Wake Forest University School of Law and the Program for Leadership and Character announced on Apr. 30 a $5 million grant from the Kern Family Foundation to support and expand character-based leadership in legal education. The grant, titled “Leadership and Character in the Law: From Wake Forest to the World,” will fund ongoing efforts with faculty, staff, and students through 2029.
The funding aims to help Wake Forest establish a network of law schools that focus on character-based leadership and professional identity formation. This initiative seeks not only to benefit Wake Forest but also extend its impact beyond campus.
Andrew Klein, dean of the Wake Forest University School of Law, said, “The Kern Family Foundation’s gift not only recognizes the Law School’s commitment to professional identity formation through our numerous programs and initiatives—like our Leadership & Character in the law student cohort—it also aligns with our long-standing core values.”
The school plans to use this grant as an opportunity to strengthen existing programs while building new partnerships among institutions interested in similar educational goals.
Looking ahead, Wake Forest expects this funding will further position it as a leader in promoting ethical leadership within legal education.
