Wayne Law Alumni raise $1.5M in honor of Law Professor Alan Schenk, Endowed Chair in Taxation
DETROIT, MI – October 24 marked an unprecedented event at Wayne Law, with alumni and friends coming together to celebrate the culmination of their self-driven fundraising effort to honor Alan Schenk – a long-time professor at Wayne State University Law School, with the Alan S. Schenk Chair in Taxation.
Three Wayne Law Alumni John Grant ‘79, John Collins ’76, and Joe Angileri ’84, were responsible for leading the effort of raising $1.5 million over two-and-a half-years in appreciation for Schenk’s contributions to their legal education and the field of tax law.
"Professor Schenk is an esteemed and distinguished faculty member here, and we are thrilled to be celebrating the culmination of this accomplishment,” said Richard Bierschbach, dean of Wayne Law. “We are grateful for the affinity our alumni have to Wayne Law and their admiration of Professor Alan Schenk which led to this substantial gift,” he added.
It all started with John Grant – a tax law professional – who had the idea to develop a fundraising campaign in the name of Professor Schenk, who taught taxation and had a profound impact on him during his time at Wayne Law…and beyond. Many more alumni have the same sentiment toward Professor Schenk and were eager to participate. Grant, Collins, and Angileri met routinely to coordinate and lead this fund development project with a goal of $1.5M. They reached out to their classmates and fellow colleagues in the tax profession for gifts, and even were successful in a $125,000 gift from the Dan and Jennifer Gilbert Family Foundation, to help meet their goal.
Schenk has been a tax professor for 57 years -- all at Wayne Law, which was established in 1927. He is known to be tough but fair, and fun. In all of his years teaching, he continues to bring fresh cases and fresh material to keep his students engaged, and his classes exciting.
“I know his current students are just as enthusiastic to learn from him today as his students were 50 years ago. He is well-respected and adored here,” said Bierschbach.
These generous alumni were also lauded by the law school’s Development and Alumni Office for their industrious efforts. “I am extremely proud of our alumni coming together for this purpose – to raise funds for the future of Wayne Law and acknowledging what just one beloved professor has done for them. Soliciting gifts from former classmates and fellow alumni shows the power of peers and the value of connectedness Wayne Law provides to our students and graduates,” said Wayne Law Senior Director of Philanthropy, Rob MacGregor.
Photos from the celebration can be viewed here.
For more information about Wayne Law, or to give a gift, visit law.wayne.edu.
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Contact: Jennifer Kennedy
Phone: 313-577-4629
Email: Jennifer.kennedy2@wayne.edu