Knapps increase commitment to $4.5 million for Winograd Law Scholarship

Eric Knapp ('98) and his wife, Dana Marie Knapp, have pledged $4.5 million to the Peter A. Winograd Endowed Annual Scholarship in Law at The University of New Mexico's (UNM) School of Law. Their new commitment builds upon more than two decades of giving and includes a principal-level estate gift that will ensure the scholarship's long-term impact for generations of law students. This commitment represents the largest gift in the School of Law's philanthropic history.

Eric Knapp earned his J.D. from the UNM School of Law in 1998 after completing a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado. It was Professor Emeritus Peter Winograd who first spoke with Eric when he inquired about law school, beginning a relationship that would shape both his legal education and his lifelong commitment to the UNM School of Law.

After graduating from law school, Eric practiced in Albuquerque with Freedman, Boyd, Daniels, Hollander, Goldberg & Cline, P.A., before moving to San Francisco to join O'Melveny & Myers LLP as an associate and then as a partner at Squire Patton Boggs and Winston & Strawn LLP. He retired from practice this past year.

"The opportunities at UNM Law are different from those at many other law schools," Eric said. "The clinical law programs and the generosity of alumni and local practitioners who support students through moot court, mock trial and externships create an environment that prepares students for actual law practice and enables them to 'hit the ground running.'"

Dana Marie Knapp earned her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Davis and spent more than 16 years as a senior litigation paralegal at Bartko Zankel Bunzel & Miller in San Francisco. She now owns and operates a boutique pet store, Pawsarotti's Dog and Cat Boutique in Santa Rosa, California.

"I've grown to love the relationship between Eric and Peter," Dana Marie said. "They've stayed in touch over the years, and Eric's support of the law school is deeply rooted in that connection. It's really special to see."

Eric Knapp began his philanthropic journey with the UNM School of Law in 1999. In 2014, he and Dana Marie Knapp began making dedicated contributions to the Winograd Scholarship.

The Peter A. Winograd Endowed Annual Scholarship in Law honors the legacy of Professor Emeritus Winograd, who joined the School of Law faculty in 1976 as associate dean. Over his career, Winograd became a national leader in legal education and accreditation. He earned degrees from Brown University, Harvard Law School and New York University (NYU) School of Law and previously held leadership roles at NYU School of Law, Georgetown University Law Center and the Educational Testing Service.

Professor Emeritus Winograd shared this heartfelt message: "Folks who know me are well aware that I am almost never at a loss for words, but news of this remarkable gift left me speechless. The Knapps' generosity will have a transformative impact on the Law School's efforts to attract extraordinary students in years to come, and having my name associated with this is both an honor and a career capstone that I could not have imagined when Dean Fred Hart enticed me to New Mexico almost 50 years ago. I will forever be grateful to Dana Marie and Eric for making this possible."

Through their extraordinary generosity, Eric and Dana Marie Knapp are helping ensure that future generations of UNM law students will have access to the same life-changing opportunities that shaped Eric's career, while honoring a professor whose mentorship and leadership have left a lasting mark on the legal profession.

"The more opportunities that gifts and scholarships can provide, the better. They can attract more students, increasing the pool of candidates, and help students who may not have the resources to pay for a full-time legal education," said Eric.

The School of Law is deeply grateful to Eric Knapp, Dana Marie Knapp and Professor Emeritus Peter Winograd for their extraordinary generosity. Their commitment strengthens not only the UNM School of Law but the broader legal community it serves.

Dean Camille Carey shared, "I am incredibly moved by the generosity of Eric and Dana Marie Knapp. This gift will create up to 10 full-tuition scholarships for our students in perpetuity. This is a wonderful way of recognizing and honoring Professor Emeritus Peter A. Winograd's accomplishments and legacy at the UNM School of Law."

The School of Law will honor Eric and Dana Marie Knapp and Professor Emeritus Winograd at a special event May 7 at 5 p.m. More information about the event will be released soon.