Alumni join forces to establish endowment honoring Larry Hayman and support the future of law, justice education at OHIO

A friendship that began at Ohio University is now creating new opportunities for generations of future Bobcats.

Longtime friends and OHIO graduates Leah Recht ‘06 and Jennifer Stevens ‘04 have joined together as founding donors to establish the Larry S. Hayman Endowment to Support the Center for Law, Justice & Culture, honoring their friend and fellow classmate Larry Hayman and the student-focused, life-changing work he leads at the University.

Together, their transformative gifts will provide $450,000 in foundational support toward a $1 million fundraising goal designed to further strengthen OHIO’s Center for Law, Justice & Culture (CLJC) and its innovative pre-law and global engagement programs

For Recht and Stevens, both longtime supporters of the University, the endowment represents an opportunity to honor a close friend while investing in a program shaped by Hayman’s leadership and vision.

For Recht, who is an M&A and Private Equity Partner at Orrick in San Francisco and Board Chair of the National Brain Tumor Society, the Hayman endowment builds a legacy of student support. 

“We wanted to create something that honors Larry and provides lasting support for the work he has built at Ohio University,” said Recht. “This endowment is an investment in students and in the future of the CLJC. We hope it inspires others who believe in Larry and the Center’s mission to join us in expanding its impact.”

Stevens, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Alliance Global Advisors and Chair of the College of Business Executive Advisory Board, agreed, stating the opportunity to join Recht in establishing the endowment reflects a friendship with Hayman that stretches back to their time together as OHIO students.

 “Larry has an extraordinary ability to connect with people, recognize their potential and help them find opportunities to succeed - all while paying it forward,” said Stevens. “Leah, Larry and I began our friendship on the bricks in Athens, Ohio over twenty years ago. Every day, Larry inspires people through his transformative work at the University. Candidly, Larry does the work we all wish we were doing. It is a privilege to come together in support of a program that honors and preserves the difference Larry makes in the lives of Ohio University students. We hope you consider joining us in supporting OU's next generation of leaders through the Larry S. Hayman Endowment." 

Creating a lasting legacy through students

For more than a decade, Director of Legal Engagement and the Pre-Law Program Larry Hayman has helped shape the CLJC into a cornerstone of pre-law education at Ohio University. Today, it serves more than 350 students annually, connecting them with academic programming, career preparation and experiential learning opportunities like Pre-Law Day, the Summer Law and Trial Institute, study abroad programs in Northern Ireland and South Africa, Mock Trial, law school application support, internships and mentorship opportunities.

For Hayman, the CLJC’s work has always been grounded in relationships.

“The Center is all about bringing students together and connecting them with the people and experiences that will shape their future and provide support long after they leave Athens,” Hayman said. “The generosity of those like Jennifer and Leah will allow us to deepen that work and create opportunities that provide a lasting impact on our students and the communities they ultimately depart OHIO to serve.”

Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Matthew Ando was an early champion of the Hayman Endowment. 

“An endowment in Larry’s name honors Larry by empowering him to support students and to act on his vision for the CLJC,” said Ando.

An endowment grounded in experiences and opportunity

The Larry S. Hayman Endowment to Support the Center for Law, Justice & Culture will help sustain the Center’s existing work while concurrently advancing opportunities for new initiatives and reducing financial barriers for students pursuing law school and public-service careers. 

Among the opportunities identified for future investment through the endowment:

• Creating a Rural Justice Pathway to recruit rural high school students, support rural law and justice internships and provide LSAT preparation.
• Expanding the CLJC Justice Lab Network, connecting students with real-world, justice-centered projects in rural and global communities.
• Providing additional pre-law advising for current students and alumni.
• Convening an annual conference focused on solving lawyer shortages in rural areas.

Supporting students and the future of the CLJC

Founding alumni commitments have already brought the Larry S. Hayman Endowment to Support the Center for Law, Justice & Culture nearly halfway to its $1 million goal, creating momentum and an opportunity for alumni, friends and supporters to help strengthen the CLJC and expand its lasting impact on OHIO students.

Those interested in learning more about and supporting the Larry S. Hayman Endowment to Support the Center for Law, Justice & Culture may contact Dr. Jan Huebenthal at huebenthal@ohio.edu or 740-593-9123.