1/1/2025

Boyd School of Law Endowments

Endowment Fund donations make a long-term impact, in perpetuity, which benefits more students and programs over time. Special appreciation is extended to endowment donors whose gifts ensure the stability of legal education. An endowment wall was established on the first floor of the law school to recognize these funds. 

Adrian Karimi Endowed Scholarship

Adrian Karimi immigrated to the United States with his mother when he was five years old and grew up in Los Angeles, California. He pursued his undergraduate studies at UCLA, earning a Bachelor’s degree in History with a cum laude designation. Adrian then relocated to Las Vegas to attend the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV graduating in 2014. Throughout his experiences in the courts and private practice, Adrian discovered his passion for representing individuals and found never-ending inspiration for stories about personal struggles, achievements, and paths to redemption. He established this endowed fund to help future generations of first-generation students studying to be attorneys.

Honorable Philip M. Pro Professorship Endowment 

Established through generous donations from the 25th anniversary fundraising campaign to honor the remarkable community contributions and enduring legacy of Judge Pro. Judge Philip M. Pro served as a United States District Judge for over 27 years, an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada, Deputy Attorney General for the Nevada Gaming Division, and a civil litigator. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of a law school in Nevada and has generously devoted his time and expertise to mentoring students for over three decades.

Justice Michael L. Douglas PreLaw Endowment 

Established by a generous seed gift from Will T. and Brianne M. Sykes, this fund supports educational opportunities for students from underrepresented communities to learn more about the benefits of legal education. The Honorable Michael L. Douglas was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nevada in March 2004, and thereafter elected three times. He served as Chief Justice in 2011 and 2018. Justice Douglas is the first African-American Justice in Nevada's history. This fund provides programmatic support for pre-law students to build their writing and critical thinking skills, expose them to the legal professional network, and prepare them for the law school admissions process. 

Samuel S. Lionel Endowed Professorship

Samuel S. Lionel had a long history of supporting Nevada’s legal community and mentoring new attorneys. He was an early proponent of law school in Nevada and was a major supporter of the William S. Boyd School of Law since its founded. With a generous gift from his estate, his wife, Lexy Lionel, created an endowed professorship to retain top legal faculty. The Lionels have supported many Boyd programs and have been dedicated to its future success.

 

Endowed Funds

 

  • William S. Boyd Professorship Endowment

  • William S. Boyd Scholarship Endowment

  • William S. Boyd School of Law Endowment

  • Alumni Chapter Scholarship Endowment

  • Barbara Williams-Rollings & Willard Rollings Scholarship Endowment

  • Cal Potter Civil Rights Endowment 

  • Charles H. McCrea Jr. Scholarship Endowment

  • Clifford A. Jones Sr. Law School Scholarship Endowment Fund

  • Doris S. & Theodore Lee Professor of Law Endowment Fund

  • Emilie N. Wanderer Scholarship Endowment

  • Frank Durand Scholarship Endowment

  • Franny Forsman and Michael Pescetta Fellowship Endowment

  • Fred D. Gibson III Memorial Scholarship Endowment 

  • Gordon I. Fink Scholarship Endowment

  • Howard & Leontyna Babcock Endowed Scholarship

  • Joyce Mack Professorship Endowment

  • Judge Jack & Lulu Lehman Professorship

  • K. Michael Leavitt Endowment

  • Lawrence Ita Scholarship Endowment  

  • Leo Gibrich Memorial Scholarship Endowment

  • Noel Gage Scholarship Endowment

  • Opportunity Endowment

  • Ralph Denton Professorship Endowment

  • Reid-Lionel Scholarship Endowment 

  • Richard J. Morgan Chair in Law Endowment Fund

  • Robert Faiss Fellowship for Community Service Endowment

  • Samuel S. Lionel Externship Program Endowment

  • Senator Harry Reid Scholarship Endowment 

  • Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic

  • Thomas A. Plein Endowed Scholarship Fund

  • Tom and Leslie Thomas Small Business Initiatives Endowment Fund

  • William & Alberta Stern Law School Endowment

New Endowment Funds

 

  • Adrian Karimi Scholarship Endowment 

  • Honorable Philip M. Pro Endowed Professorship 

  • Justice Michael L. Douglas PreLaw Endowment

  • Samuel S. Lionel Endowed Professorship 

For more information about giving and/or endowment gifts, please email heather.rappaport@unlv.edu. 

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