USD School of Law Welcomes Four New Faculty Members
The new additions are professors Timothy Peterkin, John Miscione, Kelly Collinsworth and Ann Tweedy.
Professor Timothy Peterkin earned both his juris doctorate and bachelor’s degree in English literature at North Carolina Central University. Having worked in the legal education arena since 2007, Peterkin joins USD Law with a mission to develop and maintain a robust academic support program that aids all students in their journey to becoming licensed attorneys. The school’s academic support program offers a series of voluntary and mandatory opportunities for the students to master complex material and to prepare for the bar exam.
"I am excited about my transition to USD Law," Peterkin said. "I look forward to working with the rest of the faculty and staff to equip our students for successful careers as Coyote lawyers."
Professor John Miscione earned his J.D. from Rutgers University at Newark, his M.B.A. in finance at New York University, Stern School of Business and his B.A. in history at John Hopkins University. Miscione will serve as director of the Low Income Federal Tax Clinic and teach tax clinic I and II as well as other courses going forward. He has an extensive financial background as well as experience in tax controversy, federal constitutional appellate practice, intellectual property law and criminal law. Most recently, he has been teaching the U.S. military overseas as well as providing pro bono legal advice to that community.
“I am very honored to be taking on this role and hope to be a strong contributor to USD and South Dakota generally,” said Miscione.
Professor Kelly Collinsworth earned her J.D. at the Ohio State University and her B.A. in political science at Georgetown College. Collinsworth will develop experiential programs to help students prepare for their role as a representative of clients, an officer of the legal system and a public citizen having special responsibility for the quality of justice. In her time in legal education, Collinsworth was able to incorporate service learning opportunities, clinics, civic education, practical coursework assignments and even Harry Potter to help prepare students to become successful practitioners. She has also continued an active public interest law practice for 22 years working for both legal aid and as a criminal prosecutor.
"When I finished law school and moved back home to the hills of eastern Kentucky, I never envisioned that over twenty years later I would move my family to South Dakota,” Collinsworth said. "But, we have felt very welcome here, and happy to see some hills in the distance, and are excited to be a part of a university and a town with aspirations to do great things."
Professor Ann Tweedy will join USD Law in the spring semester. She earned her J.D. at University of California, Berkeley School of Law, her M.F.A. in creative writing at Hamline University and her A.B. in English and philosophy at Bryn Mawr College. Tweedy will join the faculty at USD School of Law as an associate professor with a focus on Federal Indian Law and Tribal Law. She has 11 years of experience representing tribal governments, most recently the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, and she has previously taught at Michigan State College of Law, California Western School of Law, Tulsa University College of Law and Hamline University School of Law. She is currently the chair of the Federal Bar Association’s Indian Law Section.
"I am excited to join the dedicated and close-knit community of faculty and students at USD School of Law,” said Tweedy. "It is a great honor to continue Frank Pommersheim’s legacy in the field of Tribal Law and Federal Indian Law and to be able to teach in a state so rich in Native culture."
