Bowen Law Faculty Recognized with 2026 Faculty Excellence Awards
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Five faculty members from the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law have been selected as recipients of the university’s 2026 Faculty Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in the categories of research, teaching, public service, social justice, and rising faculty.
The honorees will be recognized during the Faculty Excellence Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 2, on the UA Little Rock campus.
“These faculty members represent the very best of Bowen Law and the vital role legal education plays in strengthening our communities,” said Colin Crawford, dean of the law school. “Through their scholarship, teaching, and service, they are expanding access to justice, advancing knowledge, and preparing students to lead with integrity and purpose.”
Faculty Excellence Award for Research
Joshua M. Silverstein, professor of law, has been selected as the winner of the Faculty Excellence Award for Research.
Silverstein is recognized for his scholarship in business law and legal education theory. He has produced a body of scholarship addressing complex issues in commercial law, including contract interpretation, empirical legal methods, and bankruptcy law. His work has influenced legal debate in courts and academic literature, including citation by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2024 Purdue Pharma case.
“Legal scholarship plays an important role in clarifying complex issues and strengthening the institutions that shape our justice system,” Silverstein said. “It’s an honor to contribute to these conversations and to be part of a community that values thoughtful inquiry.”
He is a co-author of Problems in Contract Law: Cases and Materials, the most widely used casebook in contracts law education.
Silverstein earned a J.D. from New York University School of Law and a B.A. from Hamilton College.
Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching
Lindsey Gustafson, associate dean for academic affairs and Nadine Baum Professor of Law, has been selected as the winner of the Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching.
Gustafson has spent nearly three decades shaping the legal education experience for generations of students. Her teaching focuses on developing the analytical and professional skills students need to succeed, combining foundational legal instruction with innovative methods such as team-based learning, which emphasizes collaboration and practical application.
In addition to her classroom teaching, Gustafson serves as a co-director of the Institute for Law Teaching and Learning and as a founding editor of the Journal of Law Teaching and Learning, mentoring faculty nationwide and advancing evidence-based approaches to legal education.
Gustafson earned a J.D. and a B.A. from Brigham Young University.
Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service
Anastasia Boles, professor of law, has been selected as the winner of the Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service.
Boles is recognized for her leadership in advancing access to justice and expanding opportunities for students to engage in public service. She co-founded the Bowen Center for Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform and leads initiatives such as Court Observation Arkansas, a statewide project that trains students to observe court proceedings and gather data to better understand how the justice system operates across Arkansas.
“Through my work with the Center, I am able to connect academic research and teaching to the real needs of communities,” Boles said. “We aim to expand access to justice while giving students meaningful opportunities to engage with the legal system and serve the public.”
Her work also includes the Bowen Pathway Project, a pipeline program that prepares underrepresented students for law school through LSAT preparation and pipeline programs.
Boles earned a J.D. from Columbia Law School and a B.A. from Stanford University.
Penn is recognized for her decades of work expanding access to justice for underserved Arkansans through clinical legal education and community advocacy. She directs the Delta Divorce Clinic, which provides free legal assistance in rural communities where access to legal services is limited, while giving students hands-on experience working with real clients.
“Access to justice is a fundamental principle of our legal system,” Penn said. “The Delta Divorce Clinic provides meaningful opportunities for students to serve their communities while helping individuals navigate difficult legal situations.”
The program has assisted hundreds of Arkansans facing complex legal challenges, including domestic violence and financial hardship, while providing students with practical training in advocacy and client-centered legal practice.
Penn earned a J.D. from Tulane University and a B.A. from Hendrix College.
Faculty Excellence Award for Rising Faculty
Laura Bates, assistant professor of law, has been selected as the winner of the Faculty Excellence Award for Rising Faculty.
Bates is recognized for her contributions to legal education, scholarship, and service during her early years on the faculty. She teaches Research, Writing, and Analysis and Law and Literature, emphasizing practical assignments, one-on-one mentoring, and the development of strong legal writing and critical thinking skills.
“Teaching and mentoring students is the most rewarding part of my work,” Bates said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to help students build the skills, confidence, and judgment they need to successfully enter the legal profession, as well as to challenge them to think critically about the law and engage in thoughtful discussions of what the law should be.”
Her scholarship focuses on parental leave laws, and she is active in academic and community service, including leadership with the American Red Cross serving Greater Arkansas.
Bates earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an M.A. from the University of Arkansas, and a B.A. from Ouachita Baptist University.
About the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law
Located in Arkansas’s capital city, the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law provides a nationally recognized, practice-ready legal education deeply connected to the state’s legal system. With a strong emphasis on access to justice, public service, and professionalism, Bowen’s hands-on approach is grounded in mentorship and real-world experience. Graduates are prepared to lead in courtrooms, boardrooms, and communities across Arkansas and beyond.