https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2026/01/15/culture-warriors-cancel-new-u-of-a-law-dean-before-she-started Sign up to be an insider! Arkansas is changing fast, and we're here to help you make sense of it. Sign up today and receive the news that's important to you straight to your inbox. * [*] Daily Update A roundup of the latest news, delivered weekdays. * [*] Weekly Roundup Your source for Arkansas dining, culture and entertainment news, delivered Fridays. * [*] Events Be first to know about upcoming events and local promotions, delivered occasionally. * [*] Arkansas Times Climate Watch Climate change news for Arkansans from our agriculture and environment reporter, delivered twice monthly. [ ] Sign me up! [State_Capitol_50266-1-scaled-1] We're here to hold power accountable, but we can't do it alone. Your subscription goes a long way, and by making an additional donation you'll deliver necessary resources to ensure independent journalism thrives in Arkansas. 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Start Your Trial For Full Acess Today Close * Help * Subscriptions * Sign In Search for: [ ] Search * Arkansas Blog * Rock Candy * Eat Arkansas * Issues Open dropdown menu + Digital Issues + Special Sections Open dropdown menu o College Guide o Nurses Guide o Best Lawyers * Donate * Special Pubs Open dropdown menu + Cannabiz * Events Open dropdown menu + Arkansas Times Events + Lunch & Learn | Lecture Series * Polls Open dropdown menu + Reader's Choice 2026 + Big Bud Classic 2025 + Cheers to Toast of the Town 2025 + Best of Arkansas + Store * Advertising * Shop Merch * Facebook Page * Twitter * Instagram Close Skip to content * Facebook Page * Twitter * Instagram Arkansas Times Arkansas Times Arkansas news, politics, opinion, restaurants, music, movies and art * Help * Subscriptions * Sign In Open Search Search for: [ ] Search Menu Sign In * Arkansas Blog * Rock Candy * Eat Arkansas * Issues Open dropdown menu + Digital Issues + Special Sections Open dropdown menu o College Guide o Nurses Guide o Best Lawyers * Donate * Special Pubs Open dropdown menu + Cannabiz * Events Open dropdown menu + Arkansas Times Events + Lunch & Learn | Lecture Series * Polls Open dropdown menu + Reader's Choice 2026 + Big Bud Classic 2025 + Cheers to Toast of the Town 2025 + Best of Arkansas + Store * Advertising * Shop Merch Posted inArkansas Blog Culture warriors cancel new U of A law dean before she started by Austin Gelder January 15, 2026 8:37 amJanuary 15, 2026 9:06 am Share this: * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to print (Opens in new window) Print * [Screen-Shot-2026-01-15-at-8] Emily Suski, named dean at the University of Arkansas law school on Jan. 9, has already been dismissed over politics. Credit: courtesy of University of Arkansas Emily Suski, the attorney and educator named last week to be the next dean at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville law school, is already out after powerful conservative officials found Suski's legal opinions distasteful. An associate dean at the University of South Carolina's Rice School of Law, Suski has lent her expertise in the past to weigh in the legalities surrounding transgender athletes' rights. It appears Suski's opinion offended the sensibilities of the church-and-state coalition currently running the show around here. A website for the law school includes this cryptic statement: "Recently, the university announced its intention to hire Professor Emily Suski as its next dean of the School of Law, to begin July 1, 2026. After receiving feedback from key external stakeholders about the fit between Professor Suski and the university's vacancy, the university has decided to go a different direction in filling the vacancy. University officials are very grateful for Professor Suski's interest in the position and continue to hold Professor Suski in high regard. We wish Professor Suski well as she moves forward with her career." Rep. Nicole Clowney (D-Fayetteville), an adjunct lecturer at the University of Arkansas, offered a more thorough and thoughtful take on social media Wednesday night. Conservative elected officials threatened to withhold funding if Suski came on board, Clowney wrote: Many of you are asking me about today's action regarding the newly hired Dean of the U of A Law School. I am still gathering information but based on what I've learned so far, it seems clear that what happened is a horrifying, unprecedented, and absolutely unconstitutional abuse of state power. Here's what I know: The University of Arkansas School of Law has been searching for a new Dean for two years. Last week, after an exhaustive and thorough hiring process, the School finally hired a new Dean, Prof. Emily Suski, currently at the University of South Carolina's law school. After the deal was done and the hire was announced, a few state legislators along with at least one constitutional officer became aware that the newly hired Dean had signed onto a "friend of the court" brief in a lawsuit challenging laws regarding transgender athletes in sports. (To be clear, Prof. Suski was not a party in the case nor did she represent a party in the case. She was one of seventeen academics who signed on in support of one side.) There is nothing about signing onto this brief that would impact Prof. Suski's ability to serve as Dean. Unsurprisingly, administration of high school athletics programs does not fall into the job description of the Law School Dean. But Arkansas officials weren't concerned about Prof. Suski's ability to carry out the functions of the Dean. Instead, the signature alerted Arkansas elected officials that Prof. Suski may share different political views than they do on this one issue. That, for reasons too frightening for me to even fully comprehend, was enough for multiple state elected officials to threaten to substantially reduce funding in the upcoming fiscal session. Veiled threats and comments behind closed doors about the political leanings of University of Arkansas faculty and staff are nothing new, sadly. But state elected officials threatening to withhold funding to the entire School based on the political beliefs of the newly hired Dean is a new, terrifying low. It is quite literally state government prohibiting the free exercise of speech. This move will irrevocably undermine morale of faculty and staff who already live in a state of constant fear of retaliation for expressing their personal beliefs. It will frighten anyone who is considering moving to Arkansas to work at the U of A. And because it was successful, it will be the first in a long line of similar First Amendment violations until we stand up and say no. This is quite chilling. And of course, that's exactly the point. This is a developing story, follow along if you have the stomach for it. Thanks for Reading! In a time when critical voices are increasingly silenced, the Arkansas Times stands as a beacon of truth, tirelessly defending the fundamental rights and freedoms within our community. With Arkansas at the epicenter of a sweeping culture war affecting our libraries, schools, and public discourse, our mission to deliver unflinching journalism has never been more vital. We're here to hold power accountable, but we can't do it alone. By contributing today, you ensure that independent journalism not only survives but thrives in Arkansas. Together, we can make a difference -- join the fight. Donate Subscribe Tagged: Emily Suski, free speech, news, Nicole Clowney, Repubicans, Republican culture war, transgender athletes, University of Arkansas , University of Arkansas Law School Austin Gelder Austin Gelder is the editor of the Arkansas Times and loves to write about government, politics and education. Send your juiciest gossip to austin@arktimes.com. More by Austin Gelder Search for: [ ] Search Sign up for our newsletters! Get top news stories, highlights of local entertainment and breaking news in your inbox. * [*] Daily Update A roundup of the latest news, delivered weekdays. * [*] Weekly Roundup Your source for Arkansas dining, culture and entertainment news, delivered Fridays. * [*] Events Be first to know about upcoming events and local promotions, delivered occasionally. [ ] Sign up Latest Arkansas guardsmen to putter around D.C. for another 90 days Arkansas guardsmen to putter around D.C. for another 90 days January 15, 2026 4:13 pmJanuary 15, 2026 4:13 pm Thursday open line Thursday open line January 15, 2026 4:00 pm Award-winning Palestinian-American poet to be in conversation with actress Debra Winger Saturday at Ron Robinson Theater Award-winning Palestinian-American poet to be in conversation with actress Debra Winger Saturday at Ron Robinson Theater January 15, 2026 3:53 pmJanuary 15, 2026 3:53 pm In capitulating to political pressure to fire new dean, U of A violated Constitution, ACLU says In capitulating to political pressure to fire new dean, U of A violated Constitution, ACLU says January 15, 2026 12:32 pmJanuary 15, 2026 12:32 pm * About Us * Contact Us * Advertise With Us * Events * Special Publications About Arkansas Times Founded in 1974, the Arkansas Times is a lively, opinionated source for news, politics & culture in Arkansas. 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