For Sharon Schweitzer ’89, legacy isn’t about what she’s leaving behind; it’s about who she lifts up along the way. And through a thoughtfully planned endowment and scholarship, she is doing just that.
By including South Texas College of Law Houston in her estate plans, she’s ensuring future students — especially those with financial need — can access a legal education with meaningful opportunities like study abroad programs. “A planned gift allows me to align my values with my legacy,” Schweitzer said. “It gives me peace of mind to know I’m investing in tomorrow’s legal leaders.”
Perseverance, Purpose, and a Place Called South Texas Law
Before Schweitzer became a cultural competency expert and bestselling author, she was a part-time night student at South Texas Law, juggling full-time work with full-time ambition.
“I attended my first year of law school at the University of Dayton in Ohio,” she said. “Due to a major medical emergency, I had to take a leave of absence. During recovery, I visited a friend in Houston and fell in love with the city’s cultural opportunities, Southern lifestyle, and warm winters. I decided to relocate to Houston, begin working full-time as a paralegal at Chamberlain Hrdlicka, and transfer to South Texas Law.”
“Perseverance brought me here,” Schweitzer said. “As the oldest of six children, I learned to negotiate early in life: settling sibling disputes and advocating creative reasons for our antics to our parents. This felt like a natural path; I was determined to become a lawyer.”
South Texas Law welcomed Schweitzer with open arms, accepting transfer credits and awarding her an advocacy scholarship, which helped offset tuition and gave her the opportunity to compete nationally. Continuing to work full-time, Schweitzer now reflects on her time here with wonder. “I look back and think—how did I do that?” she recalled with a laugh. “Where did that energy come from? But I needed healthcare and had to pay rent!”
Schweitzer also formed lasting friendships during law school. “The relationships I built here form an important part of both my professional and personal network,” she said. “My bridesmaids were all South Texas Law grads, and I keep up with them to this day.”
A Career Inspired by Cultural Competency
Post-South Texas Law, after 15 years as a practicing litigator and in-house counsel, Schweitzer founded a global mobility firm focused on intercultural business training. Today, she works with international executives to navigate the complexities of global assignments and cultural transitions.
“I help people develop cultural fluency,” she said. “It’s about building trust, navigating differences, and creating shared understanding across borders.”
Her passion for cross-cultural work also led to her award-winning book, Access to Asia, which became an Amazon bestseller and earned accolades from Kirkus Reviews. “I was stunned,” she said. “My South Texas Law training — especially in advocacy — helped me connect with the more than 80 global professionals featured in the book.”
Giving With Intention
Inspired by her family’s Czech heritage, her own study abroad experience, and her passion for effective cross-cultural communication, Schweitzer and her husband, John Robinson, established the Uprka Laga Schweitzer Study Abroad Award. Their legacy gift is designed to support South Texas Law students who want to study internationally but may not have the means to do so otherwise.
“My goal is simple: give someone the chance to see the world differently,” she said. “I want them to return home with new skills, new confidence, and a deepened understanding of our global landscape.”
This summer, Schweitzer joined South Texas Law students on a study abroad program in Prague. She conducted an orientation session and class about cultural competency in global lawyering and left inspired by the students’ “optimism and brilliance. Their energy was contagious,” she said.
In addition to the Prague study abroad program, Sharon and John also are endowing an advocacy scholarship — a meaningful way to honor the support she once received as a student advocate. For her, planned giving isn’t about wealth; it’s about intention.
“I started small,” Schweitzer said. “A modest monthly donation. Over time, that grew into an endowment and then an estate gift. You don’t have to wait until later in life to make a meaningful impact. Your giving can grow with you.”
Impact in Action: Student Gratitude
Two of the students who joined Schweitzer in Prague, Maryam Nasizadeh and Alyssa Chavez, were deeply moved by her presence and generosity.
“Receiving the Uprka Laga Schweitzer Study Abroad Award was one of the most meaningful honors of my academic journey,” Nasizadeh said. “Through conversations with Ms. Schweitzer, I came to understand that this support comes from a legacy of people who believe in helping students grow, not just at home but globally through education. This award was more than financial assistance or recognition. It gave me a personal connection to a culture, a mentor I deeply admire, and a sense that I now carry a piece of Czech spirit with me.”
Chavez added: “The Prague study abroad program was an amazing and eye-opening opportunity and experience. The time and energy Ms. Schweitzer put in to learning about the program and growing a relationship with me was the most valuable experience of all. She taught me how to carry myself in a room, respect and work with others from different cultures, and that learning and the thirst for knowledge never stop if you seek out the opportunity. I cannot thank her enough for the gift she gave me!”
Lift as You Climb
Sharon hopes her gift encourages others to consider legacy giving, too, and emphasizes the practical benefits. “Creating a will provides peace of mind and the chance to make a lasting impact,” she said. “I encourage everyone to speak with a qualified estate planning attorney. Trusts and donor-advised funds are tools that can help you make your intentions clear and private.”
For Schweitzer, supporting South Texas Law is not only deeply personal, but a way to plant seeds of hope for a more connected, compassionate, and globally minded legal community. This fall, Schweitzer will take an even more active role in that vision, serving as an adjunct faculty member to co-teach Comparative Law with Professor Katerina Lewinbuk.
“I’m optimistic about our collective future, knowing that resources will be available to support and empower tomorrow’s leaders,” she said. “It is reassuring to know that my legacy and values will live on through the next generation of legal experts helping to create a consensus-building global community.”
And to the students who may benefit from her generosity one day, Schweitzer offered this message: “Pay it forward, just like I did. Give others the same opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Lift as you climb.”
There’s still time during this Make-A-Will Month to make law your legacy and ensure future generations have access to a South Texas Law legal education. Visit https://stcl.planmylegacy.org today.
