By Newspot Nigeria Education Desk
Evanston, Illinois —Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law alumna Sherrese Smith (J.D. ’96) and her husband, Ade Heyliger, have established the Smith & Heyliger Endowed Scholarship Fund to support students pursuing legal education at the prestigious law school.
The couple’s contribution not only aims to reduce the financial barriers faced by aspiring lawyers but also inspired a matching endowed scholarship by three fellow Northwestern Law alumni — Aaron Charfoos, Geoff King, and Jason Fiebig — all partners at Paul Hastings LLP. Their initiative created the Paul Hastings LLP Scholarship Fund, further strengthening the school’s commitment to accessibility and diversity in legal education.
“A lot of deserving people who could have profound impact on the legal profession and the world just don’t have the opportunity to go to law school,”
said Charfoos.
“We wanted a scholarship that identifies those people and gives them that opportunity.”
Smith, currently the Global Managing Partner at Paul Hastings LLP, is recognized as one of the nation’s leading advisers in media, technology, and telecommunications law. She noted that her own career trajectory was shaped by the opportunities and scholarship support she received during her time at Northwestern Law.
“The creation of this scholarship fund is a tangible way to extend that support to students who are beginning their legal education,”
Smith explained.
Smith recently became Chair of Northwestern Law’s Board of Trustees, where she continues to advocate for innovation and inclusion in legal education. At Paul Hastings, she provides strategic counsel to Fortune 500 companies, global technology leaders, and major media organizations on issues at the intersection of law, innovation, and public policy.
Interim Dean Zachary Clopton expressed profound appreciation for Smith’s philanthropy, saying, “Sherrese Smith has already contributed so much to the law school, and we are incredibly grateful to her for her generosity. This scholarship will make a lasting, tangible impact on the lives of students for many years to come.”
The two endowed scholarships stand as lasting symbols of alumni giving and mentorship, reinforcing Northwestern Law’s mission to expand opportunity and cultivate leadership across the global legal community.
