LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Lyon College has appointed Samuel McLelland as general counsel, bringing extensive legal, government and higher education experience to the institution as it continues a period of significant growth across Arkansas.
McLelland will serve as chief legal officer for the Lyon College System, which includes the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Batesville, the School of Dental Medicine in Little Rock, which welcomed its inaugural class in 2025, and the School of Veterinary Medicine in Cabot, which is scheduled to open in 2027, pending accreditation.
A native of North Little Rock, McLelland earned a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry, magna cum laude, from the University of Arkansas. Before attending law school, he worked for U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He earned his law degree from Emory University School of Law and later served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
Following his clerkship, McLelland entered private practice, focusing on complex federal litigation, employment law and corporate matters.
Lyon College President Dr. Melissa Taverner said McLelland’s legal expertise, leadership experience and understanding of higher education make him a valuable addition to the institution’s executive team.
“Sam has seamlessly stepped into this role and has already made an immediate impact,” Taverner said. “His legal expertise, sound judgment and commitment to our mission will be invaluable as Lyon College continues to expand through the development of our dental and veterinary schools while strengthening our undergraduate and graduate programs.”
McLelland said he is honored to join Lyon College during one of the most transformative periods in its history.
“I am honored and energized to join Lyon College at such a pivotal moment,” McLelland said. “Lyon is boldly charting new territory in Arkansas higher education, and the opportunity to serve as general counsel as the college launches Arkansas’s first dental school and veterinary school is truly extraordinary. I am equally committed to supporting Lyon’s long-standing dedication to academic excellence in its undergraduate programs, the foundation upon which everything Lyon is building rests.”
McLelland’s connection to higher education extends beyond his legal career. As an undergraduate at the University of Arkansas, he worked in university housing, and while attending law school, he worked in Greek life and housing. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
As general counsel, McLelland will provide legal guidance and strategic counsel across the Lyon College System, supporting institutional growth, governance, compliance, risk management and the continued development of the college’s academic and professional programs.
