Bowen Law Announces 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees
LITTLE ROCK (Oct. 13, 2026) — The UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law will honor three alumni and one organization at its annual Distinguished Alumni Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Little Rock. All proceeds directly benefit the Bowen Law student scholarship fund.
Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. is the presenting sponsor of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Luncheon.
2026 Honorees
The program will celebrate alumni and friends whose leadership exemplifies Bowen’s values of access to justice, public service, and professionalism. This year’s honorees were selected by the Bowen Law School Alumni Board.
Stuart Miller ’88, Distinguished Alumnus Award. A member at Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C., Miller has built a nearly four-decade career in litigation, professional mentorship, and leadership. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates and recently served as president of the Arkansas Association of Defense Counsel for 2025-2026.
Burt Hicks ’13, Outstanding Alumnus in Public Service Award. Hicks has combined financial leadership with a commitment to public service throughout his career. After beginning his career as an investment banker with Merrill Lynch and Bank of America, he returned to Arkansas and later held senior leadership roles at Simmons Bank. In 2019, he co-founded Encore Bank, where he serves as president and chief strategy and growth officer. Hicks earned his J.D. from Bowen concurrently with a Master of Public Service from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and later joined the Clinton School Dean’s Advisory Board.
Johanna Wade ’22, Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. Wade is an associate in the Litigation Practice Group at Friday, Eldredge & Clark, where she represents businesses, insurers, and professionals in a range of litigation matters. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Bowen in 2022 and currently serves as president of the Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers and on the Board of Directors for the World Services for the Blind Foundation. She is also a graduate of Leadership Greater Little Rock.
Simmons Wealth Management, Friend of Bowen Award. Simmons Wealth Management provides financial guidance and wealth management services to individuals, families, and institutions. The organization has developed a strong relationship with Bowen Law through its commitment to the almost exclusive hiring of Bowen graduates, whose analytical skills and professional preparation it values.
“These honorees demonstrate the many ways Bowen graduates and partners contribute to the legal profession, public life, and the communities they serve,” said Colin Crawford, dean of the law school. “Their achievements reflect the professional excellence and commitment to service that we seek to instill in our students, and we are proud to recognize the example they set.”
“The Distinguished Alumni Luncheon gives us an opportunity not only to celebrate exceptional alumni and friends of Bowen, but also to invest directly in our students,” said Blake Buchanan, director of development and external relations. “Support for this event helps expand scholarship opportunities, making a legal education more accessible and advancing Bowen’s longstanding commitment to access to justice. It also strengthens the connections among our alumni, our students, and the broader Bowen community.”
Tickets are available at http://ualr.at/bowenluncheon.