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Jennifer LaPrade Elected to American Mock Trial Association Board of Directors
Criminology and Criminal Justice associate professor has been elected to the Board of Directors of the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), becoming the only board member from Texas
Dr. Jennifer LaPrade, associate professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at The University of Texas at Arlington, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), the national governing body for undergraduate competitive mock trial.
LaPrade was elected as a full board member in May 2026 following a multi-year pathway toward board membership. She is currently the only board member from Texas and one of only two representatives from the Southwest region of the United States.
AMTA provides the structure for undergraduate mock trial competition across the country, overseeing tournament administration, rules, and annual case materials for more than 800 university teams nationwide. As a member of the board, LaPrade will contribute to the organization's national leadership and the continued development of collegiate mock trial.
The appointment builds on LaPrade's 15 years of involvement in undergraduate mock trial. Her experience spans nearly every aspect of the activity, including serving as a competitor, coach, judge, and tournament director.
At UTA, LaPrade brings that experience into her work with students in Criminology and Criminal Justice and UTA Mock Trial, where competition provides students with opportunities to strengthen skills in advocacy, critical thinking, public speaking, teamwork and legal analysis.
Her election to the AMTA Board of Directors extends that commitment to the national level while bringing UTA representation to an organization that helps shape the competitive and educational experiences of thousands of undergraduate students across the country.