Donor Impact Report 2024-2025

DONOR IMPACT REPORT FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025

INTRODUCTION

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Dean’s Message

School of Law at a Glance IMPACT STORIES

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Student Scholars Drive Policy Change

Signature Events, Lasting Influence: The Value of Support Judge Victor E. Bianchini ’63 (JD): A Life of Service, Vision, and Resilience Karen Hewitt ’89 (JD): Paving the Way for USD School of Law’s Future

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Fred Schenk ’78 (JD): Generations of Generosity

Toreros Helping Toreros

Family Support Goes the Extra Mile at USD School of Law Strengthened by Giving: Foundational Support Fuels USD Law’s New Eviction Negotiation Program Class of 1975: A Legacy Forged by Purpose, Perseverance, and Generosity Honoring Milestone Connections through Impactful Giving GIVING

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Graduation Class Gifts Make an Impact

Professor Roy L. Brooks: A Legacy of Justice, Scholarship, and Humanity

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Campaign Committee Lights the Way

Scholarship Student Gratitude

Fundraising in Action

A Message from the Student Bar Association

Maudsley Fellows Society 2024—25

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO SCHOOL OF LAW

Charting the Next Chapter at USD School of Law

Dear USD Law Alumni and Friends,

As we look back on another remarkable year at the University of San Diego School of Law, I am filled with gratitude for the generosity and dedication of our alumni, parents, faculty, and friends. Your gifts of time, talent, and resources continue to enrich the educational experience of every USD Law student. This year, your engagement has taken many forms—mentoring students, offering employment opportunities, contributing to scholarships and academic programs, and participating in events that strengthen our community. Each act of support makes a tangible difference in the lives of our students and in the continued excellence of the law school. That commitment is reflected in this year’s exceptional fundraising results. Nearly 900 alumni and friends came together to strengthen USD School of Law, contributing $9.9 million in support of the Facilities Improvement Campaign, the Dean’s Scholarship Initiative, the USD Legal Clinics, endowed

DEAN’S MESSAGE

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scholarships, student success programs, and more. These contributions enhance our programs and advance our mission to prepare ethical, accomplished, and compassionate students to become outstanding attorneys and leaders. Thanks to the combined success of Torero Tuesday (October 15, 2024) and the Big Give (April 9, 2025), our community raised over $1,232,000 in total support. Of that, nearly $224,468 was dedicated to student scholarships (including $60,000 for first-generation law students), $18,022 to the Annual Fund, and $34,620 to Academic Centers, Institutes, and Professorships. Each contribution represents a shared investment in our students’ future and in the mission that unites us—to prepare lawyers who lead with integrity, skill, and compassion. As we build on this momentum, I am deeply thankful for the trust you place in our mission and for the continued support of our law school and the priorities established in our USD Promise—to educate practice-ready lawyers equipped with the knowledge to best serve their clients, the legal community, and the justice system with great skill, creativity, and professionalism.

DEAN’S MESSAGE

Looking ahead, we are excited to expand experiential learning opportunities, invest further in our campus facilities, and strengthen programs that reflect our commitment to excellence and justice.

With your continued partnership, the coming year promises to be one of even greater impact and achievement.

On behalf of our entire law school community, thank you!

With gratitude,

Robert A. Schapiro Dean and C. Hugh Friedman Professor of Law

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WHAT A YEAR IT’S BEEN! SCHOOL OF LAW AT A GLANCE

Total Raised in Fiscal Year 2024-25 $ 9,876,013

Total Raised by 880 Donors $ 4.8 M

$ 936 K Distributed in 8 Cy Pres Awards

Total Raised in Grants $ 4.1 M

90+ 199 93

Maudsley Donors

Maudsley Fellows Society Membership includes donors with annual giving of $1,500+

Total Designations Funded

Including $382,734 – Children’s Advocacy Institute $230,350 – Veteran’s Legal Clinic $150,000 – Housing Rights Clinic Eviction Program

Class Years: 1974, 1984, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2014, 2019 Milestone Reunion Donors

Total Raised in Scholarships $ 1.3 M

Supported the Annual Fund $ 89 K

$ 1.6 M Supported the Facilities Improvement Fund

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STUDENT SCHOLARS DRIVE POLICY CHANGE

USD School of Law’s Consumer Protection Policy Center (CPPC) encourages students to pursue their dream projects with the help and support of focused scholarship support aimed at implementing real life policy changes. For eight years, the Julianne D. Fellmeth Public Interest Law Scholarship has inspired students to work on significant projects to improve the lives of others, including consumer access to licensing and discipline information, transparency in California’s supply chain, gun violence prevention, and the intersection of immigration and human trafficking. Virginia C. Nelson ’79 (JD) worked with former Director, Bridget Gramme to establish the Julianne D. Fellmeth Scholars Program and has prioritized her philanthropic support to worthwhile projects throughout USD, including this Scholars Program every year of its existence. This year, the caliber of student projects submitted for consideration warranted the selection of two Fellmeth Scholars for the 2025-26 academic year. In addition to Nelson’s funding, this year, students received additional financial support from Center for Public Interest Law (CPIL) Founder and former Executive Director and Price Professor of Public Interest Law Robert C. Fellmeth to support the additional student. Student Scholars will focus on projects to improve healthcare access for California’s vulnerable immigration community, develop

policy initiatives for California’s housing crisis, and establish greater reporting requirements and transparency for private post-secondary education grants. Public Interest law students take the education they receive from California Regulatory Law and the Public Interest courses and apply those skills to a “big idea” for using the law as a tool for positive change. Previous scholars achieved notable success, enhancing the trajectory of their legal careers while developing their advocacy skills as outstanding attorneys. Generous donations from CPPC supporters will continue to ensure future students receive the same scholarship opportunities and enter the legal world with life-changing experiences that set them miles apart from their peers. As an academic institution focused on the betterment of California’s public interest, your donation to CPPC helps make California communities safer and smarter, while providing the best opportunity for USD School of Law students to excel as public interest advocates.

IMPACT STORIES

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IMPACT STORIES

Mark W. Andrews, Kevin Masso ’25 (JD), and Virginia C. Nelson ’79 (JD)

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SIGNATURE EVENTS, LASTING INFLUENCE: THE VALUE OF SUPPORT Stanford Law Professor Ralph Richard Banks IMPACT STORIES

Signature events that bring together the legal community not only elevate the reputation and impact of the law school, but also create lasting value for the sponsors and attendees who make them possible. These gatherings showcase the school’s thought leadership, foster meaningful connections, and provide a platform for shared visibility and recognition. For donors and sponsors, supporting such events highlights their commitment to advancing legal education and justice, while attendees gain opportunities for engagement, inspiration, and networking within a vibrant community.

professionals, USD Law proudly hosts a variety of annual conferences and workshops.

• The Tax Speaker Series and Richard C. Pugh Lecture feature top tax scholars discussing current issues in tax law. With informative analysis on current trends and emerging U.S. and international tax law policies, this powerful series engages local tax lawyers, students and professors while memorializing the legacy of distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus, Richard Crawford Pugh. • Endowed lectures such as the Nathaniel L. Nathanson Memorial Lecture and the Joan E. Bowes-James Madison Distinguished Speaker Series attract prominent speakers

Renowned for its excellence in legal education for current students and practicing

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to discuss significant legal, diplomatic, governmental, and political issues.

• The Lesley L. McAllister Symposium on Climate & Energy Law, the USD Cyber Law & Risk Symposium, the Hugh & Hazel Darling Foundation Originalism Works-in Progress Conference, and the Patent Law Conference (PatCon) are significant annual events gathering professionals and scholars in their respective specialties from across the country. • The USD School of Law-Chamberlain International Tax Institute, held in Mérida, México, brings together top tax scholars from around the U.S. and Mexico to discuss tax topics of international importance and increase access to international tax knowledge and promote cross-border education and cooperation between tax attorneys, accountants, and financial experts. • The USD School of Law-RJS LAW Tax Institute is the premier tax event in San Diego. The region’s top tax attorneys, CPAs, and law/ business school professors discuss topics including government loan relief and abuses, challenges in cross-border transactions, and practical and realistic solutions in trust, estate planning, and tax matters. • The USD School of Law’s annual Class Action Law Forum (CALF) is held in collaboration with Western Alliance Bank and directly benefits USD law students in financial need. Students are proud to be Western

Scott Anders, California Energy Commissioner Nancy Skinner, and Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner

IMPACT STORIES

Prof. Adam Kern, Fordham School of Law Prof. Rebecca Kysar, Prof. Miranda Fleischer, and Prof. Michelle Layser

Alliance Bank Scholars. Attendees hear insights and take part in discussions on the most important developments and issues surrounding class actions and mass torts. Panelists include sitting federal judges and top defense and plaintiffs’ attorneys. Supporting the law school’s signature events is an investment in both the school’s future and your connection to it. Your generosity helps create meaningful experiences that inspire students, engage alumni, and strengthen the school’s reputation. It also offers you the opportunity to share in that success, expand your network, and see your impact come to life in a vibrant, engaged community.

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nearly every level of the legal system—state, federal, and beyond—culminating in nearly half a century on the bench. Today, his lifelong dedication to service continues through the establishment of the Judge Victor E. Bianchini Endowed Scholarship, created to open doors for law students whose challenges mirror those that shaped his own life and values. Judge Bianchini’s distinguished judicial career includes service as a State of California Superior Court judge and as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in multiple districts across the country, authoring over 2,000 published opinions listed on Westlaw and Lexis. He earned a reputation for fairness, diligence, and compassion—qualities that reflected his deep belief in the law as both a profession and a public calling. His decades on the bench were complemented by a parallel career of service to his country. A decorated Marine Corps colonel with 31 years of active and reserve duty, Judge Bianchini, a Vietnam and Desert Shield/Desert Storm veteran, with the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star w/Combat “V” and three Air Medals, carried forward his commitment to leadership and integrity from the courtroom to the battlefield and back again. Beyond the courtroom, Judge Bianchini’s discipline and drive have found expression in unexpected ways. A world-class saber fencer, he is a two-time World Team champion, a four-time Gold Medalist U.S. National Champion, a seven-time Gold Medalist at U.S. North American Championships, a multiple Gold medalist in the annual Canadian/American Championships, and a multi-medalist at the Maccabiah Games. His continued pursuit of

IMPACT STORIES

JUDGE VICTOR E. BIANCHINI ’63 (JD): A LIFE OF SERVICE,

VISION, AND RESILIENCE

For more than six decades, Judge Victor E. Bianchini ’63 (JD) has embodied the ideals of justice, perseverance, and service that define the University of San Diego School of Law. Judge Bianchini’s remarkable career has spanned

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excellence—well into his eighties—stands as a testament to his enduring spirit and belief in lifelong growth. As a result of his success in his sport, he will be inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on June 28, 2026. His next World Championship will be in Tbilisi, Georgia. His connection to the USD School of Law has remained strong since his graduation. As a former chair of the School of Law’s Board of Visitors, Judge Bianchini played an active role in shaping the institution’s trajectory and nurturing its mission to prepare ethical, skilled, and service-minded attorneys. His latest act of generosity reflects both gratitude for the education that launched his career and a profound empathy rooted in his family history. The Judge Victor E. Bianchini Endowed Scholarship is guided by five funding priorities that speak to his deepest values. The first supports law students who are visually impaired—a tribute to his mother, who was legally blind throughout her life. The second extends support to those who are involved with the USD Jewish Law Student Association or Hillel. The third priority provides aid to student leaders involved with the USD Law Alumni Association Board. Fourth, the scholarship will extend support to active-duty service members and military veterans pursuing a law degree, honoring the camaraderie and sacrifice that defined his own military service. The fifth ensures that, in all cases, financial need remains a guiding consideration, underscoring his belief that opportunity should never be limited by circumstance.

Through this endowment, Judge Bianchini aims to empower students who, like him, have faced challenges with courage and purpose. His legacy—woven through decades of public service, mentorship, and generosity—continues to inspire the next generation of USD School of Law graduates to pursue justice with integrity and compassion. For Judge Bianchini, giving back to USD is not merely an act of gratitude—it is a reaffirmation of the values that have shaped his extraordinary life and a promise to those who will follow in his footsteps.

IMPACT STORIES

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transformation of Warren Hall and the Pardee Legal Research Center. Karen is enthusiastic about the level of engagement and growing commitment of her fellow alumni, business leaders, community supporters, and luminaries of the bench and bar who recognize the value of supporting USD as an outstanding San Diego law school. Her leadership and that of her co-chairs, Dennis Doucette ’86 (JD) and Denise Hickey ’94 (JD), are helping to guide the law school toward its ambitious goal: creating state-of the-art learning and collaborative spaces that will prepare the next generation of lawyers for a rapidly evolving profession. With their vision and steady encouragement, they have inspired fellow alumni, colleagues, and friends of the law school to join in supporting the effort. Dennis, Karen, and Denise are eager to say, “join me” in designing a law school that will serve and educate this generation of legal professionals as well as generations to come. Hewitt’s philanthropic support underscores her belief in the power of education to strengthen the legal community and the San Diego region. Her personal generosity sets a powerful example, affirming that an investment in the School of Law is an investment in integrity, innovation, and the rule of law itself. “Karen’s leadership and dedication to this campaign embody the very best of our alumni community,” said Dean Robert Schapiro. “She is helping us build not only a stronger law school, but also a stronger foundation for the future of legal education.”

IMPACT STORIES

KAREN HEWITT ’89 (JD): PAVING THE WAY FOR USD SCHOOL OF LAW’S FUTURE Karen P. Hewitt ’89 (JD), distinguished alumna, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, and Regional Partner-in-Charge of California at Jones Day is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of the University of San Diego School of Law. As campaign co-chair of the School of Law’s efforts to advance overall financial support for students, programs, and faculty while also improving law school facilities, Hewitt brings both her professional expertise and her deep commitment to legal education to the forefront of this transformative effort.

Hewitt is generously investing one million dollars in support of this “once-in-a-lifetime”

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IMPACT STORIES

FRED SCHENK ’78 (JD): GENERATIONS OF GENEROSITY

Growing up as the son of immigrant parents, Fred Schenk ’78 (JD) was taught the importance of compassion, gratitude, kindness, and community service, which have significantly shaped his character. His father, a Holocaust survivor, along with his mother, instilled in him a great sense of compassion and a caring attitude towards others, as well as humility and a commitment to hard work. As a law alumnus, Schenk is the embodiment of USD’s mission and values, particularly his dedication to academic excellence, ethical conduct, community

engagement, and empathetic service to others. Leading a charitable life with the ethos of giving back as their motto, he and his wife Shari raised their children with the same strong sense of community involvement they admired in their own parents. With a strong multi-generational bond with USD, including his sister, Congresswoman Lynn Schenk ’70 (JD); brother-in-law, Professor of Law, C. Hugh Friedman; son, Benjamin ’20 (JD); and daughters, Michaela ’23 (MEd) and Sydney ’27 (expected JD), Schenk and Shari have made

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it their family’s mission to philanthropically support USD School of Law.

His career has always been about the people facing hardship, loss, and moments when they most need someone to stand up for them. Since earning his JD, he has spent more than four decades fighting for victims of corporate negligence and those harmed by unsafe practices, bringing empathy and determination to every case. Schenk achieved the largest San Diego verdict to date against asbestos manufacturer Owens Corning Fiberglass, securing the county’s highest-ever punitive damages and economic loss verdict in an asbestos case. He also represented Governor Gray Davis in winning the nation’s largest settlement against the tobacco industry, totaling more than $12 billion. In 2023, he was appointed by Judge Carolyn Kuhl of the Los Angeles Superior Court to the plaintiffs’ steering committee in coordinated litigation against major social media companies including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok. In 2025, Schenk, along with his sister, Lynn, and son, Benjamin, founded the Schenk Law Firm, specializing in personal injury, civil rights, business, environmental, and mass tort law. Through every case, Schenk remains guided by compassion and a deep sense of justice. His pro bono representation of a 9/11 victim’s family at no cost reflects his belief that the law is not only a profession but a calling to serve. Whether in the courtroom, mentoring young lawyers, or contributing to legal scholarship, he continues to embody USD’s mission to use the law as a force for the common good—and to make a difference where it matters most.

Individually, and as a partner at Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield, LLP, where he practiced for more than 41 years, Schenk has cultivated a legacy of financial contributions. Starting in 1981 and continuing through the Schenks’ present-day pledge of $500,000 in support of the law school’s facilities improvement campaign, they have demonstrated an enduring commitment to USD Law and its future. The family’s first gift to the law school was dedicated to the “More Hall Raising” Campaign. Coupled with their current interest in renovating Warren Hall, their contributions are meaningful bookends highlighting a desire to enhance the facility, reputation, and character of the law school that means so much to the entire Schenk family. Schenk continues to give back to his alma mater as a long-time member on the law school’s Board of Visitors, the Board’s Steering Committee, and the law school’s “Lighting the Way Forward” Law School Campaign Committee. In 2024, he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA), the highest recognition bestowed on law school graduates who have achieved exceptional success in the legal profession and exemplify the ethical values and dedication to community service that the School of Law aims to instill in its students. The following year, Schenk was awarded the University of San Diego’s Author E. Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award—the University’s highest Alumni Honor.

IMPACT STORIES

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From leadership roles with the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, to his governor appointed service on the board of the Del Mar Fairgrounds, to his longtime role on the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice, Schenk shows a consistent dedication to the well-being of others and to public service. His repeated appointments throughout the decades and administrations reflect not only trust and respect but also his ability to build inclusive communities. While he is an outstanding attorney and a committed public servant, Schenk’s greatest source of pride is his family. He and Shari have raised their children to follow their philanthropic, faithful, and charitable example. During the height of the Israel / Gaza conflict, Shari and their youngest daughter, Sydney, traveled to Israel to pick fruit that would otherwise rot in the orchards and farms and contributed to

finding a food relief solution. From childhood, their children were involved in community service at their synagogue, and Schenk’s son, Benjamin serves on the USD Law Alumni Board, the board of the San Diego Burn Center, and the Jewish Community Center board of directors. The family’s generosity reflects the same compassion that defined Schenk’s legal career—a genuine desire to help others and strengthen communities throughout the world. Their enduring support for USD School of Law, culminating in their recent $500,000 pledge to enhance the law school’s facilities, ensures that future generations of students will have the resources to learn, lead, and serve with integrity. Through their generosity, he, Shari and their family continue to model what it means to use their success in service of others and to advance the common good that lies at the heart of USD Law’s mission.

IMPACT STORIES

Congresswoman Lynn Schenk ’70 (JD), Benjamin Schenk ’20 (JD), Fred Schenk ’78 (JD), Shari Schenk, Michaela Schenk ’23 (MEd), and Dave Wise

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IMPACT STORIES

Julianne Odin ’18 (JD)

Prof. Margaret Dalton ’94 (JD)

TOREROS HELPING TOREROS

Each day, hundreds of students, faculty and staff pass through Warren Hall, united in the University of San Diego School of Law’s mission. Among the donors who sustain that mission, law faculty invest directly in students’ success. Many graduates say that while scholarships eased the burden, as students, they did not fully grasp the time and resources behind a legal education. “While I was very grateful for the generous scholarships I received as a law student, I did not realize how much time and money it takes to sustain a law school until I started working in the legal research clinic,”

said Julianne Odin ’18 (JD), a law reference librarian at the Pardee Legal Research Center.

For many faculty members, especially those who are alumni, giving is both a gesture of gratitude and an example to follow. “Giving back enables us to do more. Helping students with the financial cost of law school enables students to have a grounded, practical experience in what it means to represent clients, and helps community members who cannot afford legal representatives a great attorney,” said Professor of Law Margaret Dalton ’94 (JD).

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Faculty can also direct their gifts, confident that their support will not only be recognized but also used accordingly. Dalton notes, “You can choose where you want it to go which makes payroll deduction easy or you can make a special request. Legal clinics, where my heart is, does amazing things for the community and students.” The generosity provided by the faculty opens doors. Their support helps secure textbooks and study guides, fund scholarships easing financial strains, and strengthen the resources allowing our students to serve the community. “Orientation events, the wonderful JD as Me series, the Red Mass, panels put on by student organizations are so enriching for our students but take time and money to put on. These events expand the opportunities for students and, more importantly, give them a chance to interact with their friendly neighborhood Student Services Librarian,” Odin remarks. The Employee Giving Campaign ripples throughout the university. In 2025, University Housekeeping and Registrar teams achieved 100% participation, and the University Advancement, Building Maintenance, Heating, Custodial, Grounds and Transportation, and University Operations Central teams reached 95% participation. Gifts, whether directed to scholarships, programs, or colleges, reflect the dedication of USD employees and their commitment to the community. The result is an environment that enables future USD Law advocates to shine in classrooms, clinics and courtrooms, while improving lives across San Diego and beyond.

Law School Total Raised: $334,740

IMPACT STORIES

61% of USD Law Employees Contributed

Top Funds

$121,525 Law School Facility Improvements Fund $93,336 Law Student Scholarships $26,655 Law School Most Critical Needs

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IMPACT STORIES

John "Jay" ’00 (JD) and Rebekah G. Jurata ’07 (JD)

FAMILY SUPPORT GOES THE EXTRA MILE AT USD SCHOOL OF LAW

legal profession. You might not be surprised to learn that law school seems to be one of the best ways to meet and connect with those who will one day be part of your chosen family. The synergy created from these connections is worth celebrating as we say “thank you” for all that you have given to USD Law, our students and our inventive programs. The impact of the collective generosity of families, friends, and foundations is heartfelt and meaningful to the individual contributors

There is just something special that happens when families work together to support a cause they believe in! Never underestimate what dedicated fans of the law school can achieve by working with people they love and enjoy to support a mission they believe in. USD families proudly honor their law school experiences, and they work hard to pave the way for the next generation of eager students to make their mark as law students and ultimately as practitioners in the

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as well as the privileged recipients of their generosity. Their contributions exemplify how vision, integrity, and compassion can positively shape a student community dedicated to practicing law.

Partner and Community Association attorney representing master planned communities and high-rise developments—just to name a few. Erin Gibson ’03 (JD) and Sean Cunningham make an unbeatable team when it comes to litigating patent cases before the International Trade Commission or in federal district courts. These are opportunities that their family hopes to make available to graduates of USD School of Law. For five years, Erin and Sean have supported the DLA Life Science Scholarship because they believe in the strength of marrying a strong science background with an unbeatable legal education. As the Chair of the law school’s Board of Visitors, Erin knows what a significant difference scholarship support can make in the decision to pursue a law degree,

What Happens When the Whole Family Makes a Gift?

Amazing things is the answer to that question! John “Jay” ’00 (JD) and Rebekah G. ’07 (JD) Jurata, based in the fast-paced epicenter of Washington D.C., have built careers at the intersection of law and legislation. Together, they established a scholarship to support and guide students on their critical law school path—growing their support year after year as the need for scholarships increases, and the reputation of USD School of Law continues to rise exponentially. Ninety-six percent of the incoming class of 1L students at USD School of Law qualified for and received scholarship offers for the 2024-2025 academic year. Student scholars and the admissions team are grateful for all the Juratas and families like them who contribute to pave the way for dedicated students to earn their law degrees. Bruce ’90 (JD) and Laurie ’90 (JD) Poole saw a need to encourage students to pursue careers in transactional law. Seizing the opportunity to advance the careers of budding transactional law students, the Pooles set out to fund scholarships for those dedicated to the profession “outside the courtroom.” Bruce has enjoyed an innovative career as Director of Commercial Contracts at ViaSat, Inc., while Laurie has enjoyed a career as Co-Managing

IMPACT STORIES

Bruce ’90 (JD) and Laurie Poole ’90 (JD)

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attend USD School of Law, and practice in the legal profession. She is grateful for all that she was given as an entering student and often speaks about “paying it forward” with your philanthropy—a concept of repaying a good deed by doing a kindness for someone else instead of paying back the original benefactor. In Erin’s case, she has achieved both goals. She has more than paid back USD’s investment in her education while also paying forward for the next generation of young alumni. Those who have benefited from the exceptional generosity of USD law alumni are great in number and brimming with gratitude. Often, students proclaim they are without the words to adequately describe what it means to receive scholarships funded by people they have

never met. In some ways—it is bewildering to imagine what motivates people to care about others in this way. As students and donors prepare to meet one another for the first time at the University’s “Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon” each spring, it is astonishing to see the similarities between donors and the students they support. There are letters of appreciation, insightful conversations about plans for the future, but the best part of all is the shared sense of joy in knowing what it means to truly bless and to be blessed by someone’s acts of open generosity. While these are but a few examples of the impact made by scholarship supporters, at USD we celebrate and appreciate every single family who has sacrificed in order to support student scholarships.

IMPACT STORIES

Sean Cunningham and Erin Gibson ’03 (JD)

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Grand opening of the USD Housing Rights Clinic's Eviction Negotiation Office. Prof. Alysson Snow, cutting ribbon, joined by members of the USD Law community.

STRENGTHENED BY GIVING: FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT FUELS USD LAW’S NEW EVICTION NEGOTIATION PROGRAM

Located in the San Diego Law Library across the street from the downtown courthouse, the USD Housing Rights Clinic’s new Eviction Negotiation Program provides free legal assistance to low-income tenants in eviction negotiation proceedings. Tenants, on the day set for their trial, are now able to receive free legal assistance in negotiating a resolution to the threat of eviction. During the first phase of operation for the Eviction Negotiation Program, services will be limited to trials scheduled on Mondays. As additional funding becomes available, the law school will expand the program to include additional days of service.

The launch of the Eviction Negotiation Program was made possible through generous support from Price Philanthropies. The foundation’s early-stage investment established USD’s Housing Rights Legal Clinic. The foundation’s additional support enables the expansion of services through the Eviction Negotiation Program. These efforts are well aligned with Price Philanthropies holistic approach to supporting basic needs in order to improve life opportunities for youth, families and their communities. Addressing housing insecurity and providing opportunities for San Diegans to access justice enables law students to serve

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the community while gaining the practical experience necessary to become ethical, compassionate lawyers. “I’ve sat there in a courtroom and watched as three sets of households became homeless before 10 a.m.,” said Alysson Snow, Director of the Housing Rights Legal Clinic. “It’s brutal. All of that was preventable if they had legal counsel to help them negotiate a deal.” Snow estimates 80% of tenants facing eviction show up to their court proceeding without a lawyer. Without someone in their corner, tenants could be faced with homelessness, bad credit, an eviction on their record and, in turn, have a hard time securing housing in the future. “We’re able to get in there, help people know and understand their rights and obligations, analyze whether the tenants have viable defenses, and advise them of their legal options. Empowered with this knowledge and real legal representation, USD law students and supervising attorneys provide meaningful negotiation assistance to help tenants work out a deal with the property owner to avoid eviction,” Snow said. Prior to seeing a judge, tenants are required to negotiate a deal on the day of their court proceeding with their landlords. Without legal counsel, Snow believes many tenants are left in the dark on the best strategies for resolving their case.

On the day of a tenant’s eviction trial, Snow and her team of law students from the Housing Rights Clinic appear at the San Diego County courthouse in front of Dept 501 to ask if any tenants need legal assistance for their case. If tenants agree, the law students, alongside Snow, will sit down with the tenants, interview them, inform them of their rights, and negotiate for them—all for free. The program is free to qualified clients, and students take on the cases under Snow’s supervision. Students get hands-on legal experience while helping the community in the process, which is the foundation upon which USD’s Legal Clinics are built. The USD Legal Clinics provide free legal services to San Diego County residents while providing practical legal skills as students represent real clients in real cases. In 2024, students logged more than 18,500 hours for clients and closed more than 500 cases. Community support makes this work possible. The University of San Diego School of Law is deeply grateful to Price Philanthropies, The Lawyers Club of San Diego, and the San Diego Bar Foundation, just to name a few visionary supporters whose generosity helps sustain and expand programs that protect housing rights and strengthen our community. Philanthropic partners provide the necessary resources to fund essential services for San Diegans in need but also inspire the next generation of lawyers to lead with purpose, empathy, and a commitment to justice.

IMPACT STORIES

That’s where the Eviction Negotiation Program comes in.

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IMPACT STORIES

University of San Diego and USD School of Law Class of 1975

CLASS OF 1975: A LEGACY FORGED BY PURPOSE, PERSEVERANCE,

AND GENEROSITY The members of the USD School of Law Class of 1975 arrived on campus shaped by history long before they ever opened a casebook. They were raised by families who survived the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and two World Wars as children of the Greatest Generation. They came from households built by immigrants and military veterans, farmers and teachers, doctors and lawyers, and everyday American heroes whose quiet sacrifices laid the foundation for opportunity. From an early age,

they learned resilience, responsibility, and the importance of contributing to something larger than themselves. Thriving Through Uncertainty When they entered law school, the world around them was anything but stable. The Vietnam War was drawing to a close. The Watergate hearings unfolded daily, shaking the nation’s confidence in political leadership and the systems of government themselves. For many, it was a time of profound questioning about institutions,

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authority, and the future they were preparing to inherit. And yet, they thrived.

an endowed professorship, an endowed scholarship, and during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Class Fellowship to support student employment when students needed it most.

They did so through self-reliance, tenacity, courage, and an unshakable belief that the law could be a force for good. Law school was tough then, as it is now, and this class was forged by fire. They pushed through demanding coursework, intense debates, and the pressure of preparing for professions that were still new to women and to those who would be the first in their families to practice law. Barriers existed, but slowing down was never an option. What truly bonded them may be impossible to pinpoint. But if you ask them, many will tell you it was their collective and singular sense of humor. An ability to find joy in hard work. A willingness to laugh together, even when the challenges were serious. That spirit carried them forward into careers marked by service, leadership, and impact. A Half-Century of Connection Over the next five decades, this class never lost touch with one another or with USD School of Law. Through a classmate’s delightful newsletter, shared vacations, and meaningful alumni celebrations, they stayed connected. More importantly, they stayed committed. The Class of 1975 dedicated itself to paving the road for the next great generation of legal professionals. As devoted supporters of USD School of Law, they worked together to establish In time, they became what we now proudly call the Great Class of 1975 .

Now, once again, they are stepping forward.

A Million-Dollar Milestone As USD School of Law embarks on an ambitious vision to renovate Warren Hall, modernize the Legal Research Center, and dream boldly about a new addition to the law school, the Class of 1975 has answered the call. Their 50th Anniversary goal was to raise $1 million to support this transformational effort. Remarkably, they surpassed their goal with six months to spare before their October 2025 50-year reunion. This generosity is not about bricks and mortar alone. It is about ensuring that future students have the spaces, tools, and opportunities needed to learn, collaborate, and prepare for a profession that continues to evolve. It is about honoring the values that shaped the Class of 1975 while investing in the students who will define the decades ahead. We pause to offer our deepest gratitude to the Class of 1975: for their loyalty, their leadership, and their belief in the power of education and community. Their legacy is visible not only in the funds they have raised, but in the generations of students they continue to uplift.

IMPACT STORIES

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Words from the Heart Just before classmates stepped forward to receive their Golden Torero medallions from President James T. Harris, Steve Hunsicker reflected on the importance of this moment and why it matters so deeply to him and to his classmates and why supporting the future of USD School of Law remains as urgent and meaningful today as it was 50 years ago. Harkening back to their first days on campus, Hunsicker credited their shared success to the professors who challenged them and the classmates who supported them. Hunsicker voiced the collective gratitude of the class when he expressed appreciation for the opportunity to give back to the law school at critical and historical inflection points over the past five decades, including professorships to support the hiring of exceptional members of the faculty, scholarships to enhance USD’s rankings by recruiting and retaining outstanding law school candidates, fellowships to build upon success in graduate employment and hiring, and now most of all, as the law school embarks on a plan to upgrade its facilities to meet the everchanging landscape of legal education and continue to grow the reputation of USD School of Law. Accentuating his point, Hunsicker went on to quote renowned American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead,“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Mead stood for the principle,“Significant, lasting social or cultural change rarely comes from top-down, massive movements initially, but rather begins with a dedicated, focused, and passionate few.”

Robert ’75 (JD) and Leslie Hanna

Interim Provost Nicholas Santilli, Sandi Santilli, Mary Harris, and President James T. Harris III, DEd

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IMPACT STORIES

USD School of Law Classes of 2019, 2014, 2004, 1999, 1994, and 1984

HONORING MILESTONE CONNECTIONS THROUGH IMPACTFUL GIVING Classes of 2019, 2014, 2004, 1999, 1994, 1984, and 1974 Fellowships, Scholarships, and the Children’s Advocacy Institute (CAI).

USD School of Law annually celebrates the enduring bonds formed within Warren Hall by welcoming back our Milestone Reunion Classes. These gatherings are more than a chance to reminisce; they are a powerful demonstration of alumni commitment to our current and future students. Through their collective Reunion Class Gifts, alumni honor their shared history by investing directly in the future of USD Law. For the 2024 Milestone Reunion Classes, this support—in addition to ongoing named class scholarships— was designated to Law School Facilities,

This unified commitment ensures we can sustain the USD Promise, providing essential resources for: • Empowering hands-on practice experience during law school • Enhancing career services to secure meaningful post-graduation employment

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insecurity is an issue for many law students at USD, and the Class of 2025 rallied in support of the Writs Lounge Healthy Food Pantry. It is a thoughtful way to support law students affected by food scarcity. In appreciation for a $25+ donation to the Class of 2025 Graduation Gift fund, donors were presented with a blue, white, and silver philanthropy cord to be worn as a mark of distinction during the graduation ceremony. Overwhelming support helped to stock the Food Pantry well into the future. It is refreshing to see the impact other classes have made through their Graduation Class Gift Campaigns at the law school.

GIVING

Last year, the Class of 2025 walked proudly across the stage as they received their graduation certificate. To the friends and families of the graduates, it was exciting to watch law students accept their diplomas. A wonderful celebration of student accomplishments, commencement also lends time to reflect on the support of family, friends, faculty and donors that made each law school experience possible. At USD School of Law, it is also a time when graduating students mark this important milestone by giving back to students who will one day follow in their footsteps. It is the perfect opportunity to cement their bond as a class while also helping to make the USD School of Law a better place for law students. The Class of 2025 began their School of Law alumni legacy with a gift about which they felt strongly. Food GRADUATION CLASS GIFTS MAKE AN IMPACT

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GIVING

PROFESSOR ROY L. BROOKS: A LEGACY OF JUSTICE, SCHOLARSHIP, AND HUMANITY

After 47 years at the University of San Diego School of Law, Warren Distinguished Professor of Law Professor Roy L. Brooks concludes an extraordinary career defined by groundbreaking scholarship, fearless inquiry, and deep compassion. His retirement marks the close of one of the most distinguished chapters in the school’s history and the beginning of a legacy that will continue to shape generations of students and scholars through the newly established Roy Brooks Fund for Social Justice.

Professor Brooks joined USD in 1979, recruited personally by then-Provost, Sister Sally Furay, who saw in him both a brilliant legal mind and a visionary educator. He became the first Black faculty member at the University, a milestone that transformed the community and deepened USD’s commitment to inclusion and academic excellence. Over the next five decades, Professor Brooks set a standard for what it means to be both a scholar and a servant of justice.

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A graduate of Yale Law School, where he served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal , Professor Brooks clerked for Judge Clifford Scott Green and practiced at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York before being drawn to academia. His scholarship spans more than 20 books and 100 articles, redefining fields from civil rights theory and jurisprudence to international human rights and reparations. Among his acclaimed works are Integration or Separation? (Harvard University Press), Atonement and Forgiveness (University of California Press), The Racial Glass Ceiling (Yale University Press), and Diversity Judgments (Cambridge University Press).

written word: generations of students remember him as a mentor who demanded rigor, fostered curiosity, and embodied kindness. For many, his influence has been nothing short of life-changing. The reflections of USD Law alumni Shannon Finley ’13 (JD), Vickie Turner ’82 (JD), and Charlotte Hasse ’05 (JD) capture the depth and breadth of his impact on their education, careers, and, most importantly, on who they have become as people. For Finley, Professor Brooks transformed uncertainty into confidence. As a first generation law student, she found his classes both challenging and empowering—a place where all viewpoints were welcomed. He

GIVING

Dean Robert Schapiro describes Brooks as a “fearless teacher and pioneering scholar whose

work has reshaped the way we think about law, justice, and democracy.” He is a two-time University Professor, the university’s highest academic distinction, and has received the Thorsnes Prize for both outstanding teaching and scholarship, the Thurgood Marshall Award, and the Virgil Hawkins Award, among many others. His influence extends far beyond the ‘‘ Professor Roy Brooks’ fearless scholarship and boundless humanity have shaped generations of lawyers and thinkers. His legacy of justice will continue to thrive through the Roy Brooks Fund for Social Justice. – DEAN ROBERT SCHAPIRO personally encouraged her to pursue a federal clerkship she never believed was within reach, an opportunity that launched her career. As she put it, “He just influenced my life in such a profound way in that only teachers can.” Though Turner was not his classroom student, she formed a decades-long mentorship

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with him beginning in her first year. She remembers his humility, humor, and unwavering commitment to fairness. “What has always stayed with me is his unwavering sense of fairness and respect for the dignity and worth of all people.” She recalls his joy in writing and his deep devotion to teaching as his true calling. For Hasse, Professor Brooks has been a lifelong mentor, shaping not only her approach to law but her approach to life. Their ongoing conversations taught her to engage with differing perspectives honestly and thoughtfully. His “Right/Wrong Answer” philosophy— recognizing growth even in imperfect answers— continues to guide her leadership. “I know I wouldn’t be the person I am today without his influence.” Together, these alumni reflect the legacy of a teacher whose impact extends far beyond the classroom and empowers students to think deeply, act with integrity, and carry forward a commitment to justice that defines his life’s work. Through his lectures and writings, Professor Brooks challenged prevailing assumptions about race, power, and equality in America, urging his students to think deeply and speak truthfully. His approach, as he once described it, was “at once familiar and radical,” rooted in the belief that character and scholarship are inseparable, and that law must always serve humanity. To honor his enduring impact, the School of Law has established the Roy Brooks Fund for Social Justice. This fund will support visiting

scholars, speakers, and faculty whose work advances the principles Professor Brooks has championed throughout his career: civil rights, human dignity, and the non-negotiable pursuit of justice. As Dean Schapiro noted, “This fund ensures that his work not only endures but continues to spark change for generations to come.” At a celebration marking his final public lecture, USD President James T. Harris called Brooks “a courageous scholar, a pioneering legal thinker, a model of the teacher-scholar ideal, and a living embodiment of our university’s mission to confront humanity’s challenges, foster peace, work for justice, and lead with love.” Though Professor Brooks’ tenure in the classroom is coming to a close, his legacy remains vibrant in every student he inspired, every colleague he mentored, and every reader moved by his words. His light, and his life’s work, will continue to guide the USD School of Law towards the just and compassionate world he envisioned.

GIVING

Dorothy Couchman ’24 (JD), Anna Capati ’24 (JD), Prof. Roy L. Brooks, Jacqueline Isaac ’09 (JD), and Amalea Romero ’17 (JD)

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