Valerie Nation, a 2008 graduate of the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law, will join her alma mater as assistant dean of student affairs on July 16.

Nation is currently an attorney with Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, PLLC, in business litigation and employment. She has been with the Little Rock firm since 2000 as a paralegal. Nation’s position includes providing academic support, advising, and bar preparation and working with Bowen student organizations.

“Valerie brings an ideal combination of experience and enthusiasm to her new position with the Bowen School,” said Dean John DiPippa. “She has an excellent academic record and 16 years of experience in the local legal community. As a dedicated Bowen alumna, she is well aware of what is necessary to help students succeed.”

Nation received bachelor’s degrees in both professional and technical writing and criminal justice from UALR in 2003. While at Bowen, she served as an academic success mentor for first-year students, was a member of the first-place UALR Black Law Student Association trial team, and was named outstanding woman graduate for 2008. Nation will replace Andy Taylor, a 2005 Bowen grad, who is entering private law practice.

In addition to Nation’s appointment, DiPippa announced that Tonya Oaks Smith joined the Bowen School as its director of communications. Smith joins the school after two years as public relations coordinator at UALR.

Smith will manage the communications, marketing, and public relations strategies of the law school in accordance with its mission, objectives, directives, and policies. She brings to the position experience in forming both internal and external communication strategies from her tenure at Acxiom and with daily newspapers in Louisiana. Smith earned her bachelor’s degree in English from LSU and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in applied communication studies from UALR.

“At Bowen, we take seriously our job of providing access to a high quality legal education in an environment that prizes professionalism and public service. Tonya and Valerie are good examples of those values and will provide support integral to helping achieve our goals in 2009-2010 and for many years to come,” DiPippa said.