New Scholarship Established by Arizona Law Alumnus Steve Lainoff (’77) Honors Innovative Spirit of Dean Emeritus Marc Miller
As dean of the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law from 2012 to 2025, Marc Miller spearheaded innovations at the College of Law and legal education as a whole, from the first-of-its-kind BA in Law to Arizona Law becoming the first law school to accept the GRE along with the LSAT for admissions.
So, when alumnus Steve Lainoff (‘’77) and his wife Riea Lainoff got the idea to create a new scholarship in Miller’s honor, it was an easy choice to call it the Marc L. Miller Innovation Scholarship Endowment. The new scholarship, which started with a $50,000 endowment from the Lainoffs and quickly grew through other donations, is intended to celebrate Miller’s extraordinary career as dean and support future students who share his commitment to innovation and access in the field of law.
“[Miller] developed so many good programs for the university [and] for the law school that put it in the public eye,” said Lainoff. “There was just one after another of entrepreneurial things that really made a difference, not only to the university, but made a difference, I think, in legal education.”
Creative and entrepreneurial
For more than a decade, Lainoff was chair of the Dean’s Economic Council (DEC), a group of alumni that Miller created as a sounding board on issues relating to the College of Law. Over those years, Lainoff appreciated Miller’s energy, commitment to the college, and continuous stream of ideas. Soon after establishing the scholarship, Lainoff, a tax attorney who worked in private practice for the federal government and in management at KPMG, recruited other DEC members to the cause.
“He was the most creative and entrepreneurial person in higher education that any of us had ever met,” said Lainoff. Thanks to contributions from fellow DEC members Andrew Maccabe (’02), Shawna Ballard (’91), Deborah Sliz (’79) and Alan Yandow, and Brad Vynalek (’99), the endowment is now up to $95,000.
“As our alums, my colleagues and students know, I am rarely rendered speechless,” remarked Miller, who continues to teach as the Ralph W. Bilby Professor of Law. “But hearing about the scholarship created in my honor and funded by Steve and Riea and other wonderful alumni was one of those times. I am so grateful for those friendships and touched — it turns out not entirely beyond words — by this scholarship.”
Paving the way for future innovators
In keeping with the intent of the scholarship, the application process may give preference to students whose experiences, interests or aspirations reflect a commitment to innovation, expanding access and opportunity, openness to new ideas and leadership in shaping the future of legal education or the legal profession. When asked what advice he would give to scholarship recipients, Lainoff said, “Guaranteed, you will not get something if you don’t ask for it, and if someone offers you an opportunity to do something different, … you do it. And I think that’s the type of person we’re looking for in a scholarship program.”
Financial support is one of the most significant factors influencing a student’s decision to attend law school, including University of Arizona Law. If you are interested in contributing to the Miller Scholarship or another existing fund, or establishing a new scholarship, contact Shannon Walker, Director of Development, at sawalker@arizona.edu or 520-626-9223.