Elon parents establish law school dean’s discretionary fund

Elon parents Eugenia Leggett P'15 and Barry Frank P'15 of Greensboro, N.C., have established the George R. Johnson Dean’s Discretionary Fund to honor Johnson, who recently stepped down as dean of Elon University School of Law after five years of service in the role to return to the faculty.

Elon Law Professor George R. Johnson, Jr., right, with Elon Law alumni. Elon parents Eugenia Leggett and Barry Frank established a discretionary fund at the law school named for Johnson in recognition of his leadership across more than five years as dean of Elon Law.
Elon Law Professor George R. Johnson, Jr., right, with Elon Law alumni. Elon parents Eugenia Leggett and Barry Frank established a discretionary fund at the law school named for Johnson in recognition of his leadership across more than five years as dean of Elon Law.[/caption]

Members of the Elon University Law School Advisory Board raised $25,000 for the fund, which came with a three to one match from Leggett and Frank. The fund now totals $125,000. It will provide resources to address the most pressing needs of the school as determined by its dean.

“Eugenia Leggett and Barry Frank once again are helping to make Elon Law prosper,” said Luke Bierman, dean and professor of law at Elon Law. “This generous gift, together with the contributions of law school advisory board members, creates meaningful opportunities for Elon Law students and faculty to excel. We are grateful to them for strengthening Elon Law’s innovative program of legal education. And we are especially proud to honor the contributions and legacy of George R. Johnson, Jr., whose leadership enabled Elon Law to make great strides in law and legal education.”

In 2010, the Frank family made a gift to create the Carole W. Bruce Endowed Scholarship at Elon Law. The award honors Carole Bruce, who is well known as an attorney with the law firm of Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP, a member of Elon’s law school advisory board, secretary to the Stanley and Dorothy Frank Family Foundation, and the legal and financial adviser to the Frank family for more than 40 years. Leggett is a founding member of the Elon Law administration, serving as associate dean of development from 2006 until this past May.