Lewis & Clark Law School Establishes First Endowed Law School Deanship in Oregon

Portland, OR June 20, 2024 – Lewis & Clark Law School announced today that Jennifer Johnson will serve as the first Jordan D. Schnitzer Dean, the first endowed law school deanship in Oregon.

Schnitzer, a Lewis & Clark alumnus (1976), commercial real estate magnate, philanthropist, and internationally recognized art collector created a multi-million-dollar endowment to empower the Dean to continue fostering and growing innovative programs that are nationally recognized for their excellence.

Lewis & Clark College president emeritus Wim Wiewel and Jordan D. Schnitzer Dean of Lewis & Clark Law School Jennifer Johnson expressed profound gratitude for Mr. Schnitzer’s extraordinary generosity.

“We are deeply grateful to Jordan. With this endowment of the dean’s position, our first in the history of the law school, he has established a permanent legacy that will propel Lewis & Clark in its continued efforts to attract and retain qualified leaders of our law school. I am proud to be the inaugural Jordan D. Schnitzer Dean,” said Jordan D. Schnitzer Dean Jennifer Johnson.

President emeritus Wim Wiewel added, “Jordan and his family have been ardent supporters of Lewis & Clark – and Oregon – for decades, and he is indeed one of Oregon’s treasures. With the establishment of this deanship, Jordan has given us a legacy that will be carried through for generations of deans to come.”

Reflecting on his time at law school, Jordan Schnitzer noted, “Though I never planned to practice law, my legal education proved invaluable in my business career, fostering community involvement. I am honored to announce the Jordan D. Schnitzer Dean of Lewis & Clark Law School. While it has been decades since Professor Doug Newell would ask, ‘Schnitzer, what do you think about this case?’ (trust me, there were others in class with far better answers), the professors I had made the school special. Dean Jennifer Johnson, alongside other devoted faculty, has shaped students’ lives. With her 44-year career, she’s elevated Lewis & Clark Law School’s status as a leading institution. I am delighted she will be the first Jordan D. Schnitzer Dean.”

Schnitzer, President and CEO of Portland-based Schnitzer Properties is widely recognized for his leadership in real estate and philanthropy. Under his stewardship, Schnitzer Properties has grown to become one of the West Coast’s Top 10 private real estate owners, managing over 33 million square feet of property across various regions.

For media inquiries, please contact Judy Asbury, Associate Dean, Communications and Development, Lewis & Clark Law School: jasbury@lclark.edu, 503-768-6605