The gift arrives on the occasion of the law school’s 125th anniversary
The University of Washington (UW) School of Law has received a US$45 million bequest from the estate of Stan and Alta Barer – a bequest that is among the largest in the university’s history.
The bequest will facilitate the expansion of the work being done by the Barer Institute for Leadership in Law & Global Development.
“We are honored to extend Stan and Alta’s inspiring legacy of global leadership development with the help of this transformative investment”, UW President Ana Mari Cauce said in a press release dated October 29. “The work of the Barer Institute to cultivate talented mid-career attorneys for the benefit of their home countries and the world is one of our law school’s most innovative and effective programs, and we are delighted to be able to expand its reach.”
Tamara Lawson, the Toni Rembe Dean of the School of Law, added that the bequest comes on the occasion of the law school’s 125th anniversary. The gift will be applied toward the following:
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Bolstering support for fellowships and scholarships, facilitating the recruitment of students to the Barer Institute as well as of post-doctoral fellows concentrating on issues related to human rights, global business, and climate
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Providing funds to bring Juris Doctor students into the Barer Fellows Program
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Endowing the appointment of first-ever Barer chair Anita Ramasastry to head up the institute
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Facilitating the appointment of Jennifer Lenga-Long as inaugural executive director to manage the development and implementation of programming, as well as of an assistant director
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Building on the School of Law’s work on the rule of law, global climate issues, and conducting sustainable business
Ramasastry explained that the expanded Barer Institute would “serve as a hub for graduate students interested in international careers in service of the global common good, including the advancement of human rights, global justice and the rule of law, and indigenous people’s rights.”
“This bequest exemplifies Stan and Alta’s belief in the power of education, the rule of law, and in the critical importance of focusing on what we have in common across cultures instead of what separates us,” said Leigh K. Barer, the daughter of Stan and Alta Barer. “We look forward to seeing the Institute expand and flourish because of their visionary gift.”
