In a 45-year legal career spanning the public and private sectors, Janet Kittel, JD (LAW ’78), regularly applied lessons gained from practical experiences at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Now she wants to help ensure that future generations continue to have similar opportunities. She and her husband, Russell Kittel, have designated the law school’s Legal Writing, Leadership, Experiential Learning, Advocacy and Professionalism (LLEAP) program in their estate.
A requirement of the JD curriculum, LLEAP coursework helps students cultivate proficiency in critical areas such as interviewing, research and writing.
“I’m encouraged to see the law school’s continued focus on experiential learning,” said Kittel, who benefited from programming similar to LLEAP, “and happy to know our gift will be used to arm students with the tools they need to be confident entering the field.”
The commitment honors Kittel’s parents, Alexander and Martha (GRS ’48, education) MacKenzie, who instilled in their daughter a lifelong love of learning.
“When I think about what has made the greatest impact for me, education rises to the top of the list,” said Kittel, “just as it did for my parents. Giving back allows [Russell and me] to leave something behind that will make a difference in the lives of others.”
Originally published in the winter 2024 issue of Forward Thinking magazine
