Expanding experiential learning

Gift from longtime supporters Curt (JD ’75) and Linda Rodin to boost clinical legal education

Every time Curt (JD ’75) and Linda Rodin are asked why they support Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Curt says, “We all owe a little rent for the space we occupy.” Curt’s trial practice professor at Loyola, the late Nat Ozmon, “was the biggest influence on my legal career,” he says, explaining that he and Linda enjoy giving back to the school that launched his successful career as a personal injury trial lawyer.

A generous new gift from the Rodins continues their long-standing commitment to Loyola Law by supporting the Curt and Linda Rodin Associate Dean for Experiential Learning. This investment will elevate a hallmark of the Loyola experience—clinical legal education—expanding opportunities for students to gain vital hands-on experience while advancing the University’s deep commitment to social justice.

The associate dean for experiential learning will bring strategic leadership to Loyola’s nationally recognized legal clinics, unifying and increasing student experiential learning options. As both a practicing clinician and a senior academic leader, the associate dean will enhance Loyola’s ability to prepare students for impactful careers while directly addressing the growing legal needs of underserved populations. With the Rodins’ support, Loyola will reinforce its reputation as a leader in clinical legal education and create new pathways for students to engage in meaningful advocacy that transforms lives.

“We’re deeply grateful to Curt and Linda Rodin for their unwavering dedication to Loyola Law and their commitment to advancing social justice,” says Michèle Alexandre, dean of the School of Law. “Their leadership has strengthened Loyola’s foundation for public interest law and helped shape the next generation of attorneys dedicated to serving communities in need.”

In the Rodins’ longtime championship of accessible education and service to others, “we’ve made sure every gift to the law school directly benefits students,” Curt says. The couple’s support in 2018 established the Curt and Linda Rodin Center for Social Justice, which ties together the School of Law’s various social justice programs and includes student fellowships, professorships, and an annual symposium. The Rodins have also established several other Loyola fellowships and scholarships.

Curt began his legal career in 1975 as a law clerk at Horwitz, Anesi, and Ozmon, which later became Anesi, Ozmon, Rodin, Novak & Kohen Ltd. He served as managing partner and president from 1996 to 2006. He has been a part-time instructor at the School of Law, and in 2011 received the Medal of Excellence, the highest honor bestowed by the school.

“Through my parents, Nat Ozmon, and my religion, I learned I have an obligation to help others,” Curt says. “It’s important to us to do what we can to make people’s lives better.”  –Gail Mansfield (July 2026)