Excellence in Teaching: Faculty Impact
Faculty members are more than educators; they are mentors, scholars and practitioners who seamlessly intertwine academic rigor and real-world experience into course structure.
Their accessibility, leadership and passion for the rule of law leaves students inspired to think critically, advocate effectively and approach their legal careers with the Knudson School of Law’s key values in mind. The following highlights one of fourteen full-time faculty members imparting excellence, service and leadership through their shared commitment to student success.
A Passion for Legal Education
Assistant Professor Michael McKey, J.D., teaches courses like Foundations of Lawyering and Critical Legal Skills as well as several workshops designed to foster students’ ability to succeed in law school. He believes excitement is an essential element in any lesson plan.
“I’ve always thought that if I can’t be excited to teach the material, then I can’t expect them to be excited to learn it,” said McKey. “I’ve found my teaching style translates best when I am energetically invested in the class. I’m excited about the things that I teach, and I think excitement is infectious.”
As the director of academic excellence and bar preparation, he is one of the first people students meet, usually at an orientation academic success workshop, and the last person they engage with before taking the bar exam and beginning their careers. McKey’s enthusiasm is a constant companion for USD’s law students.
“At orientation, most of the time students are excited and nervous. I want to show them it’s okay to be excited, to be nervous and to be scared. And, I want to bring that energy through to the end,” said McKey. “This is not a process most people go through without a gut punch or two, and I want students to know that is okay.”
McKey remembers his law school experience as life-changing. It is one of the reasons he is so passionate about his career. The other reason is fueled by the USD Knudson School of Law’s tight-knit community of alumni, faculty, students and staff. The 8.7:1 student-to-faculty ratio creates an environment where individual student success can be a priority.
For McKey, that means getting to witness a student’s personal journey to become a legal leader.
“I see a wild transformation over the course of a student’s journey at the law school,” said McKey. “I see them put the hood on at graduation, and I think, ‘This is why I do this.’ Because I remember you, I know what you looked like coming in the door, and look at you now. It’s amazing.”
When students leave USD’s law school after three years of study, they possess knowledge that creates opportunities. McKey is devoted to the Knudson School of Law’s promise to produce principled members of the legal world who use that knowledge responsibly.
“The knowledge they have when they leave is powerful. It opens doors and creates opportunities. Therefore, I strive to instill the importance of practicing in good faith,” said McKey. “So they go out there and work hard but do it the South Dakota way—not just the knowledge of what a contract is, but with community and care.”
You May Also Like
Excellence at Work: Celebrating the Class of 2025
Recent graduates of the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law have stepped into the legal profession with confidence. They left the halls of USD’s law school equipped with the knowledge to pursue their dream careers.
USD Knudson School of Law Alumni Honored for Their Legacy
Graduates of the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law become leaders in the legal field and cultivate the legacy of USD’s law school.
Capitol Hill Excellence
With their J.D. in hand, several University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law alumni have pursued careers in the nation’s most powerful legal hallways. Their journeys illustrate how a law school in the Midwest can be the launching point for successful careers on Capitol Hill.
