South Texas College of Law Houston alumna Sharon Schweitzer and her husband, John H. Robinson, have made a significant gift to establish the Schweitzer Uprka Endowed Distinguished Professorship, a meaningful new initiative that honors family Czech heritage, academic excellence, and global education.

The inaugural holder of the professorship will be Katerina Lewinbuk, Professor of Law and Director of International Programs at South Texas College of Law Houston.

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For Schweitzer, the endowment is both a tribute to her family’s Czech and Moravian roots and an investment in future generations of globally minded legal professionals.

She continues to chamption the Uprka name, as the great-grandniece of Joža Uprka and Franta Uprka, celebrated Moravian artists whose paintings, sculpture, and folk-inspired works remain an important part of Czech history.

By naming the professorship in her family’s honor, Schweitzer connects artistic legacy to a contemporary mission based in education, cultural understanding, and international engagement.

The selection of Professor Lewinbuk as inaugural professorship holder reflects those same values.

A double Fulbright recipient, internationally recognized scholar, and first-generation immigrant, Lewinbuk has spent nearly two decades expanding global opportunities for students through study abroad, comparative law, and international academic partnerships.

Her work has brought South Texas Law students into meaningful dialogue with peers and institutions around the world, helping shape lawyers who can navigate an increasingly interconnected society.

Schweitzer has long championed those efforts. An internationally recognized expert in global mobility, cultural competency, and international protocol, she has remained intertwined with her alma mater through board service, teaching, and philanthropy.

She regularly supports the law school’s annual Prague study abroad program, where she provides cultural competency training for students and faculty.

Her previous gifts include the Uprka Laga Schweitzer Study Abroad Award, an endowed advocacy scholarship, and planned giving commitments designed to expand access and opportunity for students.

The new distinguished professorship builds upon that record of generosity while highlighting the enduring significance of the Uprka family name.

Where Joža Uprka preserved Moravian identity through art, this endowment extends that spirit through education and cross-cultural exchange.

It stands as a powerful example of how Czech heritage can inspire contemporary impact.