Law Community Celebrates Kaplan Public Service Endowment

When you lead by service, as Rob Kaplan did for 38 years at William & Mary Law School, people remember. And the memories came out in full force on the evening of Friday, March 28.

That’s when members of the law community gathered to celebrate the creation of the Robert E. Kaplan Public Service Endowment.

“Tonight, we gather to celebrate a remarkable act of generosity and vision and the tireless leader who inspired it,” said A. Benjamin Spencer, Dean and Trustee Professor. “This endowment is not just a financial gift, it is an investment in the future leaders who will serve our communities with dedication and passion.”

The endowment was created to provide students with funding for public service opportunities and honors Rob Kaplan, who retired from the Law School at the end of the Spring 2024 semester.

“Rob’s middle name was public service,” Spencer said. “He served as Associate Dean and Professor of the Practice here from 1986 to 2024, and also played a huge role in establishing the Public Service Fund and serving as its faculty supervisor for 35 years.”

Leading gifts for the endowment were made by Kathryn and Jonathan Hambrick ’94, Douglas F. Pinter ’77, Stephanie and Michael Chu ’92, Stephanie Paine ’91, and Littleton Tazewell ’91. Each alum invites others to help grow the endowment and honor Kaplan with their own gifts.

On hand to celebrate, W. Taylor Reveley, III, William & Mary President Emeritus and former Dean of the Law School, laid out why Kaplan is so well regarded by former students and colleagues.

“There is that marvelous subset of mortals who have empathy for their selves and actually do something about it; they give service to others priority on their schedules,” Reveley said. “They put sustained energy into the effort, and…they know how to lead. These marvelous people make a real difference for the better.”

One of Kaplan’s former students, Elizabeth Dopp Chupik ’92, noted that some people have the ability to impact lives in profound ways. “Time and time again, Rob Kaplan has been and is that person for me,” she said.

Chupik recounted how, as her legal skills professor, Kaplan taught her how to research, write, reason, and interview a client. He also taught her how to try a case, how to do an appeal, and how to practice with ethics.

“But on top of that, at every inflection point in my career, Rob has been there as a mentor, a stabilizer factor, a confidant, a cheerleader, and a friend,” she said.

Chupik presented Kaplan with a glass apple, in gratitude for his impact as “a teacher of distinction.”

“What a gift it has been for William and Mary to have his steadfast leadership for all these years,” she concluded. “And I am so grateful, and thank you to the Law School for inviting me to have this chance to recognize and honor him, because there cannot be a more fitting tribute than the endowment in his honor, knowing that will serve students for years to come who have the heart for public service.”

Jonathan Hambrick ’94 was also on hand to recount how public service opportunities as a law student made the difference, and why supporting the Kaplan endowment was important to him and his wife, Kathryn.

“It truly does open a door into areas of law that don’t involve sitting in a library and doing a research memo on the 50 states and how they treat a certain issue,” Hambrick said. “During my second-year summer, I had two jury trials and was in general district court three days a week. So, the PSF fund allows people to experience things like that.”

Ever modest and with his usual self-deprecating humor, Kaplan recounted how he joined the Law School fresh out of a legal firm. He also thanked everyone for making his long tenure not only interesting but meaningful.

“I was just so fortunate to have had the best job in the world, getting to work with incredible colleagues, supportive colleagues, creative colleagues, amazing students, establishing lifelong relationships with alumni,” Kaplan said. “I just can't thank you enough for having that opportunity for those 38 years and for this remarkably humbling honor today—thank you so much.”

In celebration, Dean Spencer offered a toast to Kaplan and the donors who make the endowment a reality.

“To our generous donors, your commitment to supporting public service is truly inspiring,” Spencer said. “Your contributions will empower students to pursue their dreams of making a difference for others…so, let us raise our glasses to these donors, to the future recipients of their generosity, to the enduring spirit of service that binds us all, and to Rob Kaplan.”

If you would like to support this endowment to help William & Mary law students, please contact Katey M. Howerton, Associate Dean for Advancement and CEO, William & Mary Law School Foundation, at (757) 221-1394, or kmhowe@wm.edu.