Vanderbilt Law School has received a $10 million commitment from Lara and Clay Travis to fund a number of key priorities, including the First Amendment Clinic, the Law School’s “Respectfully Dissent” debate series, merit- and need-based scholarship aid, child care funding for student-parents, support services for student veterans, and the Law School’s ongoing building renovation. The Travises’ investment directly supports the university’s historic Dare to Grow campaign.
“Lara and Clay have given the Law School a powerful opportunity to deliver on our educational promise in several important ways,” said Chris Guthrie, dean of the Law School. “I am beyond grateful for their generosity, vision and commitment to the Law School.”
Lara and Clay enrolled as 1Ls at Vanderbilt Law School in 2001. Clay completed his J.D. in 2004 and went on to earn his MFA in creative writing from Vanderbilt in 2008. Lara left Law School after her 1L year to pursue an M.Ed. in human development and counseling from Vanderbilt, which she completed in 2007, and returned to complete her J.D. in 2023. Lara is a legal advisor. Clay, the founder of Outkick, is a notable writer and national radio and television host. They are making this gift to create opportunities for talented law students, including those with children; to ensure Vanderbilt Law School remains a destination of choice for student-veterans; to facilitate civil discourse and debate; and to defend First Amendment protections.
“We had an amazing experience at Vanderbilt Law School and believe deeply in the transformative power of a Vanderbilt legal education,” the Travis Family said. “We want to enable students from all backgrounds to enjoy this same experience, and we want to support the Law School’s commitment to civil debate and discourse and to educating lawyers who respect the rule of law and are committed to providing legal representation to all.”
Dare to Grow
The Travises’ investment fuels the extraordinary momentum of Vanderbilt’s historic Dare to Grow campaign, which surpassed its original goal of $3.2 billion 20 months ahead of schedule and has now exceeded $3.8 billion. Support for the campaign catalyzes some of the university’s most groundbreaking initiatives, including Vandy United, enhanced presences in New York City and West Palm Beach, and signature programs like Opportunity Vanderbilt and the residential colleges.