Ohio State College of Law and School of Architecture receive $4M gift for endowed professorships

Health care executive and Ohio State University alumna Kara J. Trott has given $4 million to The Ohio State University to endow three professorships within the Michael E. Moritz College of Law and add to an existing endowed professorship in the Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture.

The four endowed professorships will attract and retain highly sought-after professors who are committed to scholarship, teaching and leadership in their professions and community. As an ardent supporter of both colleges, Trott created the Richard Trott Distinguished Visiting Professorship to honor her late father, Richard Trott, a 1961 architecture graduate of Ohio State.

“Kara’s ongoing support of Ohio State and continued leadership demonstrate her abiding commitment to the future of our university and is a testament to the strength and longevity of the connections our students establish during their time on campus,” said President Kristina M. Johnson. “Her remarkable gift to our colleges of architecture and law will bolster our efforts to recruit the very best, most dedicated professors as we grow the ranks of our tenure-track faculty and continue to build on our foundation of academic excellence.”

Trott, who received her law degree from Ohio State in 1991, is the founder and chief executive officer of Columbus-based Quantum Health. Launched in 1999, Quantum Health focuses on employers’ benefits delivery, helping participants better navigate the health care system and producing better health outcomes while reducing unnecessary costs. The organization serves more than 300 clients and more than 1.7 million people.

“Kara Trott’s gift to honor the memory of her late father — renowned architect Dick Trott — will contribute significantly to the enrichment of the Knowlton School’s educational mission,” said Dorothée Imbert, Hubert C. Schmidt Professor and director of the Knowlton School. “This gift further elevates the Richard W. Trott Distinguished Visiting Professorship, bringing distinguished practitioners and academics to carry sustained interactions with Knowlton students and faculty, as well as to strengthen the connection between architecture, landscape architecture, planning and urban design. Kara’s generosity will allow us to provide exceptional experiences to our design community, while strengthening Dick Trott’s legacy.”

To show appreciation for her two former law professors who helped her to succeed in law school and inspired her career path, she created The Lawrence “Larry” Herman Endowed Professorship in Law and The Morgan E. Shipman Endowed Professorship in Law, in addition to establishing the Kara J. Trott Professorship in Law.

“One professor can touch thousands of students’ lives during their career. The enduring impact of this gift will be immeasurable. Adding three new endowed professorships to our faculty is a deeply meaningful investment in the future of generations of students at Ohio State Law,” said Lincoln L. Davies, dean of the Moritz College of Law and Frank R. Strong Chair in Law. “We are so incredibly grateful for Kara’s generosity and her commitment to elevating and enriching our law school. We could not be prouder to count her as an alumna and friend.”

Since graduating from Ohio State, Trott has consistently demonstrated her dedication and commitment to the university. She currently serves as a member of The Ohio State University Foundation Board and on the Moritz College of Law National Council.

“Through Moritz, I received an amazing education, and Professors Shipman and Herman were instrumental in helping me develop my critical thinking skills,” said Trott. “My father, a pivotal force in my life, was heavily involved at the Knowlton School, and I hope that these four endowed professorships will help launch more leaders in law and architecture.”