Howard Payne University’s Lorianna Kelley, assistant professor of political science, was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the American Collegiate Moot Court Association (ACMA) for the 2015-2016 academic year. Kelley has served as adviser for HPU’s Moot Court team since 2013.

In both 2013 and 2014, HPU teams won the Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Association (TUMCA) regional competition and advanced to the national ACMA tournament. During the most recent national tournament, HPU students advanced to semifinals for the first time in more than a decade.

Kelley, a 2002 graduate from HPU’s Guy D. Newman Honors Academy, also serves as adviser for HPU’s new Mock Trial team which brought home a sportsmanship award from their first tournament in January.

“I’m very proud of Professor Kelley and the accomplishments she has achieved during her time at HPU, both as a student and as a faculty member,” said Dr. Justin D. Murphy, HPU’s Brand professor of history, dean of the School of Humanities and director of the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy. “She will be an excellent addition to the ACMA’s Board of Directors.”

Pictured above: Lorianna Kelley, center, is pictured with HPU Moot Court students Katie Rose Bonner, a May 2015 graduate, and Isaac Sommers, sophomore, who advanced to the semifinals at a national tournament in January.