Reflections on Establishing Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship Fund

In 2019, Dean Perdue and her husband, David, established the Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship Fund to support law school students with high financial need and high future potential. Now totaling more than $2.8 million, Dean Perdue is delighted to see how Richmond Law alumni and friends have responded to this initiative.

“Hopefully this level of support will continue,” she said. “With the recent changes in the federal financial aid policies, I expect future students will have an even greater need for financial support. I would like to be able to ensure every student we admit will be able to afford a Richmond Law education, irrespective of family wealth.”

Dean Perdue’s inspiration to create the scholarship fund harkened back to her own law school experience.

“I was the beneficiary of a scholarship when I was in law school, and I know what a big difference a scholarship can make for students even while they are still in school,” she said. “My scholarship allowed me to worry less about money and focus more on my education — it’s a privilege that I wish were available to every one of our students.”

If you’re interested in supporting the Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship Fund, contact Courtney Curry at ccurry@richmond.edu.

Read more in the Dean's Report.