSSP) curriculum, which includes outcomes such as self-regulated learning, goal setting, case briefing, outlining, communication, scheduling, study skills, test taking strategies, and stress management. Each week, Dean’s Fellows facilitate a 90-minute session for each of their two assigned SSTs (5-6 students in each SST). While not providing substantive legal instruction, Dean’s Fellows facilitate skills improvement through lessons based on the above-mentioned approved BSSP curriculum, supervise in-session exercises (hypos, etc), answer questions, and provide general mentorship and guidance to 1Ls.
“Lydia put a lot of work and preparation into her SST lessons, and her students enjoyed her attitude,” said Kristen Minton, Director of Academic Support and Bar Success at Bowen. “That she returned for a second year is evidence of her commitment to helping her fellow students succeed.”
In addition to SST meetings, Dean’s Fellows encourage and promote SST members’ participation in events/activities such as BSSP workshops, academic advising/support, consultation with the writing specialist, wellness events, fitness classes, career services/networking events, community service and pro bono activities, and student organization membership/leadership/events. This participation ensures that 1Ls are not just proficient in the classroom, but are healthy and well-rounded students who embody the core values of Bowen: professionalism, public service, and a dedication to access to justice.
“The Dean’s Fellow program is completely rewarding. I think any time you get to help someone succeed you in turn have been rewarded,” concludes Davis. “Plus it’s a great review of all the 1L subjects which is never a bad thing!
