Love, Law School, and a New Life: How Northwestern Shaped a Family’s Path

In the spring of 2024, Serge Popov (JD ’26) and Victoria Reznik (JD ’24) were busy with law school finals, internship interviews, and preparations for Victoria’s graduation from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Just days later Victoria gave birth to the couple’s first child, Marsella, at Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women’s Hospital. Gazing out the window, they saw to their right the apartment where they’d lived for the last three years, and Northwestern Pritzker Law to their left. This triangle of landmarks “completely changed our life,” said Serge, containing all the memories and opportunities they’d found at Northwestern. 

Serge and Victoria emigrated from Ukraine and Israel, respectively, before their teenage years. When they met in 2016, before Victoria had even started studying for the LSAT, their love for each other was immediate and unquenchable. “I did not care how far away she went to school,” said Serge. “I wanted the best for her and knew that no distance could weaken our bond.”

Victoria applied to law school and accepted an offer from Northwestern’s dual JD/MBA program. Soon after she began the program, Serge moved to Chicago to be with her to help navigate the challenges of law school and moving to a new country. What began as a mission of support, however, quickly became something more. After countless hours of Victoria studying law and Serge helping her with flashcards and case briefs, he started to become interested himself. At the same time, “the openness and care that the Northwestern community showed to us during that first year made me feel at home,” he said. Victoria and Serge listened to Professor Martin Redish’s lectures together. “They let me sit in the back, and then I started reading the materials because she would always be in the library—that was the place where we could spend the most time together.” With Victoria’s encouragement, he began his law school application journey just as she finished her first year.

Serge attended his first year of law school at Washington University in St. Louis. He transferred in his second year, beginning classes at Northwestern Pritzker Law in August 2024. Meanwhile, during her time at Northwestern Pritzker Law Victoria became deeply involved in the community. In addition to studying in the Pritzker Legal Research Center she dedicated hundreds of hours to community service, later recognized by the Public Interest Center with the third level of distinction.

Victoria’s enrollment in the dual degree program meant that Marsella was born in between her graduation from the Law School and her MBA graduation at the Kellogg School of Management. At the joint program ceremony at Kellogg, she attended with the new baby in her arms, showing just how vital a role Northwestern has played in the family’s lives.

Now, Victoria works as an attorney in global finance at Sidley Austin in New York, while Serge will spend his 2L summer across the street from her at Latham & Watkins. “Northwestern gave us incredible friends, experiences, and opportunities, and right before I leave, Marsella is born in a Northwestern hospital with Northwestern doctors,” says Victoria. According to Serge, “we could never be thankful enough.”

“I just wonder how my graduation could ever be more chaotic than Vica’s.”

“Maybe twins,” she responds.