By DEBORAH BEHRENDS Indiana Correspondent INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and Purdue University College of Agriculture have announced the members of the steering committee that will design the two schools’ joint agricultural law program, which was announced in October 2017. Members of the committee include: •Harrison Pitman, The National Ag Law Center •Tom Wilson, McKinney School of Law •Shawn Donkin, Purdue College of Agriculture •Sarah Simpson, Indiana State Board of Animal Health •Bill Even, National Pork Board •John Newton, American Farm Bureau Federation •Brandt Hershman, Barnes & Thornburg •Ron Walker, The Nature Conservancy •Eric Hobson, Dow AgroSciences •Kathy Mayberry, AgReliant Genetics LLC •Maria Marshall, McKinney School of Law Amy Cornell is serving as the director of the program. She said the idea for the collaboration came from Hershman when he was serving on Purdue’s Dean’s Advisory Council. The Commission for Higher Education did a report in 2016 about the feasibility of such a program, and Cornell said the General Assembly provided seed money in 2017; she was hired last fall to organize a steering committee. “I am the product of a family farm and a longtime believer in strengthening Indiana’s presence in agricultural law, having funded the creation of the program during my tenure in the Indiana State Senate,” Hershman said. “This program, bringing together key assets from IU and Purdue, will strengthen Indiana’s ag sector, give students the opportunity to become top lawyers in a growing specialty area of law and enhance the educational offerings of our state’s world-leading public universities.” A graduate of the McKinney School of Law, Cornell has an extensive background in ag law, from teaching and private practice, to governmental policy and working as a lobbyist. As for the steering committee, she said, “Each person on the committee was chosen for their specific skill set and perspective on agricultural law. I am thrilled that they have agreed to share their time and talents to develop this very exiting program.” “I am excited about the opportunity to build programming in the area of agricultural law,” said McKinney Dean Andrew R. Klein, when the collaboration was announced. “We are well-positioned to do so, given our location in the heart of the Midwest and the strong support we have received from Indiana’s leaders in the legislature.” Cornell believes the time is right for this type of program, partly because not many such initiatives exist nationwide. “We’re seeing the need for more sophistication as businesses grow. Because agriculture is a specialized area of law, you don’t have time in law school to cover exceptions,” she explained. “There’s more of a focus on the agribusiness industry as things get more sophisticated. Lawyers are like doctors; most training is specialized. We’re offering the ability to specialize and to attract talent both nationally and internationally.” The steering committee began working in late March and will meet next on May 10. Cornell said the goal for that meeting is to create the initial framework for the program. The discussion among committee members includes the level of degree offered – a bachelor’s degree versus a juris doctorate. “We’re looking at all the different degree options and resources available. The steering committee is sorting through that right now,” Cornell said. She noted the legislative intent of the program is a focus on collaboration between the two institutions, using resources from both. The program is expected to get underway by the fall 2019 semester. |
