ANDRE SMITH published a new book entitled Tax Law and Racial Economic Justice: Black Tax. Blending traditional legal theory, neoclassical economics, and a pan-African view of history, the book explores the relationship between race, economic equality, and taxes. Using examples and stories from ancient Africa to the founding of the United States of America, to the civil rights movement, and into the chambers of the US Supreme Court, the book traverses a wide landscape to provide context and illuminate racial dynamics, the law, and the tax system.
Guilt: Causes Of And Solutions To Wrongful Convictions” program in Plano, Texas; and he taught evidence to the Pennsylvania judiciary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Professor Epstein has also served as pro bono co-counsel, helping the Defender Association of Philadelphia litigate the first Frye hearing in Pennsylvania, regarding the use of expert witnesses in eyewitness identification cases.
Junior Faculty Business and Financial Law Workshop at George Washington School of Law in Washington, D.C.
Subscribe to the Widener Law Legal Studies Research Paper Series from Social Science Research Network (SSRN). This free email series delivers the latest articles by Widener Law faculty to your email inbox. Visit: ssrn.com/ link/Widener-LEG.html to subscribe.
JOHN CULHANE was a guest on the “Gil Gross” radio program, broadcast out of San Francisco, discussing the issue of parental obligation for children’s higher education. He was also invited to join the Marriage Opportunity Council, a new, nationwide initiative created by the Institute for American Values and he participated in the group’s inaugural roundtable event in Washington, D.C. He taped an episode entitled “Liberty, Justice... and Gay Marriage for All (States)?” for the the television show “American Law Journal.” The show was set to air shortly before the Supreme Court hears oral argument in a marriage equality case. He spoke about the continuing relevance of legal statuses other than marriage, including civil unions and domestic partnerships at an LGBT-themed symposium at the University of South Dakota.
ERIN DALY was a delegate to the International Association of Law Schools Regional Law Deans’ Forum in Bogotá, Columbia and presented a paper on dignity rights at the University of the Andes.
JEAN EGGEN served as a guest blogger for the “HealthLawProf Blog.” In this role, she wrote the following articles: “Is Nanotech the Next Asbestos?”; “LowLevel Exposures to Chemicals in Drinking Water: Are They Actionable?”; “In Honor of Veterans Day: Resolving the Complex Legal Issues of the Iraq and Afghanistan Burn Pit Litigation;” and “Will the Neuroscience
Revolution Change Tort Law?: Some Thoughts on the Mental Disabilities Rule in Negligence Law.” The articles are available at lawprofessors.typepad.com/ healthlawprof_blog.
She also gave an interview to Reuters Legal on the subject of neuroscience and tort law. A condensed version entitled, “Q&A: Widener University’s Jean Eggen on Neuroscience in Law,” appeared in the Reuters Legal Health News on WestlawNext.
JULES EPSTEIN continues to serve on the National Commission on Forensic Science and attended its quarterly meeting in Washington, D.C. He also planned and presented at a capital case CLE for the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He taught evidence to judges from the five branches of the United States military in his capacity as faculty for the National Judicial College; he planned and presented the “Establishing Innocence Or
TRANSITION AT TAISHOFF
MICHAEL GOLDBERG filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Association for Union Democracy (AUD) that was discussed in a decision issued by the National Labor Relations Board.
LARRY HAMERMESH was a panelist, along with Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster, on a panel on “Delaware Developments” at the Practising Law Institute program, “Corporate Governance – A Master Class 2015,” in New York, New York. Professor Hamermesh also spoke at the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., at a roundtable on improving the proxy voting process. With Prof. John Coffee Jr. of Columbia Law School, Professor Hamermesh also addressed the Corporations, Finance and Securities Law Section of the Washington D.C. Bar at their nationally webcast program on fee shifting bylaws in shareholder litigation. He was also an invited commentator on a paper on “Shareholder Litigation by Contract,” presented by Prof. Verity Winship of the University of Illinois College of Law, at the Fifth Annual
We would like to welcome JUDY RITTER as the director of The Taishoff Advocacy, Technology, and Public Service Institute. Professor Ritter succeeds Jules Epstein, the Institute’s previous director. We are confident that the fantastic work being done at the Institute will continue under the leadership of Judy Ritter, and that exciting developments will be forthcoming as the Institute, and Widener Law Delaware, continues evolving.
JAMES R. MAY recently traveled to Beijing, China to speak with judges, advocates, government officials, and nongovernmental organizations about emerging legal issues in the implementation of newly enacted, progressive environmental laws in China. He was one of three Americans invited to speak, and the only one from academia. His presentations included, “Environmental Law and Participation, Information and Access to Information” at Beijing University, and “Natural Resources Damage Assessments in the United States” at Peking University. He also recently gave a presentation on major federal developments in environmental law at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s 2015 Environmental Law Forum. He presented “Free Speech in the Age of the Emoticon: Elonis v. United States” at Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor. He also participated in the Widener Law Media Day Supreme Court Wrap-up and the Constitution Law Society Faculty Debate.
JUDY RITTER published an article entitled, “After the Hurricane: The Legacy of the Rubin Carter Case,” in Volume 12 of the Hastings Race and Poverty Law Journal Subsequently, Professor Ritter presented the article at the Delaware Valley Feminist Law Professors Conference at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
MICHAEL J. SLINGER delivered a lecture at the law school in honor of the Commemoration of the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War on the topic, “Could the American Civil War have become a World War?”
LEONARD SOSNOV helped organize and presented at a CLE for Pennsylvania public defenders on campus. He also gave a presentation on recurring and novel trial evidentiary issues at the Advanced Litigation Skills CLE.
CULHANE, JOHN G., The Doomed Sandy Hook Lawsuit SLATE (Dec. 16, 2014), http:// www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/ jurisprudence/2014/12/sandy_hook_lawsuit_ parents_of_school_shooting_victims_sue_ gun_manufacturer.html.
Are Parents Obliged to Pay for College? slate (Dec. 4, 2014), http://www.slate.com/articles/ news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2014/12/ caitlyn_ricci_tuition_lawsuit_divorced_ parents_are_obliged_to_pay.html.
After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, slate (Nov. 11, 2014), http://www.slate.com/articles/ news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2014/11/ the_great_invisible_movie_review_victims_ of_the_bp_deepwater_horizon_oil.html.
DALY, ERIN & James R. May, Global Environmental Constitutionalism (Cambridge 2014).
EPSTEIN, JULES, Op-Ed., Casting Reasonable Doubt on Eyewitness Testimony Phil inq Oct. 10, 2014, at A23.
GARFIELD, ALAN E., Op-Ed., All Signs Point to a Headache When Court Hears This Case, the neWs J. (Wilmington, DE), Jan. 12, 2015, at A7.
Op-Ed., Should Musicians be Jailed for Their Threatening Lyrics? the neWs J. (Wilmington, DE), Dec. 1, 2014, at A9.
Op-Ed., Who Speaks for the ‘People’ on Policy? the neWs J. (Wilmington, DE), Nov. 3, 2014, at A9.
GOLDBERG, MICHAEL J., Chap. 13, Election of Union Officers, national laWyer’s GUild, emPloyee and Union member GUide to labor laW (Thomson-West, 2014 revisions).
GROHSGAL, BRUCE, Why Recent SPOE Bills for SIFIs Fail 33 am bankr inst. J., Dec. 2014, at 105.
Sections 542 and 543 – Turnover of Property of the Estate in norton annUal sUrvey oF bankrUPtcy laW (Thomson Reuters 2014).
& Peter Keane, Sections 363 and 364 – Use, Sale, or Lease of Property and Obtaining Credit in norton annUal sUrvey oF bankrUPtcy laW (Thomson Reuters 2014).
HAMERMESH, LAWRENCE A., Consent in Corporate Law, 70 bUs., laW. 161 (2014).
Justice Joseph T. Walsh: Teacher 39 del J. corP l 373 (2014).
How Long Do We Have to Play the “Great” Game? 100 ioWa l rev bUll 31 (2015).
HILL, LOUISE L., The Preclusion of Nonlawyer Ownership of Law Firms: Protecting the Interest of Clients or Protecting the Interest of Lawyers? 42 caP U. l rev 907 (2014).
HODAS, DAVID R., State Initiatives, Global climate chanGe and U.s laW, (M. Gerrard and J. Freeman eds. 2ND ed. ABA 2014).
The Constitution and Pollution: Federalism at Work, the neWs JoUrnal (16 Sep 2014) A9, Wilmington_News_Journal_20140916_ A09_0.pdf.
Panelist, First Monday: Preview of 2014 Supreme Court Term Wilmington, DE (6 Oct. 2015).
Sustainable Energy Law and Zero-Emission Vehicles: The Solar and Wind Energy Storage Solution, IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Annual Colloquium, Tarragona, Spain (3 July 2014).
Moderator, Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Pane , IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Annual Colloquium, Tarragona, Spain (2 July 2014).
Legal Risk and Ecosystem Services, University of Otago Faculty of Law, Dunedin, New Zealand (2 April 2014).
Sustainable Energy Law in New Zealand University of Auckland, Auckland NZ (1 March 2014), Waikato University Law School, Hamilton NZ (15 March 2014) and University of Otago Law School, Dunedin, NZ (3 April 2014).
Science and the Constitution Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand (18 Feb. 2014).
KRISTL, KENNETH T., (Principal Author) & The Widener University School of Law’s Environmnetal and Natural Resources Law Clinic, Assessing the Legal Toolbox for Sea Level Rise Adaption in Delaware: Options and Challenges for Regulators, Policymakers, Property Owners, and the Public (State of DE’s Dept. of Natural Res. & Envt’l Control DE Coastal Programs 2014).
MAY, JAMES R., & John C. Dernbach, Can Shale Gas Help Accelerate the Transition to Sustainability? 57 ENV’T 4 (2015). & Erin Daly, Global environmental constitUtionalism (Cambridge 2014). & Erin Daly, modern First amendment laW
SCHEUER, LUKE, Op-Ed., Save our Elections from the Secret Money People the neWs J. (Wilmington, DE), Jan. 20, 2015, at A7.
SMITH, ANDRE L., tax laW and racial economic JUstice black tax (Lexington Books, 2015).
SOSNOV, LEONARD N., Brady Reconstructed: An Overdue Expansion of Rights and Remedies, 45 N.M. L. Rev. 171 (2014).
Events
MLK Service Awards
D
uring a program celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King, Widener Law Delaware presented the Martin Luther King (MLK) Service Award to members of the Youth Court programs at Bayard Middle School, Wilmington, and Chester High School. Through Youth Court, law school students, under the supervision of faculty, train public school students to act as attorneys, judges, and jurors in matters involving their peers who are accused of minor school offenses.
Public Interest Resource Center Director
Widener Law Delaware welcomed high school students from Penncrest High School and Springfield High School in Pennsylvania, along with students from the Youth Angels Scholar Program, who took part in Widener Law Delaware’s annual Diversity Law Day. The high school students participated in a mock law class, taught by Widener Law students, debated the merits of a fictitious search-and-seizure case, and made oral arguments before a panel of law students acting as Supreme Court justices.
Above: Associate Professor Bruce Grohsgal, pictured left, mingles with Kendrick McLeod.
Left: Presentation of the Service Award.
Delaware Supreme Court
Justice Randy J. Holland administered the attorney’s oath for the limited practice of law to students working at the Delaware Civil Law Clinic and at the Community Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Above: Assistant Dean and Multicultural Affairs Officer Nicole Barkley ’04, standing, speaks with attendees from the Youth Angels Scholar program.
Left: Tanasia Evans of Springfield High School addresses the “court” during the mock trial.
I n late February, alumni gathered in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey to reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate the appointment of fellow alumnus, Justice Lee Solomon, to the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Above: Jennifer Stonerod ’05 with Justice Solomon.
Fierce Competitions
The 27th Annual Ruby R. Vale Interschool Corporate Moot Court Competition was held in March, attracting teams from 17 schools. Donna M. Nagy, Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the C. Ben Dutton Professor of Business Law at Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law, gave the competition’s distinguished scholar lecture. The team from the University of Oklahoma College of Law prevailed over the team from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in the final round of competition.
Above: The final round bench posed with the competition winners. From left, Court of Chancery Vice Chancellors J. Travis Laster and Donald F. Parsons Jr.; three Ohio State Moritz College of Law team members; Executive Associate Dean and C. Ben Dutton Professor of Law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Donna M. Nagg; and Delaware Supreme Court Justices Karen L. Valihura and James T. Vaughn Jr.
The Widener Law Delaware Transactional Law Honor Society team won the 2015 Transactional LawMeets Mid-Atlantic Regional Finalist title and advanced to the national competition. Justin Forcier, President of the Transactional Law Honor Society, remarked, “Just three years after establishing our program, we’re proud to have achieved so much. It’s been a great learning experience.”
Above: Members of the winning team pose with their award.
Top:
Sydney Howe-Barksdale (center) and Helen S. Balick Visiting Professor of Law, Kenneth Kristl (right) present Widener Law Delaware’s MLK Service Award to Greg Voltz (left) for his leadership with the Youth Court Program.
law.widener.edu/events
Vale Speaker Series
Widener Law Delaware continued its Ruby R. Vale Distinguished Speaker Series this spring with a talk by Delaware Court of Chancery Chancellor Andre G. Bouchard. The series began in 2013 to shine a spotlight on nationally known Delaware legal leaders, showcase their work and strengthen their connections with the law school community.
T
he Food and Drug Law Association presented its fifth annual CLE program with a focus on the Food and Drug Administration’s biggest accomplishments in the legal field this year. Topics included medical devices, Ebola, e-cigarettes, ethics, and criminal enforcement of food and drug law.
Widener Law Delaware and its Taishoff Advocacy, Technology, and Public Service Institute hosted the second-annual Advanced Litigation Skills program this spring with a focus on crossexamination. Participants enjoyed Irving Younger’s “10 Commandments” lecture and discussed critical techniques for trial advocates during the daylong event.
Widener Law Delaware students gathered at the Chase Center on the Riverfront to celebrate another year of successful study and, for some, the conclusion of their law school careers.
Honoring a Beloved Father by Giving Back
James (Jim) McEldrew, III ’82 has long been engaged with Widener Law Delaware – and long had a desire to honor his father’s memory. A former U.S. Navy Sea Bee in the South Pacific and then attorney, James McEldrew, was a mentor and friend to his son.
T
he Delaware Journal of Corporate Law the Widener Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law, and the Ruby R. Vale Foundation collaborated on a symposium as a part of the Ruby R. Vale Distinguished Speaker Series on April 24, 2015, entitled, “Law Professors as Expert Witnesses.”
S tephanie Stecklair 3L, received one of the Philadelphia Bar Association Public Interest Section’s Annual Law Student Awards, which recognized her commitment to public service. Stecklair has dedicated herself to domestic violence issues, particularly to indigent women and the legal conflicts they face.
Above: Food and Drug Law Association CLE program director Roseann B. Termini (far left) and CLE attendees.
Hundreds of alumni, law students and legal professionals attended the annual Philadelphia Alumni Reception at the Down Town Club. Award recipients included Paul D. Edger ’11, who was awarded the Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award; Jonathan E. Peri ’99, who was awarded the Outstanding Service Award; and Renae B. Axelrod ’91, who was awarded the Alumna of the Year Award.
Tara L. Miller ’12 (pictured), was also awarded the Alumna of the Year Award, posthumously.
The Barristers’ Ball, hosted by the Student Bar Association (SBA) featured dinner and dancing.
“He was a Philly lawyer for over 40 years—among the best malpractice attorneys in the area,” Jim explained. Over the course of his distinguished career, his father hired 20 to 25 Widener Law Delaware graduates. When his father passed away, Jim wanted to pay tribute to him – and the values for which he stood.
Jim had been searching for a way to properly honor his father’s name and memory, and continue his legacy of helping others. Now at the point in his career when he can give back in the tradition of his father, Jim established a generous scholarship: today, the James J. McEldrew Endowed Scholarship is available to help fulltime Juris Doctorate candidates who are currently serving in, or have been honorably discharged from, the United States Navy and/or Marines. Surely, Jim’s father would approve.
If you are interested in learning more about establishing an endowed scholarship, please contact the Office of Development & Alumni Engagement at (302) 477-2172.
Morgan Madden and Lauren Ritter.
Paige Valeski, Gianna Silverman, and Carrie Krantz.
Class Notes
A message from the alumni board president
dear FelloW GradUates oF Widener laW delaWare:
This is an exciting time for all of us at Widener Law Delaware. With the appointment of Rod Smolla as the new dean for the Delaware campus, a singlecampus mission to recruit and educate tomorrow’s lawyers, and a beautiful new website, what better time than now to show the region, and beyond, how proud we are to be alumni?
Just for a moment, I ask you to think of a college or law school that you perceive to be successful, prominent, well-respected – and then look at that institution’s level of alumni participation. I bet it’s a high percentage – a percentage which is critical for us to attain. Now is the time for us to rally together to let others know what Widener Law Delaware is about! I ask each of you to re-engage with your alma mater. Let’s show our new dean what a terrific body of graduates he has to call upon for support and service.
One of the easiest ways to make an impact is through philanthropic support. I’ve learned that it’s true that every single dollar counts because the public level of our investment, exhibited thorough our donations to Widener Law Delaware, often bears on grantmakers’ decisions to award us funding for special projects. As we move forward while law school enrollment across the nation continues to recover, it is more important for each of us to show support to the law school. Here are some easy ways to stay connected and get involved:
Thank you in advance for your increased involvement as we move into this new and exciting time in our institution. I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event. Feel free to contact me with questions, ideas, or feedback at lawalumnipresident@mail.widener.edu.
Please visit our updated website – delawarelaw.widener.edu – for more ways to stay connected and get involved.
Sincerely,
renae b axelrod ’91 President, Widener laW delaWare alUmni association
Tell us about your achievements. Email your class notes to: law_alumni@mail.widener.edu
Or send them to:
Office of Development & Alumni Engagement
Widener Law Delaware, Attn: Class Notes 4601 Concord Pike Wilmington, DE 19803
1981
ANDREW E. DIPIERO celebrated his 30th year as a member of the Board of Directors of Quaint Oak Bank in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
1983
• GIVE BACK! Don’t hesitate to make a gift—no matter how large or small—because every dollar counts! Every single gift makes a difference.
• Support Students: Hire one of our graduates, attend an event to help them network, or allow a student to conduct an informational interview with you. This means the world to our newest alumni, and I am sure you remember how critical it was to us at that stage of our careers.
• Include Us: Be sure that your bio/attorney profile includes your degree from Widener Law Delaware.
• Mention Us: When you author an article, or are otherwise publicly recognized, mention your school.
• BRAG! We want to know what fellow graduates are doing! Email personal and professional updates to law_alumni@widener.edu.
1976
ALEXANDER MURPHY JR. an entertainment lawyer, served as the course planner, moderator, and a presenter for a Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) continuing legal education program entitled, “Entertainment Law in the 21st Century,” in Philadelphia, PA. The program addressed and presented a real-world analysis of emerging issues and challenges in film, music, fair use, entertainment litigation, and entertainment ethics.
CHARLES P. MIRARCHI III was inducted into Psi Chi, the National Honor Society of Psychology.
KENNETH GILBERG was selected by Primepoint LLC, a payroll processing and HR information system technology company, to present a seminar for human resources professionals entitled, “Avoiding Legal Landmines: How to Effectively Discipline and Discharge Employees.”
STEVEN HARZ was appointed to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission by Governor Chris Christie and confirmed by the Senate. The commission’s mission is to preserve natural, historic, and cultural resources, and provide for their use by the public for recreational and educational purposes.
WILLIAM P. FEDULLO , Philadelphia Bar Association immediate past chancellor, presented at the association’s celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision.
1977
MARGARET T. MURPHY is the administrative judge of the trial division of Common Pleas Court for the Family Court in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Murphy will direct the assignment of judges and other court personnel involved with juvenile and domestic relations cases.
1978
Judge IRVIN J. SNYDER of the New Jersey Superior Court, joined Greenblatt, Pierce, Engle, Funt & Flores, LLC, as special counsel. He will offer mediation, arbitration, and arbitration neutral services to attorneys throughout New Jersey.
1979
ERIC L. GRAYSON started a firm with Kenneth Roseman, P.A. and will serve in an “Of Counsel” capacity, where he will continue focusing his practice on plaintiffs’ personal injury matters.
BRAD INGERMAN president and CEO of Ingerman, which develops, builds, and manages award-winning multi-family communities throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, relocated his company’s headquarters, to Collingswood, New Jersey, where the company occupies the ground floor of a recently completed building project.
JOSEPH J. MCGRORY JR. was elected to the Berks County Home Builders Association Board of Directors in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
THOMAS DURLING was appointed as the 2015 chair of Flaster Greenberg’s Intellectual Property department.
1986
JANET R. GERSHEN-SIEGEL published her first novel, UntrUstWorthy, which tackles gender politics and gender oppression in a dystopian society.
1987
LARRY BENDESKY co-authored an article, “Deposing a Corporate Designee in Products Cases,” published in The Legal Intelligencer
SHARON L. CAFFREY co-authored an article, “PA Justices Adopt New Standards for Strict Liability Claims,” published in The Legal Intelligencer
JOANNE PHILLIPS was named the chair of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Counselors of Real Estate. The organization produces educational programs, events, and publications for its members and the real estate community at large.
IRVIN J. SNYDER ’78, AND JOSEPH J. MCGRORY, JR. ’83
Class Notes
1988
DEREK L. LAYSER was named, for the third consecutive year, to “Best Lawyers in America” for his work in personal injury litigation.
JEAN M. HADLEY joined Flaster Greenberg as the firm’s new director of recruitment and professional development. She is responsible for attorney recruitment initiatives, identifying professional development and practice needs, and strategic growth for all six office locations.
MARIA A. MOFFA was named vice president of client services for Continuum Health Alliance, an ambulatory care services company. She oversees management services designed to assure customer satisfaction, ensure performance objectives, and promote overall business growth for Continuum’s healthcare clients.
1989
TIMOTHY R. LAWN of Raynes McCarty was a co-course planner and speaker at the Pennsylvania Association for Justice’s ninth annual medical malpractice seminar, where he spoke about surgical errors.
RONALD J. PATTERSON was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Philadelphiabased ALS Hope Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to the care and cure of people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases.
1990
CRAIG A. STYER was elected president of the Chester County Bar Association (CCBA). A long-standing active participant in the organization, Styer will collaborate with fellow CCBA members and will lead efforts to provide education and access to the legal system for Chester County residents.
DOMENICK C. DICICCO Jr., has been promoted to the head of global litigation management for AIG. In his new role, Mr. DiCicco will oversee more than 500 professionals around the globe.
GINO BENEDETTI , SEPTA’s general counsel, represented the transportation authority along with lawyers from his former firm, Dilworth Paxson.
Fox Rothschild named SHARON MORGAN co-chair of its women’s initiative steering committee, which helps to advance the professional growth of the firm’s female associates by providing them with support and guidance as they determine the direction of their legal careers.
1991
Carlton, Fields, Jorden, & Burt named AMY FURNESS a co-managing shareholder of the firm’s Miami office. Furness chairs the firm’s national Products and Toxic Tort Liability Practice Group and her practice focuses primarily on commercial, environmental, and product liability litigation.
1992
ALFRED CARLSON presented at the 13th Annual Worker’s Compensation Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
AMALIA V. ROMANOWICZ , a principal at Post & Schell, wrote a piece in the special “Alternative Dispute Resolution” section of The Legal Intelligencer entitled, “Arbitrating a Medical Malpractice Case in PA.”
LISA SHEARMAN , an attorney with Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin, spoke at the annual conference of the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Association of Legal Professionals on the Wills for Heroes program. Shearman is the national affiliate director of the Wills for Heroes Foundation and one of the statewide coordinators of the Pennsylvania program.
1993
JOHN A. LIVINGOOD JR. was elected as president of the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel.
RAFAEL ZAHRALDDIN-ARAVENA received the Large Transaction of the Year Award for his work with AgFeed Industries, Inc. He is the chair of Elliott Greenleaf’s National Commercial Bankruptcy and Restructuring practice and a founding shareholder of its Delaware office.
1994
GINA F. RUBEL president and CEO of Furia Rubel Communications, Inc., has been elected secretary and treasurer of The Justinian Foundation, an affiliate of The Justinian Society of Philadelphia.
KYLE N. THOMPSON has been named a partner of the firm Kilcoyne & Nesbitt, LLC.
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Judge CHRISTINE FIZZANO CANNON was appointed to the 12-member Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania.
1995
CHRISTIAN PETRUCCI authored a column published in The Legal Intelligencer entitled, “Determining When Maximum Medical Improvement Is Reached.”
Wilmington Trust hired DAVID J. BLOOM J.D., CFP® as managing director and senior private client advisor in the firm’s Wealth Advisory division to serve its growing base of high-net-worth clients in the Greater Philadelphia region.
DENA B. CALO joined Saul Ewing as a partner in the labor, employment, and employee benefits practice.
JAMES A. ROCCO III was named December’s Philadelphia VIP Volunteer
of the Month. Rocco focuses on family law and personal injury cases, with experience in divorce, custody, and support cases.
JULIA SWAIN a partner in the family law group at Fox Rothschild, joined the Supervision to Aid Reentry Family Court Initiative Program, an initiative developed through the federal courts to help exoffenders reenter society.
KIMBERLY A. LAPWORTH was elected a partner at Rawle and Henderson, LLP. She concentrates her practice in the areas of toxic and mass torts; products liability; drug and medical device litigation; and transportation law.
The National Board of Trial Advocacy announced that TIMOTHY RAYNE of the law firm of MacElree Harvey, Ltd., has successfully achieved Board Certification as a civil trial advocate.
1996
KIM VENZIE of Unruh, Turner, Burke & Frees was appointed by the Chester County Commissioners to serve on the board of Chester County Solid Waste Authority.
MELISSA GUIDDY was named as the new solicitor for Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
1997
CARL MINSTER was interviewed by The Philadelphia Gay News on his legal work in the LGBT community with his husband and partner, David Facciolo, Esq.
JUSTIN WINEBURGH presented at the ABA Forum on the Entertainment & Sports Industries’ 26th North American Law Summit in Costa Rica in November and served as the moderator for the session, “Is TV the New Indie Film Business?” He also hosted the Sports Insurance Workshop sponsored by Philadelphia Insurance Companies in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.
STEVEN R. KOENSE was a guest speaker at the public education seminar hosted by the Delaware County Bar Association entitled, “Custody and Protection From Abuse.” The seminar helped citizens better understand custody and custody court proceedings as well as protection from abuse proceedings and their legal underpinnings.
1998
HEATHER L. TURNER celebrated the two-year anniversary of her law firm, The Law Office of Heather L. Turner, located in Narberth, PA. She offers estate planning services to help clients protect their families and assets.
JEFFREY CAMPOLONGO contributed a piece in the Employment Law section of The Legal Intelligencer entitled, “Use of Implicit Bias Evidence to Prove Discrimination.”
1999
ANDREW S. DASHEVSKY was selected by the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Board of Governors to serve as the co-chair of the association’s state civil litigation’s compulsory arbitration committee. Dashevsky is a personal injury attorney practicing in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and he concentrates his practice on motor vehicle accidents, premises liability cases, and other personal injury matters.
ERIC L. YOUNG presented “Lessons From Whistleblowers for FCPA Compliance” as part of the Anti-Corruption Information Series to the Anti-Corruption and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in India.
JENNIFER RINALDI ’s invention, Garden Stamp, a pegged garden tool that makes it easier to plant vegetable, herb and flower seeds with consistent spacing, won the Fresh Ideas/Best New Product Award at Cultivate 2014, the largest horticultural trade show in North America. Garden Stamp is now being manufactured for purchase.
DEREK L. LAYSER ’88, MARIA A. MOFFA ’88, RAFAEL ZAHRALDDIN-ARAVENA ’93, AND HEATHER L. TURNER ’98
Class Notes
RECONNECT:
We’d like to know where you are and what you’re doing VISIT OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY WEBSITE lawalumni.widener.edu
2000
The United States Senate confirmed WILLIAM P. DOYLE to another term in office as a Federal Maritime Commissioner. Commissioner Doyle has spent his professional career in the transportation sector. He is a Coast Guard-licensed engineer and also previously served as an officer in the U.S. Merchant Marines.
BRIAN MCTEAR has joined Preferred as the vice president of business and legal affairs. Brian is responsible for all legal affairs including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financings, intellectual property protection, customer and vendor contracts, litigation, and regulatory compliance.
ROBERT W. SULLIVAN published his book, the royal arch oF enoch: the imPact oF masonic ritUal, PhilosoPhy, and symbolism This is his first published work and is the result of 20 years of research.
2001
Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union appointed PATRICK M. MCKENNA to its supervisory committee, which helps ensure the integrity of its financial and operational information, maintains the effectiveness and efficiency of its operations, and oversees the performance of internal audits.
2002
CHRISTOPHER E. BALLOD joined Pietragallo, Gordon, Alfano, Bosick, & Raspanti, LLP, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as special counsel in the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property Practice Groups.
HERCULES W. GRIGOS presented, “Handling Environmental Opportunities and Challenges With Local Municipalities in a Post-Robinson World,” live at the Obermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell, and Hippel, LLC., Philadelphia office and via web to remote locations.
CHARLES LANZALOTTI moved to the Marlton, New Jersey office of Bennett, Bricklin & Saltzburg after working in the firm’s special investigation and fraud team in the Philadelphia office.
JAMES MERKINS was sworn in as district judge for Magisterial District Court 32-2-54. He was nominated by former Governor Tom Corbett and unanimously confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate.
SCOTT REID will be honored by the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia with the 2014 J. Austin Norris Award at its annual gala on May 17, 2015. The award recognizes an attorney who has demonstrated distinguished service to the association, the legal profession, and the community at large.
RIKI REDENTE STROSSER has been practicing at the Philadelphia law firm Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler for 11 years handling plaintiff’s asbestos litigation claims as well as medical malpractice, and other plaintiff’s personal injury cases.
2003
JONATHAN BOUGHRUM was named partner at Montgomery, McCracken, Walker, & Rhoads, LLP. He concentrates his practice in the areas of products liability defense, government investigations, and business litigation.
JAMES S. GREEN JR. was elected partner at Landis Rath & Cobb LLP. The firm specializes in commercial bankruptcy and business litigation.
DAVID PAINTER co-presented the program “2014 Legal Institute for School Psychologists” at the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania. In his presentation, he reviewed statutory, regulatory, and case law foundations of special education in Pennsylvania.
2005
SARAH B. SILVER has been appointed vice chair of the Environmental and Energy Law Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association.
2006
MAUREEN M. FARRELL was appointed as an associate editor for the Philadelphia Bar Reporter monthly newspaper of the Philadelphia Bar Association.
JUSTIN L. GROEN joined Mess & Associates and concentrates his practice on catastrophic injury litigation, medical malpractice, products liability, and other complex personal injury cases.
KIMBERLY TAKACS of ACE Group received the Craig M. Perry Service Award at The Philadelphia Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division holiday party.
2007
BRIAN O. PHILLIPS joined Timoney Knox, LLP, along with three other attorneys, to comprise the firm’s new Insurance Industry Group. He concentrates his practice on defending insurers in insurance coverage disputes with a special emphasis on first-party property coverage, litigation, and advice.
MARIA BERMUDEZ serves as the first Latina chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division.
2008
JENNIE PHILIP published an article in The Legal Intelligencer entitled, “Working to Advance Your Career While Raising a Family.”
MICHAEL J. VISCUSO became the policy director for Lynne Abraham’s campaign to be mayor of Philadelphia.
THOMAS M. BRODOWSKI presented at the National Business Institute’s seminar “Advanced Issues in Real Estate Law” in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
YUANYOU YANG joined Duane Morris in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and works on obtaining H1B Employment Visas for skilled immigrants.
2010
ELISA ADVANI was appointed to the Philadelphia Bar Reporter editorial board.
JENNIFER POPELACK an associate at Mattioni Ltd., was elected as a member of the board of the Justinian Society
MARK M. VAKIL was a guest speaker at the seminar “Custody and Protection from Abuse” presented by the Delaware County Bar Association.
RODNEY M. TANEYHILL joined Schwartz and Schwartz, Attorneys at Law and is committed to representing people who have sustained significant injury as a result of car accidents, motorcycle and bicycle accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, and other incidents.
2011
CHAD R. LINGENFELDER was granted membership into the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys in Laurel, Delaware.
MARIA C. JANOSKI is an associate at Hornstine Pelloni & Hornstine, LLC.
MELISSA PARIS joined Rawle & Henderson as an associate concentrating in the areas of commercial motor vehicle defense, and casualty and premises liability matters.
2012
ANTHONY S. COTTONE joined Burns White as an associate in its Health Care and LongTerm Care Group.
IAN T. BAXTER joined Post &Schell to represent clients in civil litigation before state and federal agencies and courts.
I n M e M or I a M
Charles a Constanzo ’75
MarC l. VergIllo ’75
thoMas W. andreWs ’76
thoMas C. Moorhead ’76
John J. sWaIM ’76
Kenneth J. sloMIensKI ’77
donald nasshorn ’78
Charles J. shoaf ’80
Kathleen a PalubInsKy ’87
John b. QuInn ’87 gregory a broWn ’82
KATELYN MCELMOYL joined Parker McCay as an associate in the municipal and government practice area.
LAUREN BERENATO is working on receiving a Master of Science in Patent Law at Notre Dame University.
KENNETH R. O’NEIL JR. joined Rawle & Henderson as an associate in the firm’s Philadelphia office. He concentrates his practice in the area of catastrophic loss litigation.
2014
The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning named SUZETTE N. BENNETT as one of their four “Learners of the Year” in Chicago, Illinois.
Pond, Lehocky, Stern, & Giordano added NIKITA K. DESAI as an associate in its social security disability department.
WILLIAM P. DOYLE ’00, CHRISTOPHER E. BALLOD ’02, AND MARIA BERMUDEZ ’07
SARAH J. WILLETTS passed the Maryland bar and is an associate attorney at Noonan & Noonan, LLC, in Cumberland, Maryland.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Every donation made to the Taking the Lead ~ The Campaign for Widener is making a difference in the lives of many: With your generosity, we established new scholarships and fellowships, making legal education more accessible. While the list of all who contributed is long, the names of Widener Law Delaware donors whose campaign gifts total $5,000 or more are listed below.
We have made every effort to ensure that the honor roll is accurate and complete. If, however, you discover an error or omission, please contact Megan Cantalupo at mccantalupo@widener.edu.
Hon. Ida Chen
Claneil Foundation
Anthony Clark Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A.
Compliance Certification Board
Thomas Del Pesco & Hon. Susan Del Pesco ‘75*
Eugene W. and Gloria Landy
Family Foundation
Ferry, Joseph & Pearce, P.A.
Gregg Galardi
Walter & Jayne Garrison
Generoso Pope Foundation
Leadership Circle
$100,000.00+
American College of Bankruptcy
Alexander & Ann Bratic
Christopher & Caroline
Bratic ‘11^ Mazza
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Crozer Keystone Health Systems
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
FHA Holding Company
Harriette S. & Charles L. Tabas Foundation
Longwood Foundation, Inc.
Mid-Atlantic
Environmental Law Center, Inc.
George Miller Jr. ‘81* & Debra Miller
Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP
Prickett, Jones & Elliott
Ruby R. Vale Foundation
Richard & Leslee
Silverman ‘79^ Tabas
Skadden Arps Slate
Meagher & Flom LLP
State of Delaware
Walter Strine Jr. & Alice
Washco ‘92 Strine^
Taishoff Family Foundation, Inc.
CAPT Robert Taishoff, JAGC, USN (Ret.) ‘89 & Laurie Taishoff
The Bank of America
Charitable Foundation, Inc.
The Mutual Fire Foundation Inc.
The Mutual Fire, Marine, and Inland Insurance Company
The Walter M. Strine and Alice Washco
Strine Foundation
Welfare Foundation, Inc.
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
Founders’ Club
$50,000-$99,000
AstraZeneca
Pharmaceuticals
Barra Foundation, Inc.
Carl Battle ‘82^
Ronald Alva Brown Jr.
‘90 & Cecily Brown
Corporate Counsel
Technology
Michael ‘75+* & Valerie DeFino
E. Wallace Chadwick Memorial Fund
Equal Justice Works
Paul Fioravanti Jr. & Shannon Fioravanti
Robert Gober DO ‘79^ & Karen Gober
Michael Hanrahan
Richard* & Eileen
Herrmann
Bruce & Traci Jameson
Hon. Alan Levin ‘80^ & Ellen Levin
James McEldrew III ‘82
Bruce ‘96 &
Elizabeth Monroe
Morris James LLP
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP
Chris Mourse
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
Thomas Russo
John+* & Eileen~ Schmutz
The Young Foundation, Inc.
John ‘75* & Donna Wetzel
Leon ‘82 & Judy Williams
Stuart~ & Toni Young
Jurists’ Society
$25,000 - $49,999
Marc ‘78^ & Robyn Abrams
Ashby & Geddes, P.A.
Hon. Bernard Balick & Hon. Helen Balick
Bayard, P.A.
Delaware State
Bar Association
Estate of June D. MacArtor
Ethel Sergeant Clark
Smith Memorial Fund
Joel ‘93 & Kim Shubin Feller
Harry & Louise Hill
James & Jonnie Holzman
Samuel ‘85^ & Laurie Landy
Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman &
Goggin, P.C.
Thomas & Elizabeth Mullen
John & Linda Paradee
Polsinelli PC
Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
John Small
Hon. Lee Solomon ‘78* & Dianne Solomon
Gary Traynor ‘82 & Kathleen Andrus
UMH Properties, Inc.
Hon. Joseph Walsh ‘97H~
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP
Chancellors’ Club
$20,000 - $24,999
Linda Ammons, JD
J. Clayton & Shannon Athey
Bank of America
Ronald ‘76^ & Cindy Goldfaden
Herrmann Family Foundation
James ‘85^ & Elizabeth Daniello ‘87 Maron
Maron Marvel Bradley & Anderson, P.A.
Elizabeth McGeever
Raynes McCarty
Thomas+ & Nancy Sager
Ambassadors’ Club
$10,000 - $19,999
Steven Barsamian ‘75*
John Carroll III ‘81* & Barbara Carroll
$5,000.00 - $9,999
Robert ‘78 & Patricia Adochio
American College of Bankruptcy Foundation
Ballard Spahr LLP
Hon. Raymond Batten ‘79* & Mary Batten
Michael ‘90 & Alice Brown
Eileen Caplan Seaman ‘94
ChesPenn Health Services, Inc.
Vincent Ciecka ‘75
John Clark Jr.~ & Esther Clark~
Todd Clark ‘02
Robert DeLong Jr. ‘99 & Susan DeLong
GreenWatch Institute
Robert Hayman Jr. & Alice Eakin
Brenda Alderman
James ‘92^
Laffey-McHugh
Foundation
Landis Rath & Cobb LLP
Eugene & Gloria Landy
Harry Dillon
Madonna ‘97^
M. Jane Mahoney ‘76
Eugene McGurk Jr. ‘78+*^
Kathleen McNicholas
MD ‘06, ‘10M+*
Edward ‘97* & Melissa Micheletti
Charles Modica ‘75
Hon. Nathaniel Nichols & Cheryl Nichols
John Pachkowski ‘88 & Mary Alice Peeling ‘91
Hon. Paul Panepinto ‘76* & Nancy Panepinto
Parcels, Inc.
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Alexander~ & Nancy Sarcione
Saul Ewing LLP
Andrew Schaeffer ‘87
Nancy Stanford ‘03
The Gilliam Foundation
Christopher & Karen Ulmer ‘95 Pendergast
Edward & Noreen Welch Matthew Zencey
Partners’ Club
Michael Marquardt & Claire DeMatteis ‘92^
Arthur Dent ‘86
Charles & Bonnie Eagan ‘09* Copeland
Cary ‘81^ & Nancy Flitter
Paula Garrison
George B. Lindsay Foundation
Jay ‘88 & Sherry Ginsburg
Jay Goffman
Michael & Anne
Goldberg
Mitchell ‘95^ & Diana Gurwicz
Gary Gremminger ‘83
Selma Hayman ‘86
W. Bruce ‘83 & Dorothy Hemphill
Robert Honecker Jr. ‘81* & Kim Roberts
Leslie Johnson ‘92
George Kern V ‘96* & Evangeline Kern
Jeffrey Killino ‘00^
Wayne Kimmel ‘95^
Kenneth ‘95^ & Kira Lopez
F. Kevin Lynch ‘79
Robert ‘92 & Eileen McCann
John & Cecilia ‘91 McCormick
Kevin & Deborah McCreery
The Montejo Family
Novak Druce Connolly Bove + Quigg LLP
STEPHEN I. MCLENDON is now the deputy district attorney for the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office.
VICTOR M. FREDERICK IV , district judge in Oley Township, PA, was featured in an article by the “Reading Eagle” for lending his tenor voice to the St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Pottstown, PA. The article, entitled, “The Verdict Is In: Oley Judge Can Sing,” highlighted his love of music.
MELISSA A. CHAPASKA joined Hawke McKeon & Sniscak, LLP, a Harrisburg, PA firm focusing on administrative litigation. She represents clients in various energy sectors including petroleum, natural gas, and electricity.
2014
JOLEE M. VAN HORN is now associate attorney at Rawle & Henderson. Jolee is engaged to marry alumnus Joshua Bovender ’12 in May 2015.
ROMA PATEL is now special counsel at the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
2013
JR. ’07 passed away on February 9, 2015. Bob was an evening division student who worked a full-time job 90 miles from campus. Bob was a gifted student. For 19 years, Bob served as a Police Officer for State College Borough and taught at both Kaplan University and the University of Phoenix. He opened his firm, The Law Office of Robert W. Bradley in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania in 2007. Bob is remembered at Widener Law for his dedication and work ethic, and sharing his passion for the legal system with others. Bob serves as an inspiration to Widener Law and his legacy continues.
ROBERT (BOB)
I n M e M or I a M
GABRIELA G. RAFUL an attorney at Galfand Berger, was selected as co-chair of the Berks County Bar Association’s minority bar and joined the Public Notary Task Force Workshop with the Berks County Bar Association. She practices in the area of employment and labor law, workers’ compensation, and personal injury.
CATHERINE J. MALYCKE joined the law firm of Hale Ball Carlson Baumgartner & Murphy, PLC, in Fairfax, Virginia, as an associate attorney. Ms. Malycke practices in the areas of family law, estate litigation, guardianship, and other civil litigation matters, in Loudoun and Fairfax County, Virginia. She is licensed to practice in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.
SHELBY G. HOSTETTER is now a solo practitioner at her firm, Shelby G. Hostetter Law Offices, in Schuylkill Haven, PA. Shelby practices in business law, elder care, estate planning, and estate administration. She has a two-year-old son, Booker, and seven-month-old daughter, Reynolds.
STEPHEN M. BILLY was promoted to legislative director after serving as the lead staffer for the Congressional Taskforce on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare under Congressman Robert Pittenger, NC.
2011
Honor Roll Class Notes
SHELBY G. HOSTETTER ’11, CATHERINE J. MALYCKE ’11, JOLEE M. VAN HORN ’13, AND STEPHEN I. MCLENDON ’14
W. BRADLEY
DIANA C. SCHIMMEL was featured in the March edition of Philadelphia Life Magazine The feature, titled, “Fierce Advocacy, Compassionate Counsel” included a two-page article about Diana’s efforts in family law. In the article, she stated, “There’s a nice quality to practicing law when it involves people and their family. It’s much more personal and it’s an opportunity to make a difference.”
MATTHEW J. LANDIS joined Russell, Krafft & Gruber, LLP. He concentrates his practice in business law, information technology, privacy and data security, real estate and banking, and finance. Matt is a member of the Lancaster and Dauphin County Bar Associations and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
PICTURED:
ANDREW CONABOY was elected to Court Counsel for the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida. Andrew also recently passed the Florida bar and is now licensed in both Florida and Pennsylvania.
2010
three years with Offit Kurman as a litigation attorney focusing in commercial litigation, and labor and employment litigation in the
ANGELA C. DAVIS PALLOZZI celebrated
2008
KEVIN G. MCKANNAN was elected as city council member for the city of Winchester, Virginia. He also serves as managing attorney of the Winchester branch for Booth & McCarthy. In addition, Kevin is a certified judge advocate with the Virginia Army National Guard.
MARCIE P. EATON is now managing partner for Troy & Eaton, LLP, a boutique law firm dedicated primarily to workers’ compensation cases. Marcie and her husband, Phil, live with their two daughters, Sarena and Victoria, three dogs, and six Morgan show horses in Binghamton, New York.
Baltimore, Maryland office. Ms. Pallozzi was named a Rising Star by “Super Lawyers” for the third consecutive year.
Gallagher Simpson Stapelton Fires & Newby associate, was a speaker at the National Business Institute’s Advanced Workers’ Compensation CLE seminar in Dover, Delaware. His presentation, entitled, “Medical Issues and Their Role in the Complex Workers’ Compensation Claim,” covered issues including psychiatric and medical injuries, occupational stress claims, cumulative trauma, and vocational rehabilitation. In his practice, Lockyer represents insurance carriers, self-insured entities, and third-party administrators in workers’ compensation and subrogation matters in Delaware and Pennsylvania.
GEOFFREY S. LOCKYER a Weber
DAVID S. KELLER announced he will seek another term as Franklin County commissioner. David was first elected commissioner in 2007 and reelected in 2011. He has served as chairman of the board of commissioners since 2010. He also serves on the Franklin County Criminal Justice Advisory Board.
2007
JEREMIAH J. UNDERHILL was honored as Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by The Dauphin County Bar Association. The association honored Underhill for his commitment to advancing the rights of veterans and their families. Underhill was the director of the Veteran’s Law Clinic on the Widener Law Harrisburg campus from 2007–2010 and is currently a contract analyst in the aerospace, defense, and marine section of TE Connectivity.
ARLENE A. MARSHALL-HOCKENSMITH has joined the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network as administrative officer. She provides administrative oversight to the statewide network of nonprofit legal aid and legal resources programs.
2006
THOMAS L. JONES was sworn into the Carbon County Bar Association and has begun duties as a public defender.
SARAH J. BROWN was named a 2014 Pennsylvania Rising Star by “Super Lawyers.” She also recently celebrated four years as an associate with Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.
5002
Great Plains Region, United States Army Trial Defense Service.
Major FRANK E. KOSTIK was recently awarded an LLM in military law with a criminal law specialty from The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School and has a military skill identifier of Senior Military Justice Practitioner. As a senior defense counsel, he both represents soldiers and supervises counsel doing the same. Major Kostik serves as senior defense counsel in the Fort Leavenworth/Fort Leonard Wood
2004
after announcing her bid for judgeship in January 2015.
working in York County’s Judicial Center
KAREN E. COMERY is hoping to return to
2003
JILL M. SPOTT was featured in an article in “The Times-Tribune” that highlighted her volunteer efforts in her Benton Township, PA community. An attorney at Shiels Law Associates, Ms. Spott also serves on the board of Meals on Wheels doing pro bono work, coordinates and judges mock trial competitions for high school students, and serves on the board of Griffin Pond Animal Shelter.
EUGENE A. DEPASQUALE Pennsylvania Auditor General, was unanimously elected as the new chairman of the Delaware River Port Authority board.
Senator RICHARD L. ALLOWAY II was elected by his colleagues to serve as Senate Majority Caucus Secretary for the 201516 legislative session. In his new position as a member of the Senate Republican leadership team, he will oversee all executive nominations submitted to the Senate for confirmation. He will also coordinate the review of the background and experience of nominees, and ensure that proper documentation is submitted.
2002
MICHAEL C. MONGIELLO has been elected a shareholder of Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, in Harrisburg, PA. He is a member of the health care department and focuses his practice on the defense of medical professionals, hospitals, and long-term care facilities, as well as correctional health care providers in prisoner civil rights and medical negligence claims.
2001
ANGELA C. DAVIS PALLOZZI ’08
MARCIE P. EATON ’08, AND STEPHEN M. BILLY ’11
MICHAEL C. MONGIELLO ’01, RICHARD L. ALLOWAY II ’02, SARAH J. BROWN ’05, AND ARLENE A. MARSHALL-HOCKENSMITH ’06
PATRICK J. MURPHY was a guest speaker at a career skills seminar supporting veterans, transitioning military personnel, and their families, hosted by The Union League of Philadelphia. He also served as master of ceremonies at the SeniorLAW Center’s gala, “Honoring Our Older Veterans: Stories of Liberation, Diversity, and Courage.”
1999
RORY G. RITRIEVI recently began his third term as president and CEO of Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc. and Mid Penn Bank. He has held these positions since 2009. Mr. Ritrievi was also appointed to The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council. He will serve a three-year term.
1998
JASON D. SHARP served on the judging panel for the 2014 “Lawyers on the Fast Track” list in The Legal Integlligencer. He is the executive deputy chief counsel for PennDOT’s Office of Chief Counsel. He serves as chief administrator for the King of Prussia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton regional offices, which provide litigation and legal support services for 45 counties.
1997
CHRISTOPHER J. MARZZACCO wrote an article in the litigation section of The Legal Integlligencer entitled, “Ethical Pitfalls for Lawyers to Avoid in Personal Injury Cases.”
CARYN M. GREEN is now a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
1996
VINCENT M. CATANZARO presented “Beyond Basics” through e-Discovery Intelligence at Reed Smith in Philadelphia, PA. The CLE discussed tools to make real change in e-discovery business, and the most current information and developments in the world of e-discovery.
THOMAS R. BEVERIDGE opened his own law firm, Beveridge Law Offices, LLC, in Pottstown, PA. Mr. Beveridge is certified as a specialist in workers’ compensation law by the Pennsylvania Bar Association and his practice focuses on representing disabled individuals in workers’ compensation and Social Security disability claims. In addition, his firm also practices small business development, tattoo law, and fish and game law.
1994
J. ANDREW CROMPTON serves as general counsel to the majority caucus, in addition to remaining chief of staff to the Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore As general counsel, he is responsible for managing all litigation for the caucus, working on advancing priority issues, and overseeing day-to-day legal matters. Andrew joined the Pennsylvania Senate in 1993 as a policy advisor and has played a major role in the development of legislation relating to state taxes, healthcare, and lobbyist disclosure.
1993
awarded the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, signifying his completion of over 10 years of commissioned service. William was an active duty judge advocate during the attacks of September 11, 2001, and participated in planning and conducting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Major WILLIAM S. WHITMAN has been
Aside from his work at Marley’s Mission, Mr. Talerico is the 1st Assistant District Attorney in Lackawanna County, Scranton, PA.
Marley’s Mission provides equine-assisted psychotherapy—free of charge—to children who have experienced emotional trauma.
EUGENE M. TALERICO, JR. president of the Board of Marley’s Mission (recognized in 2011 as the Best New Charity in the United States at the CLASSY Awards) welcomed more than 450 guests at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center to celebrate Marley’s Mission’s 5th Annual Blue Ribbon Gala.
KATHLEEN K. RYAN is now general counsel and chief operating officer of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association. She is a featured speaker and legal advisor to the funeral industry.
ANDREW J. OSTROWSKI was the Democratic nominee for United States Congress in the Pennsylvania Eleventh Congressional District against the incumbent Lou Barletta.
KEVIN M. GEARY has been promoted to assistant vice president in the litigation group at United Services Automobile Association (USAA). Kevin works at USAA’s home office in San Antonio, Texas.
Compensation. Sharon is bilingual in English and Spanish and represents workers in 12 counties throughout New Jersey.
in the New Jersey Division of Workers’
the representation of injured workers
SHARON L. FREEMAN was appointed chairperson of the Morris County Bar Association’s Workers’ Compensation Law Section. She has been a partner at Nusbaum, Stein, Goldstein, Bronstein & Kron in Succasunna, New Jersey since 2010. She continues to focus her practice in
He is a partner at Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP. Martin concentrates his practice in the areas of health law, white collar criminal law, corporate law, and health care transactions.
MARTIN T. DURKIN presented “Telemedicine: Overcoming Regulatory, Licensing & Other Legal Hurdles” at the American Law Institute CLE Program.
CHRISTIAN A. DAVIS , a partner at Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby, spoke at the National Business Institute Anatomy and Physiology 101 for Attorneys seminar in Philadelphia, PA. His program, “Hand and Wrist Injuries,” covered topics including how trauma occurs, how it affects function, and what to look for in medical records and diagnostic tests. Davis defends insurance carriers, self-insured entities, and third-party administrators in workers’ compensation claims.
1992
Office of Development & Alumni Engagement 3737 Vartan Way Harrisburg, PA 17106
Tell us about your achievements. Email your class notes to: trdepaoli@widener.edu Or mail them to: Widener Law Harrisburg, Attn: Class Notes
Best wishes, anyat e olbertc lissmanb ’97
Until June 30, we remain one law school and one alumni association. But we still need the full support of our alumni as we move forward. I hope you will consider volunteering your time and talents to our efforts. Opportunities to get involved with the soon-to-be-created alumni association are still available. Please contact Natasha Lewis in the Office of Development & Alumni Engagement at (717) 541-3974 or nclewis@widener.edu.
Since October 2014, I have worked with several alumni and law school staff on building the foundation of the alumni association for our newly independent law school. We are crafting the by-laws and creating a distinct voice for Harrisburg alumni. The alumni association will officially launch in Fall 2015, when we will also debut our new alumni magazine, Civitas. This new magazine will provide a unique and exclusive view of issues relevant to Harrisburg campus alumni. I am excited about the positive direction our campus is headed, from the selection of our new dean to our new independence, and I hope you are too.
This time of new beginnings is bittersweet for the law school and for the alumni association. For the past six years, I have had the distinction of serving on Widener University School of Law’s Alumni Association Board. In that time, I have formed great relationships with alumni from both campuses. Many, I am happy to call friend. While change is always difficult, I am proud to be a part of the creation of the Harrisburg campus’ alumni association.
The American Bar Association (ABA) has granted its acquiescence to separate the two campuses of Widener University School of Law into two independent and fully approved law schools. In July 2015, we will formally become an independent law school—Widener University Commonwealth Law School.
earD lumnia Fo enerDiW Wal :arrisburgH
ANDREW J. OSTROWSKI ’92
$10,000 - $19,999 Jonathan Bigley ‘95 Scott ‘97* & Tanya
$5,000.00 +
$25,000
available through her constituent service office.
present a free legal consulting session at the Martin Luther King Baptist Church in Harrisburg. Students consulted on matters involving custody, bankruptcy, wills, consumer transactions, and landlord and tenant disputes. Representative Kim provided outreach on Pennsylvania programs, services, and assistance
Pennsylvania State Representative Patty Kim to
he Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic partnered with
If, however, you discover an error or omission, please contact Natasha Lewis at nclewis@widener.edu.
Our staff has made every effort to ensure that the honor roll is accurate and complete.
We are especially grateful to those donors who elected to designate gifts to the Harrisburg campus, contributing to such initiatives as the John L. Gedid Fellowship. While the list of all who generously supported the law school is long, below are the names of Widener Law Harrisburg donors whose campaign gifts total $5,000 or more.
Every donation made to the Taking the Lead ~ The Campaign for Widener is making a difference in the lives of many.
WIDENER LAW HARRISBURG’S HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Judiciary subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts subcommittee, which is chaired by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas). The hearing convened to consider the nexus of administrative law
expert witnesses to testify before the
rofessor Jill E. Family was one of three
Professor John Dernbach and students from his “Sustainability Law and Practice” class presented sustainability resolutions to the Harrisburg City Council. Students researched environmental topics, crafted applicable new ordinances, and then presented their findings at a public meeting before the Harrisburg City Council. Topics included how to incorporate permeable paving, green infrastructure, composting, recycling, green building, and regulation of mobile food vendors into the city’s laws.
PField Trip
Top, left to right: Student Myer Messinger; Distinguished Professor John C. Dernbach; Harrisburg City Council Member
Susan Brown-Wilson; student Kayla Rosencrans; Harrisburg City Council Vice President Sandra Reid; students Travis Petty, Matthew Fine, Pia Aklian, and Mark Wendaur.
Inset: Professor John C. Dernbach addresses the Harrisburg City Council.
Professor Family shakes hands with Senator Ted Cruz following her remarks to the US Senate.
Professor Family testifies before the US Senate.
new incubator program for attorneys who want to start their own solo or small law firms was launched through a partnership between Widener Law Harrisburg and the Dauphin County Bar Association. The program, the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, provides new legal professionals with office space at the bar association, computer equipment, training, mentoring, and networking support. Participants John Sweet ’14, Patrick Daniels ’13, Mark Calore ’14, and John Tabler ’14 will provide 100 hours of pro bono legal work while in the program.
APictured: Professor Todd Aagaard (left) discusses energy and the law with Distinguished Professor John C. Dernbach (right).
“Rethinking the Energy Divide” presented by Villanova University School of Law Professor Todd Aagaard.
Widener Law Harrisburg’s first Environmental Law Distinguished Speaker Lecture Series kicked off this year with a thought-provoking discussion on
New Lecture Series
Pictured: Michael Farley; Student Bar Association President Thomas Russo; and students Hanan Khalil, Mary Jorgensen, Michael Schultz, and Tracy Murray.
Association, a group formed to help ensure veterans and their families are aware of government benefits to which they are entitled, celebrated Veterans Day with a lunch table in the Pit.
Widener Law Harrisburg Veterans
tudents from the newly formed
SDistinguished Jurist in Residence Lecture.
Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt addressed civil forfeiture and the war on drugs in Pennsylvania’s jurisprudence during the 2014
ommonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
Pictured: Mutchler answers questions from the audience following discussions about her memoir.
A Senator, A Journalist and the Politics of Gay Love in America
CHarrisburg Police Chief Tom Carter addresses race relations between civilians and the police.
Community Policing Coordinator, David Botero; Chief Administrative Law Judge, Tracy Henry ’94; Diversity Officer of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Trent Hargrove; and former Black Law Students Association co-presidents, Morgan Davis ’14 and Stephen McLendon ’14.
Terry Mutchler, former AP reporter and current executive director of the PA Office of Open Records, shared her memoir: Under This Beautiful Dome:
Students, faculty, and alumni gathered in the Pit for an informal examination of race relations and the law. The program featured remarks by Harrisburg
Celebration
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Pictured:
Pictured from left to right: Professor J.
Palmer Lockard, John Sweet ’14, Patrick Daniels ’13, Mark Calore ’14, Dauphin County Bar Executive Director Elizabeth Simcox, and John Tabler ‘14, kick-off the program.
Right: Judge Leavitt chats with event attendees at the
reception following her lecture (above).
When Does Some Federal Interest Require a Different Result?: An Essay on the Use and Misuse of Butner v. United States 2015 U. lli l evr 657.
Confirmation Standards and the Role of State Choices, 37 bellPamc l evr 1 (2015).
MORINGIELLO, JULIET M., Chapter 9 Plan
Removing the Distraction of Delay 64 Hatc u l evr 99 (2015).
Commentary, An Unexceptional Aspect of President Obama’s Immigration Executive Actions uristJ (Jan.15, 2015),
Defining American: The DREAM Act, Immigration Reform and Citizenship 14 evn .l J. 101 (2014)), http://lex.jotwell.com/ citizenship-for-the-worthy-children/.
FAMILY, JILL E., Citizenship for the Worthy Children, ellWotJ (November 17, 2014) (reviewing Elizabeth Keyes,
Officials, 40 ereeFer 80 (Feb. 2015).
DIMINO, SR., MICHAEL R., Tort Liability for Game
Facing Down the So-Called Agenda 21 ‘Conspiracy:’ Lessons for ,Planners 81 lanningP 20, (Feb. 2015).
et al., Committee on Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Ecosystems: 2013 Annual Report, in nve ,t ,nergye
et al., A Response to the IPCC Fifth Assessment, 45 nvtle l Per sWen & nalysisa 10027 (Jan. 2015).
Gas Help Accelerate the Transition to Sustainability?, 57 nvironmente 4 (Jan.-Feb. 2015), available at http://www. environmentmagazine.org/Archives/Back%20Issues/2015/ January-February%202015/shale-gas-full.html.
DERNBACH, JOHN C. & James May, Can Shale
Keep up with Widener Law Harrisburg faculty scholarship by subscribing to the Widener Law Legal Studies Research Paper Series from the Social Science Research Network (SSRN). This free email series delivers the latest articles by Widener Law faculty to your email inbox. Visit: ssrn.com/ llink/Widener-LEG.htm to subscribe.
JULIET MORINGIELLO was named a peer reviewer for the American Bankruptcy Journal
“An Unexceptional Aspect of President Obama’s Immigration Actions” at a symposium held at the AALS Annual Meeting held in Washington, D.C.
JILL FAMILY presented a paper titled
JOHN DERNBACH spoke about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Robinson Township decision at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. He also spoke on one panel and moderated another at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change held in Lima, Peru.
MICHAEL DIMINO testified before the South Carolina House of Representative’s Subcommittee on Insurance concerning the constitutionality of a bill forbidding the use of state resources for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
chair of the evidence section for the AALS.
JOHN CAPOWSKI spoke at the Northwestern University School of Law conference on “The Foundations of the Law of Evidence and their Implications for Developing Countries.” He was also elected
BEN BARROS was named chair of the program committee for the 2016 Association of American Law Schools’ (AALS) Annual Meeting.
For more information on how you can “Pay it Forward” please contact Widener Law Harrisburg’s director of development, Natasha Lewis at nclewis@widener.edu or (717) 541-3974.
As he pays it forward, Wolfberg has a vision for the type of student who may benefit from the Doug Wolfberg Scholarship. He explains, “If there are returning students like me, who are rolling the dice and taking that leap, and the scholarship can make that landing a little softer – it would be nice to see a student benefit that way.”
With the success of his firm and in gratitude for the scholarship he received, Wolfberg felt that establishing a new scholarship is a fitting tribute to Widener Law. “It was so instrumental for me. I know how much of a difference it made,” he says. “Not only did I receive assistance, but I got the education at Widener that put me in a position to be able to give back to the school.”
Wolfberg went on to become a founding partner of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, regarded as the nation’s leading Emergency Medical Services (EMS) law firm, specializing in law associated with emergency medical services. (Ironically, another founding partner, the late Jim Page, was a technical advisor and the inspiration for a main character on the TV show “Emergency.”)
Doug Wolfberg
“If there are returning students like me, who are rolling the dice and taking that leap, and the scholarship can make that landing a little softer—it would be nice to see a student benefit that way.”
I thought, ‘Great, I’m expelled,’” he laughs. But, the dean actually offered him a scholarship. “At the time, having a baby and living on only my wife’s income, it was a godsend. It was a game-changer and it really helped me to be able to start my law career with little to no debt.”
Beginning law school part-time at Widener Law, Wolfberg soon became a full-time student. Then, he received a fateful phone call. “I was giving my son a bath and my wife answered the phone. She said, ‘It’s the dean of the law school.’
Following in the footsteps of his older brother and fueled by a love for the TV show, “Emergency,” being an EMT was a lifelong passion for Wolfberg. Working as an EMT through high school and college, he went on to a thriving a career in EMT administration. “I worked at the county, region, state, and federal levels,” he explains. “I punched all the tickets I wanted to punch and then I decided it was time to head to law school.”
Wolfberg’s professional journey actually began at the age of 16 when he (like Mike Aiello) became an EMT.
says Wolfberg, who was a young father when he left a flourishing career to attend law school full-time.
“I was so fortunate to receive scholarships when I was in school,”
A scholarship was pivotal in helping Doug Wolfberg ’96, attain his goals.
Taking that responsibility to heart, Steinhardt hopes that the scholarship he funded will go to “the person who would benefit from it the most, for whatever reason that may be.” He explains, “If it will make it easier for someone to obtain his or her goal, it will serve its purpose.” Doug Wolfberg
and it certainly gave me the tools that I needed to be successful. If you have the ability to give something back, you have a moral and professional responsibility to do it.”
Doug Steinhardt
“If you have the ability to give something back, you have a moral and professional responsibility to do it.”
excellent education at Widener Law
“But for my education, I wouldn’t be sitting where I am,” he says. “I got an
He served five terms as the mayor of Lopatcong, NJ and is the current chairman of the Republican Party in Warren County, NJ.
48 attorneys with offices in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Steinhardt has also succeeded in the political arena.
Steinhardt always planned to go to law school and found Widener Law Harrisburg had “a workable environment, where you get to know your professors and they get to know you,” he says. After law school, Steinhardt and his father, Joseph, ran their own law firm together for 10 years. When his father decided to retire in 2005, Steinhardt took his extensive experience in family law, land use, and general litigation and joined the firm of Florio & Petrucci. At the time, there were six attorneys in the firm. Today, the firm is known as Florio, Petrucci, Steinhardt & Fader, and boasts
“My father had a law degree and my mother is a nurse. She was actually one of the founding trustees of our county’s community college and she just retired from the New Jersey (NJ) board of nurses,” explains Steinhardt, who was born and raised in Warren County, NJ.
Following in the footsteps of his parents led Doug Steinhardt ’94 to a career as an attorney and into public service.
FEATURE Doug Steinhardt
Widener Law was a no-brainer,” Aiello says. “I believe in giving back. I grew up with nothing and my parents were incredibly charitable in whatever way they could be, whether it was to give people a place to stay or a meal.” Inspired by their example, Aiello hopes that his scholarship will “encourage people and show them that they can do anything.”
Therefore, “To donate money to
In turn, Aiello used his law degree to become a great success story. Today, he is a board member and chairman of the corporate department of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. He represents companies in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, and was recently named the 2014 Dealmaker of the Year by The American Lawyer. He explains, “I run the global corporate practice, 650 lawyers report to me. I don’t want to sound overly dramatic, but I credit Widener Law with a lot of this.”
I really committed myself to the school.”
So, Aiello earned his undergraduate degree at New York University, while working full time as an EMT. When he decided to attend law school, Widener Law in Harrisburg provided a change of pace. “It was different from any place I’ve ever lived,” he says. “My decision to go to Widener Law was probably one of the best decisions of my life. It was perfect. It was small, rural, and felt intimate.
Michael Aiello
I grew up with nothing and my parents were incredibly charitable in whatever way they could be, whether it was to give people a place to stay or a meal.”
“I believe in giving back.
That commitment was reciprocated. “The school really cared about me,” he shares. “I ended up getting a clerkship in the Third Circuit, in my view, because of the recommendation from a Widener professor. Widener Law bent over backwards to help me. They were consumed with my success.”
Aiello explains.
Aiello credits his father with urging him toward higher education. As a teen, Aiello was an emergency medical technician (EMT) and was considering a career with the New York City Fire or Police departments when his father pulled him aside. “He said, ‘Go to college first; there’s no such thing as wasting a college degree,’”
His father immigrated to America from Italy in the 1960s. His mother was born and raised in Brooklyn. Together, they raised Michael and his two brothers with little material wealth, but with deep resources of wisdom, kindness, and grit. With their guidance, Aiello was the first in his family to attend college, then law school, and today is one of the most successful and charitable attorneys in New York City.
Michael Aiello is a purely American success story.
The Campaign for Widener comprehensive fundraising campaign, they led the way by creating generous new scholarships for the school. Though from different backgrounds, with varied motivations and goals, they are united by a shared appreciation for their Widener Law education, their ability to translate that education into great success, and their passion for giving back— and for paying it forward.
During the historic Taking the Lead ~
It is more than returning a favor—it is taking good fortune and passing it along to the next person, to the next group, even to the next generation. Inspired by gratitude and fueled by hope, it creates a domino effect of generosity. Michael Aiello ’94, Doug Steinhardt ’94, and Doug Wolfberg ’96 are all paying it forward at Widener Law Harrisburg.
What does it mean to pay it forward?
Paying itForward
by Mary Lamb
Michael Aiello ’94
Doug Wolfberg ’96
Doug Steinhardt ’94
entDresiP enerDiW niversityu
R.D JAMES T. HARRIS III
Moving forward as Widener Law Commonwealth on July 1, your new dean, Christian Johnson, has a challenging, but exciting, task ahead. I’ve been comforted in knowing that Widener Law Commonwealth is in more than capable hands with Dean Johnson at its helm, and I know that the best is yet to come.
Alumni events and messaging will be crafted by Harrisburg’s development staff with the needs of its graduates in mind.
Harrisburg staff will now cultivate and fundraise from its own constituents, with tailored support that directly impacts the most immediate campus needs and priorities.
Administrative staff, including your new dean, will devote full attention to the needs of your students and faculty, and advancing your law school.
to top prospective students.
In its recruiting efforts, Harrisburg will now have the ability to market the characteristics, faculty, and programs that make the law school unique and attractive
as the university is fresh-off of a successful ABA accreditation, an historic and successful transformational campaign, increased rankings, and greater regional and national visibility.
This transition was made from a position of strength,
should be noted:
This move toward separation was not a change made suddenly, nor was it made without conscientious and scrupulous attention to implications on enrollment, finances, and operations. Several very important factors
as Widener University Commonwealth Law School. You’ve earned it.
we have maintained not just one, but two excellent law school campuses. We couldn’t be more proud of your accomplishments as you now celebrate your independence
values the fact that, since your founding 25 years ago,
As a mid-sized institution, Widener University highly
make their marks in the pages of American legal history.
of its law school, and of our graduates who continue to
Congratulations! Widener University has long been proud
earD lumnia Dan sDrienF Fo enerDiW Wal ,arrisburgH
A message from the president
“Congratulations! . . .We couldn’t be more proud of your accomplishments as you now celebrate your independence as Commonwealth Law School.”
forward to seeing what we accomplish over the next 25 years.
We stand strong on the reputation we have built in Central Pennsylvania and beyond over the past 25 years, and I look
achievements of our alumni and faculty, this issue of the magazine celebrates the success of Taking the Lead ~ The Campaign for Widener and the generous alumni supporters that made that success possible. I am very proud of Harrisburg graduates — Michael Aiello ’94, Douglas Steinhardt ’94, and Douglas Wolfberg ’96 — who all made significant commitments to establish endowed scholarships at the law school. Their stories are unique and touching, and I am thrilled to share them with you. We are grateful for their dedication, and the dedication of so many alumni who play an active role in our day-to-day activities, whether through serving on advisory committees or working directly with students. We are fortunate to have alumni who are committed to our mission, and fully believe in our commitment to legal education.
In addition to highlighting recent events and the
The American Bar Association has granted its acquiescence to separate the two campuses of Widener University School of Law into two independent and fully approved law schools. In July 2015, the Harrisburg campus will formally become an independent law school, Widener University Commonwealth Law School. We will be informally known as Widener Law Commonwealth.
In July 2015, we will welcome a new dean, Christian Johnson, formerly the Hugh B. Brown Presidential Endowed Chair in Law and Professor, College of Law, University of Utah. We are excited to welcome him as the first dean exclusive to Harrisburg, and I am sure he is eager to connect with you, and will welcome your feedback and suggestions.
We launched a new website. If you haven’t seen it, take a look at harrisburglaw.widener.edu
This year spring is even more exciting, bringing with it many positive changes on deck:
It’s been my honor and privilege to serve as interim dean of Widener Law Harrisburg for the past year. Leading our campus and guiding faculty, staff, and students through the process of separation has been an incredible experience, and I am excited about our future. Spring is always an electrifying time at the law school — first year law students are becoming more confident, second years are settling in, and third years are inching closer to the finish line as commencement approaches.
earD lumnia Dan ,sDrienF
“We stand strong on the reputation we have built in Central Pennsylvania and beyond over the past 25 years, and I look forward to seeing what we accomplish over the next 25 years.” A message from the interim dean
ROBYN L. MEADOWS
nterimi eanD Dan essorFroP enerDiW Wal arrisburgH
Richard P. Zaretsky ’75
James J. Veneruso ’75
Andrea Beth Tinianow ’97
Leslee Silverman Tabas ’79
Alice W. Strine ’92
Douglas J. Steinhardt ’94
Timothy J. Snyder ’81
Leif R. Sigmond Jr. ’90
John E. Savoth ’85
Joseph J. Santarone ’85
Cynthia R. Ryan ’79
John L. Reed ’91
Patrick J. Murphy ’99
Eugene D. McGurk Jr. ’78
Caroline B. Mazza, JD ’11
James J. Maron ’85
Harry Dillon Madonna ’97
Kenneth J. Lopez ’95
Robert O. Lindefjeld ’93
Hon. Alan B. Levin ’80, Emeritus
Samuel A. Landy ’85
Wayne D. Kimmel ’95
Jeffrey B. Killino ’00
Brenda Alderman James ’92
Mitchell Gurwicz ’95
Ronald P. Goldfaden ’76, Emeritus
Dr. Robert D. Gober, JD ’79
Christopher R. Fromm ’99
Cary L. Flitter ’81
Claire M. DeMatteis ’92
Charlene D. Davis ’84
Kyle D. Bowser ’91
Carl W. Battle ’82
Miriam Benton Barish ’92
Joseph M. Asher ’93
Howard K. Alperin ’90
Michael J. Aiello ’94
Marc R. Abrams ’78, Emeritus
National Advisory Council
Douglas M. Wolfberg ’96
John A. Wetzel ’75
P. Michael Walker
Craig A. Styer ’90
Hon. Lee A. Solomon ’78
Bernard W. Smalley Sr. ’80
John F. Schmutz
Scott W. Reid ’02
Kathryn J. Peifer ’02
Hon. Paul P. Panepinto ’76
George K. Miller Jr. ’81
Edward B. Micheletti ’97
’10
Widener University School of Law Magazine
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Mary Allen, Megan Cantalupo, Patricia Fox, Mary Lamb, Natasha Lewis, Robyn Meadows, Ed Sonnenberg
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mary Allen, Natasha Lewis, Nancy Ravert Ward, Diana Robinson, Corrina Vecsey Wilson
