From Campus to Courtroom to Community

When Rusty Perdew ’96 arrived at Bradley University, he already knew he wanted to become a lawyer. A double major in political science and philosophy felt like the right path. “Political science seemed like a natural pre-law major,” Perdew said. “I took a logic class, which was in the philosophy department, because I was told it was good for the LSAT. I wound up enjoying the classes so much that I completed the major.”

Today, he is a partner and civil litigator at Troutman Pepper Locke in Chicago, defending consumer class actions against large companies.

During his sophomore year, political science professor Craig Curtis launched a Mock Trial club — an experience that would become a turning point. “We competed against other schools during my sophomore, junior, and senior years,” Perdew recalled. “It was my favorite experience in college and definitely reinforced my plan to be a lawyer.”

Curtis, now retired, vividly remembers Perdew’s talent. “Rusty was an excellent advocate from day one in Mock Trial,” he said. “It seemed like every tournament we competed in, he won a best attorney award. All the coaches knew, even then, that he was going to be a formidable litigator. He played a key role in Bradley being recognized as a power school in the Mock Trial world in the ’90s.”

Perdew’s Bradley journey has now come full circle—his son Owen is following in his footsteps as a Bradley student. And in a full-circle twist, Owen has formed his own connection with one of Perdew’s most influential professors, Rob Prescott.

Prescott, now senior associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, recalls mentoring Rusty as an undergraduate. “When Rusty told me he wanted my advice on his application to Northwestern Law School, I had him over for dinner with my family, and then we sat around the table and strategized what he might feature in his essays,” Prescott said. “I was not surprised at all when he was accepted, nor by his incredible success as an attorney in the years since. His son now has that same passion for history and ideas, and the two of us have become lunch buddies.”

Perdew said that kind of mentorship defined his Bradley experience. “I’m lucky that Rob is still around and has been willing to offer guidance to Owen, just like he did with me.”

Love and Legacy Bloom

Outside the classroom, Bradley shaped Perdew’s personal life as well. During his sophomore year, he met Heather Humikowski ’97 when they both lived in Williams Hall. “Our first date was at Jonah’s Seafood House and to see an opera, which I needed to do for music class,” Perdew said. “We dated my last two years at Bradley, and I proposed to her in Bradley Park at the end of my senior year.”

Heather went on to earn her master’s in social work from the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois in Chicago. She worked in hospice and dialysis care before stepping away to raise their children. In 2020, she returned to the workforce as Volunteer Manager at Loaves & Fishes Community Services in Naperville—the largest food pantry in Illinois.

“Heather’s work has been a great way for our family to focus our support on a local and important charity,” Perdew said. “She loves interacting with her volunteers and the chance to serve the thousands of people who rely on Loaves & Fishes every week.”

Through it all, the Perdews have stayed connected to Bradley, both socially and through alumni networks. Perdew said the University was “a critical step” in his career path. “I loved the personal relationships I developed with professors. They helped me succeed and feel at home on campus. My son Owen has benefited from the same supportive relationships and small class sizes.”

“Whenever I mentor any student considering graduate school or professional school, it’s fun to think that their future will open up the way Rusty’s has,” Prescott said. “You can’t see it clearly at the time, but we know they are going to do great things as Bradley alumni.”

—Emily Potts