School of Law Board of Advocates Selects 2026-27 Executive Board and Membership

The U of A School of Law Board of Advocates has announced its executive board and membership for the 2026-27 academic year.

Students become eligible for the board during their third year of law school by participating in a minimum number of intraschool and interschool Board of Advocates competitions during their first and second years. The outgoing BOA Executive Board interviews applicants, who rank the leadership positions they are interested in obtaining on their applications. Once interviews conclude, the board selects students to fill each role for the next year.

The Board of Advocates sponsors three internal competitions that select students for moot court, trial and advocacy teams that compete at regional and national levels. These programs provide valuable opportunities for students to develop and refine their lawyering skills.

Each fall, the board hosts the William H. Sutton Barrister's Union Trial Competition, open to second‑ and third‑year law students. Top performers are invited to try out for two inter-school trial teams. In the spring, the board sponsors the Ben J. Altheimer Moot Court Competition, from which outstanding advocates are select to represent the School of Law at the National Moot Court Competition. The Board of Advocates also encourages all law students to participate in the school's client advocacy competitions, through which students may earn the opportunity to compete in American Bar Association client advocacy competitions.

The executive board, competition chairs and members of the Board of Advocates for the 2026-27 academic year are:

Executive Board:

• Katherine Calandro, chair
• Emma Mitchell, vice chair
• Kenzie Hatman, secretary and treasurer

Trial Competition Chairs:

• Faith Carter
• Zach Hatfield

Moot Court Competition Chairs:

• Jackson Cook
• Alexis Hodne

Negotiations Competition Chairs:

• Wyatt Bailey
• Mary Jett McLarty

Members:

• Edgar Canales
• Brock Conklin
• Margarita Gonzales
• Nicholas Heye
• Chelsea Lin
• Monica Martinez
• Grier McClard
• Ryan Nix
• Daelyn Phillips
• Vivian Pryor
• Peyton Reeves
• Kathleen Robinson
• Nathan Scolaro
• Chris Smith
• Anthony Sterba
• Jake Studebaker
• Stephen Tate
• Cole Webb

Faculty Adviser:

• Amanda Hurst, Arkansas Bar Foundation professor

"Over the past year, we have watched all these students put praiseworthy efforts into the various competitions they have participated in both at the school and on traveling teams," outgoing board chair Joel Gaffney said. "I have no doubt that the same hard work and discipline they have displayed as competitors will carry over into their new leadership roles."