Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) has announced the addition of four new faculty members for the 2026-2027 academic year. Holly Whitehill, Katherine Goodner, Alexander Nicoll, and Kacey Hovden have joined the law school as assistant professors, bringing extensive experience in legal practice, advocacy, academic support, and legal education.
“Our four new faculty members bring an incredible wealth and diversity of legal experience to the Duncan School of Law, and each one of them is dedicated to and exemplifies our law school’s mission,” said Vice President and Dean Matt Lyon. “We are fortunate to add them to our experienced faculty as colleagues, teachers, and mentors to our students.”
Whitehill brings nearly three decades of experience in legal education, academic support, and bar exam preparation to LMU Law. As both a law professor and bar preparation instructor and mentor, she has helped thousands of students successfully prepare for the bar exam. She most recently served as director of bar exam essay and performance test development for Kaplan Exam Services, where she built a nationwide system for drafting and reviewing bar examination questions while training teams of law professors and legal professionals. She also has extensive practice experience as a medical malpractice and insurance defense attorney.
Whitehill earned her J.D., cum laude, from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, graduating in the top 10 percent of her class, and holds a bachelor’s degree in business and public management from the State University of New York Utica and an associate degree in hotel and restaurant management from Paul Smith’s College, both completed summa cum laude. Whitehill is admitted to practice in Michigan and several federal courts and is the author of Michigan Bar Exam Essay Deconstruction.
“I am delighted to join the LMU faculty and its student-supportive environment and look forward to helping LMU students succeed in law school, on the bar exam, and in practice,” said Whitehill.
Goodner joins LMU Law following an accomplished career in private practice, business leadership and legal education. She is a shareholder and vice president at Long, Ragsdale & Waters, P.C., where her practice includes tax controversy, commercial litigation, fraud and embezzlement investigations, estate and trust litigation, contract negotiation, and outside general counsel services for businesses.
She earned an LL.M. in taxation from Boston University, a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Tennessee College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in English, cum laude, from Wake Forest University. Goodner is a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 mediator and has held leadership roles with the Tennessee Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley. Her scholarship has appeared in the Berkeley Business Law Journal and the American Bar Association’s Tax Times.
“I’m really excited to be using my experience to work with students and help them transition into law school,” said Goodner.
Nicoll joins LMU Law after serving as in-house counsel for various business entities throughout the region. His corporate positions have included General Counsel, Chief HR Officer and Corporate Board Secretary. Before entering the corporate sector, he served active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps as a judge advocate general (JAG), advising commanders on legal and ethical issues and representing clients in criminal and administrative matters.
Nicoll earned his J.D. from Louisiana State University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Rhodes College. His honors include recognition on the Knoxville News Sentinel’s East Tennessee 40 Under 40 list and two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals.
“I am very excited to join the faculty of LMU Law. Being able to contribute to the learning of the next generation legal minds is a true privilege, and I hope to bring my experience to enhance the classroom experience,” said Nicoll.
Hovden comes to LMU Law from the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, where she serves as an environmental justice staff attorney representing communities on matters of environmental protection, public health and government accountability. Her practice has included complex litigation, regulatory advocacy, community education and mentoring law students and undergraduate interns. She also serves as co-chair of the National Lawyers Guild’s New Mexico chapter, where she established a bar preparation scholarship for third-year law students, and previously served as senior program manager for the Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project.
She earned her J.D., cum laude, with a certificate in environmental and natural resources law from Lewis & Clark Law School and a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, with a minor in legal studies, from Briar Cliff University. Hovden is admitted to practice before the New Mexico State Bar and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.
“I am excited to join the LMU law team and support the growth of the next generation of lawyers centered on serving underrepresented communities in Appalachia and beyond,” said Hovden.
The Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law is located in Knoxville’s Historic Old City Hall Building. LMU Law is an integral part of LMU’s values-based learning community and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of lawyers to provide sound legal service throughout Appalachia and beyond.
