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Garris, Dennis and Malinda Endowed Scholarship

The Dennis and Malinda Garris Endowed Scholarship was created in December 2023 to support The University of Akron School of Law and first-generation law students.

Born in Warren, Ohio, in May 1966, Dennis O. Garris began his legal career at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance. He is a nationally known expert on SEC regulatory matters including the proxy rules, tender offer rules, going-private rules, and beneficial ownership reporting rules. During his more than 10 years at the SEC, Dennis served as Chief of the Office of Mergers and Acquisitions from 1997 to 2003. During his time at the SEC, Dennis was the primary architect of Regulation M-A, the current federal regulatory scheme for mergers and acquisitions in the US. Regulation M-A was widely viewed as creative and deregulatory and has been one of the SEC’s most successful regulations, forming the model for other significant regulatory reforms.

In 2003, Dennis joined Alston & Bird LLP, an AmLaw 50 firm where he serves as partner-in-charge of their Washington, D.C., office and was the co-head of the firm’s securities and M&A practices. He's a devoted family man, married to Malinda whom he married the summer before law school, and who also hails from the Warren, Ohio area. Malinda worked as a librarian with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Washington and is the founder and owner of Three Joi Flowers, a cut flower farm in Amissville, Virginia. Dennis and Malinda have three children.

Dennis is a graduate of The University of Akron’s School of Law and College of Business, earning both his J.D. (cum laude) and M.T. in taxation in three years while also working as a graduate assistant in the Department of Finance. Dennis graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Youngstown State University. His dedication to his alma mater was recognized with the Law Outstanding Alumni Award in 2014, and he had the honor of addressing the School of Law's Spring 2018 commencement. Additionally, Dennis has made significant contributions to the field of education as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center, from 1996 to 2010.

Dennis is also actively involved in various boards and committees, including serving as a member of Ford's Theatre Board of Governors, and a board member of Bread for the City which provides food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services to DC’s low-income community. Dennis also has been active in the American Bar Association serving in leadership roles in the Federal Regulation of Securities Committee.

With an impressive legal career, a commitment to education, and a dedication to community involvement, Dennis is a distinguished and accomplished individual making a positive impact on his community.

The Dennis and Malinda Garris Endowed Scholarship will award scholarship assistance to a first-generation University of Akron School of Law student from Northeast Ohio with financial need. Recipient selection will be made by the School of Law Scholarship Committee or the Dean. Funds not applied directly to the student’s account and/or used for expenses other than qualified educational expenses are reportable and may be taxable to the recipient.

To make a tax-deductible gift to this scholarship, please visit С»ÆƬÊÓƵ’s . Select “A different designation” from the drop-down menu and enter “Garris Law Scholarship” in the text box. Thank you!