05/25/2026
The Center for Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform gathered on May 14 to celebrate a year defined by scholarship, service, mentorship, and meaningful impact across Arkansas and beyond.
The Center’s co-founder, Charles C. Baum Professor of Law and Center Director Anastasia Boles, presided over the evening, which included remarks from former Bowen professor and Center co-founder andré douglas pond cummings, now dean at Widener Law Commonwealth.
The evening honored three outstanding members of the Bowen community whose work reflects the Center’s mission and commitment to justice:
• Ariston Gray ’26, recipient of the cummings Student Award
• Zoya Miller ’22, recipient of the Alumni Award
• Brenda Stallings ’96, recipient of The Center Award, the Center’s highest honor
We are proud to celebrate these leaders for the ways they continue to serve their communities, advocate for others, and strengthen the legal profession through their work and example.
Pictured left to right in the honoree photo: Ariston Gray, Brenda Stallings, and Zoya Miller.
Pictured left to right in the group photo: Furonda Brasfield ’15 — the 2025 recipient of The Center Award, andré douglas pond cummings, Ariston Gray, Brenda Stallings, Zoya Miller, Anastasia Boles, and Dean Colin Crawford.
Congratulations to this year’s honorees and to everyone who helped make this another remarkable year for the Center.