Law Professors Going Back to School

Both this academic year and last year in the LL.M. Program in Agricultural & Food Law, we have had the honor of hosting visiting scholars, law professors from other schools that attended the LL.M. Program as degree candidates.

Last year, Professor Tae Huan Keum came to study with us for his sabbatical from the Seoul National University in Korea. While in the Program, he researched and wrote an article on the regulation of U.S. beef and the risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE or "Made Cow" disease), a major issue in U.S. trade negotiations with South Korea. I  recently received an email from him that referenced his "wonderful experience in Fayetteville" where he was able to  "meet the issues of the American agriculture, smart students, enthusiastic professors, and the Razorback Football team. . . From the introduction to American agriculture to all the classes including Food, Farming, Sustainability, I was given new insights and was made to consider solutions to the problems of agriculture."

This year, we are proud to host Professor Martha Dragich, James S. Rollins Professor of Law at University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law.  Her interest in food law and our food system led her to study with us, and she has provided a significant contribution to our studies so far this year.  Her impressive publication record and her thoughtful approach to scholarship has led many of our young scholars to seek out her advice. And, the food she has prepared for the class has been amazing.  Indeed, we met the "Slow Food Challenge" at Martha's house this fall!  Martha is also a talented photographer, and she has allowed us to use her photos of produce at the Fayetteville Farmers Market on our brochures.

This year's class also includes Volha Samasuk, Senior Lecturer, Belarusian State University Law Department, Minsk, Belarus. Volha was interested in our program because of her work with international food safety and quality standards through the Belarus Food Safety Improvement Project of the International Finance Corporation in The World Bank Group.  She has also been a fantastic contributor -  sharing the world of Belaraus with us, and most recently, the secrets of Eastern European potato pancakes at the end of the semester party!

We are fortunate to have these professors with us. We hope that their example encourages others to take a year, or even just semester off to "return to school" and study with us.  We can all learn from each other!