Widener University History………………………………….…………………………………….……….………….…...4
Academic Dress
Order of the Procession
Commencement Speaker
AcademicAwards
In Memoriam
Board of Trustees
Administration
To Quickly Find an Individual:
Use the find/search feature to quickly locate someone in this program. Press [Ctrl]-f (Mac users press [Command]-f) and enter your individual’s last name in the pop-up textbox. Press the arrow keys to cycle through instances. Note that individuals who have dual degrees or awards will appear more than once.
CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION
JURIS DOCTORDEGREES
The list of degree candidates in this program is not an official indication of graduation. Since final action cannot always be taken before the publishing of the program, the University reserves the right to add or remove names and academic honors.
Andrew Abdelqader
BA, Rutgers New Brunswick
Steven John Adams
BS, The Citadel
Abbigale Marie Agosti
BS, Susquehanna University
Nicholas P. Andrews
BA, Millersville University
Artem Arutiunian
BA, Pyatigorsk State University
Madeleine Bradshaw Bauhof
BA, Elon University
Megan L. Baum
BS, Elizabethtown College
Megan Christina Bisco
BS, Lebanon Valley College
Braelyn Alexia Bishop
BS, Florida A&M University
Toty Boley
BA, Slippery Rock University
MPA, Bowie State University
Kevin R. Brinker
BA, King's College
Anthony J. Brown
BS, Mansfield University
Sarah Ann Burke
BA, The University of Virginia's College at Wise
Eve Fox Call
BS, Pennsylvania State University
Marcella M. Callahan
BS, Towson University
MA, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Bryan Campos Maza
BA, University of Maryland
Kali M. Canuel
BA, The University of Tampa
Michael J. Caravaggio
BA, King's College
Emily Grace Corcuera
BA, Otterbein University
Avery R. Covington
BA, Rowan University
Marcio P. Cracel
BA, University of Delaware
Issa Bader Dahdal
BA, Kings College
Kaleb Earl Daubert
BS, Kutztown University
Carlos E. Delcid Gonzalez
BA, The College of New Jersey
Kimberly Diaz
BA, Rowan University
Joshua Michael Dinges
BA, Saint Francis University
Morgan Tessia Engler
BA, Susquehanna University
Brittany J. Ewing
BA, California University of Pennsylvania
Justin Todd Foran
BA, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Laci Elizabeth Freas
BA, SNHU
Gretchen M. Fullmer
BA, Wilkes University
Miss-Kye Gallon
BA, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Stephen B. Garrison
BS, Arizona State University
Aniq Gill
BA, University of Delaware
JM, Regent Law School
Yazmin Giraldo-Tufano
BS, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Kyle Stuart Goldzung
BA, Virginia Commonwealth University
Jessica K. Gonzalez
BS, Pennsylvania State University
Magali Gonzalez-Salas
BA, University of Nevada
MJM, University of Nevada
Keith O. Gregory
BS, Central Penn College
Nicholas Grimes
BA, Lycoming College
Natalie Ann Guerra
BA, Seton Hall University
Garret Andrew Hampton
BA, Washington & Jefferson College
Andrew Allen Harner
BA, Temple University
Megan E. Hayward
BA, Kutztown University
Joshua D. Henry
BA, Lock Haven University
Johnathan D. Hershey
BA, Messiah University
Helene Rene Hess
BS, Peirce College
Kendra C. Jimenez
BS, Shippensburg University
Nicholas Charles Kahler
BA, Lehigh University
Angie Maire Kanavy
BA, Loyola University Maryland
Haley Jade Kyllonen
BA, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Keyunna Kalima Lawrence
BS, Hampton University
Eric Scot LeVan
BA, East Stroudsburg University
Gabrielle Claudia Lipari
BA, Stockton University
Madison Grace Long
BA, Temple University
Alisha Mangat
BS, George Mason University
Maia Lynn Mash
BA, Lock Haven University
Anne Marie McCandless
BS, University of Pittsburgh
Benjamin William McFadden
BS, The University of Scranton
Molly Elizabeth McMenamin
BA, Temple University
Kira Nicole Meager
BA, Wilkes University
Geraldo Luis Medina Jr.
BS, West Chester University
Sophie C. Miller
BS, West Chester University
Grace Gertrude Mills
BA, University of Delaware
Rachel Anne Moffitt
BA, University of Pittsburgh
Sahara Mtairi
BS, University of California, Riverside
MPP, Delaware Valley University
Clifton R. Newell
BA, Shippensburg University
Alexandra Michela Nigro
BA, Ursinus College
Kaylie Marie O'Donnell
BA, Shippensburg University
Carly Alexa Oldham
BA, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Stacy Oppenheim
BA, Kings College
MS, University of Scranton
Aditi V. Patel
BS, Pennsylvania State University
Brandon Lee Pauley
BA, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Vanessa Faye Peck
BA, University of Pittsburgh
Raquel Elise Perez
BA, Temple University
Catherine Ann Pleickhardt
BA, Hartwick College
Brian P. Poeschl
BA, DeSales University
Jessica A. Poley
BA, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Bryan Ramirez
BA, Old Dominion University
Katrina Jin-Ah Raser
BS, Central Penn College
Cameron Leo Reynolds
BA, Tarleton State University
Chase Nathaniel Richards
BS, University of Pittsburgh
John R. Rimi
BS, William Paterson University
Gina Rose Salash
BS, Millersville University
Ashleigh Savage-Colandro
BA, Rutgers University
Dakota Rose Schweitzer
BS, Shippensburg University
Steven Seepaul
ABA, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
BS, Millersville University
Shamsiddin Gafurovich Shamsiev
BA, Brooklyn College
Moroni D. Shelton
BS, Utah Valley University
Madelyn Bea Singley
BA, Temple University
Sophia M. Soifer
BA, Pennsylvania State University
Robyn St. Hilaire
BS, Drexel University
MEd, Pennsylvania State University
Emma Grace Stair
BA, Robert Morris University
Julie Marie Stenhouse
BA, University of North Georgia
Riley J. Stoltenberg
BA, Pennsylvania State University
Kendyl L. Swank
BA, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Marisa O. Swartley
BA, Temple University
Alexa Nicole Tadelman
BS, University of Central Florida
Miranda E. Thompson
BS, Pennsylvania State University
Victoria Rose Waterhouse
BA, Rowan University
Brian R. Weiss
BA, West Chester University
W. Keith Williams III
BA, Temple University
Zoë M. Wilson
BA, BS, Cleveland State University
Aaron Samuel Woodcock
BA, Brigham Young University
Shyanne Wydo
BA, Wilkes University
Charles J. Zimmerman
BA, Alvernia University
WIDENER UNIVERSITY HISTORY
Founded in 1821 as a preparatory school for boys in Wilmington, Delaware, the institution moved to Pennsylvania in 1862, and was granted collegiate powers and privileges. Known from 1892 to 1972 as Pennsylvania Military College, the name Widener College was adopted and the Corps of Cadets disbanded in 1972. Graduate programs were introduced in 1967 and the Delaware Law School was acquired in 1975. In recognition of its comprehensive offerings, Widener College became Widener University in 1979. In 1989, Commonwealth Law School opened in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Widener has grown into an esteemed university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. It comprises seven schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences, professional and preprofessional curricula leading to associate's, baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degrees. The university's campuses in Chester and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware, serve more than 5,000 students.
ACADEMICDRESS
The history of academic dress begins in the early days of the oldest universities. A statute of 1321 required all “Doctors, Licentiates, and Bachelors” of the Portuguese University of Coimbra to wear gowns. In England during the second half of the 14th century, the statutes of certain colleges forbade “excess apparel” and prescribed the wearing of a long gown. It is still a question whether academic dress finds its sources chiefly in ecclesiastical or in civilian dress. Gowns may have been considered necessary for warmth in the unheated buildings used by medieval scholars. Hoods may have served to cover the tonsured head until superseded for that purpose by the skull cap. The cap was later displaced by a headdress similar to ones now recognized as “academic.” European institutions continue to show great diversity in their specifications of academic dress.
In the United States, the practice of wearing academic apparel dates back to colonial times, but there was no uniform standard of approved attire until 1895 when a commission of leading American educators devised a code of academic dress. Although modified in 1932 by the American Council on Education, this code continues to govern the style of academic dress today.
GOWNS The gown for the bachelor’s degree has pointed sleeves and is worn closed. The gown for the master’s degree has an oblong sleeve, open at the wrist, with the sleeve base hanging down in the traditional manner. The rear part of the sleeve’s oblong shape is square cut, and the front part has an arc cut away. It may be worn open or closed. The gown for the doctor’s degree has bell-shaped sleeves and may be worn open or closed. Bachelor’s and master’s gowns have no sleeve trimmings. The doctor’s may be faced on the front with black or colored velvet and with three bars of the same across the sleeves. If color is used, it is the color distinctive of the subject to which the degree pertains, and it matches the edging or binding of the hood. The colors associated with the different disciplines include the following:
Arts, Letters, and Humanities White
Commerce,Accountancy,&Business DrabBrown
Economics Copper
Education Light Blue
Engineering Orange
FineArts Brown
Journalism Crimson
Law Purple
LibraryScience Lemon
Medicine Green
Music Pink
Nursing Apricot
Philosophy& Psychology DarkBlue
Physical Education Sage Green
Physical Therapy Teal
PublicAdministration PeacockBlue
Public Health Salmon Pink
Science Golden Yellow
Social Work Citron
Theology & Hospitality Management Scarlet
HOODS Hoods are worn by those receiving graduate degrees. The colors used in the satin linings are drawn, customarily, from the official colors of the granting institution. Widener University’s colors are blue and gold. The trimming on the hood varies in color and usually indicates the field of study.
CAPS Tams are generally worn as part of the academic costume. The long tassel fastened to the middle point of the cap’s top is black or a color appropriate to the subject, except that the doctor’s cap may have its tassel of gold threads. It is customary for degree candidates to wear the tassels on the right front side before degrees are conferred and to shift them to the left when the degrees are awarded.
Academic Honors Blue & Gold Twist
Appellate Advocacy Honor Society Green
Pro Bono Red
Student Ambassadors Orange
Student Organizations Silver
Trial Advocacy Honor Society Brown
MilitaryVeterans Red, White, & Blue
Widener Commonwealth Law Review White
THE MACE A ceremonial staff, the mace, is carried by the Grand Marshal to open and close academic convocations.
ORDER OF PROCESSION
The audience will remain seated for the Processional but rise for the singing of the National Anthem.
Prelude
Performed by Luke Lee, Mary-Clare Chun Lee, and Mary-Kate Spring Lee
Grand Marshal and Academic Mace Bearer
Mary Kate Kearney, Professor of Law
Procession
“Pomp and Circumstance”, Elgar
National Anthem
Sung by Carly Lafferty
ORDER OF EXERCISES
Dean’s Welcome andré douglas pond cummings, Dean of Widener Law Commonwealth and Professor of Law
Alumni Remarks
Mark Kovalcin ’17
Student Bar Association Remarks
Abbigale Marie Agosti ’25
Valedictorian Remarks
Nicholas Grimes ’25
Commencement Speaker’s Address
The Honorable Keli Neary ’06
United States District Judge, Middle District of Pennsylvania
Introduced by Douglas Wolfberg ’96, Member of the Board of Trustees
Provost Remarks
Dr. Andrew A. Workman, Provost of Widener University
Conferral of Degrees
Board Chair Paul Beideman
Each candidate is announced by Randi Teplitz, Assistant Dean of Students
Dean’s Remarks
Dean cummings
Recession “Ode to Joy”, Beethoven
The Honorable Keli M. Neary United States District Judge, Middle District of Pennsylvania serves as a United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. She entered on duty on January 20, 2025, following her nomination by President Joseph R. Biden and confirmation by the United States Senate.
Judge Neary earned her Juris Doctor from Widener University Commonwealth Law School in 2006 and her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 2003.
She began her legal career serving as a law clerk to the Honorable C. Joseph Rehkamp on the Court of Common Pleas of Perry County from 2006 to 2007. From 2007 to 2012, she was Assistant Counsel with the Pennsylvania State Police in the Governor’s Office of General Counsel.
In 2012, Judge Neary joined the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General in the Civil Law Division, where she served in a series of leadership roles over the next 13 years. She was Deputy Attorney General from 2012 to 2016, Senior Deputy Attorney General from 2016 to 2018, Chief Deputy Attorney General from 2018 to 2019, and Executive Deputy Attorney General from 2019 to 2025.
She is a member of several professional organizations, including the Federal Bar Association (Middle District of Pennsylvania Chapter), the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the James S. Bowman Chapter of the American Inns of Court.
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Eric D. Turner Award Jessica A. Poley
Awarded to the who best exemplifies the positive attributes of a matrimonial lawyer: academic excellence, competence as a practitioner, commitment to the practice and development of family law.
Appellate Advocacy Honor Society Outstanding Executive Board Member Haley Jade Kyllonen
Awarded by the Appellate Advocacy Honor Society to an outstanding executive board member for distinguished service and contributions made to the society.
Commonwealth Court Historical Society Judge Alexander F. Barbieri Award Nicholas Charles Kahler who has demonstrated excellence in administrative law.
Dean Anthony J. Santoro Outstanding Service Award Abbigale Marie Agosti
International Academy of Trial Lawyers Student Advocacy Award Jessica A. Poley
James S. Bowman American Inn of Court Award Sophia M. Soifer
John A. Fillion Memorial Award Anthony J. Brown
Legal Research & Writing Award Joshua Michael Dinges
Awarded to a regular division graduate for significant achievement in legal research and writing.
Legal Research & Writing Award Nicholas Grimes
Awarded to a extended division graduate for significant achievement in legal research and writing.
Outstanding Clinical Advocacy Award Vanessa Faye Peck
Awarded to the graduate who has demonstrated excellence in scholarship and oral advocacy, and participated in clinical programs involving pro bono responsibilities.
Outstanding Law & Government Student Award Issa Bader Dahdal
Awarded to the graduate who has demonstrated academic excellence in Law and Government studies.
Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award Gabrielle Claudia Lipari
Awarded to the graduate who has excelled in providing pro bono service.
The Pennsylvania Bar Association Business Law Section
Professor Louis Del Duca Memorial Award Artem Arutiunian
Awarded to the graduate who has demonstrated academic excellence in business law studies.
Robert & Audrey Dernbach Memorial Award for Environmental Law & Sustainability Megan Christina Bisco
Awarded to the student who has demonstrated both academic excellence and service to the Law School or the community concerning environmental law and sustainability.
Trial Advocacy Honor Society Outstanding Executive Board Member Kaylie Marie O'Donnell
Awarded by the Trial Advocacy Honor Society to an outstanding executive board member for distinguished service and contributions made to the society.
Widener Commonwealth Law Review Award for Distinguished Legal Scholarship Miranda E. Thompson
Awarded to the graduate of the Widener Commonwealth Law Review for demonstrating distinguished service and legal writing abilities.
Widener Law Commonwealth Outstanding Service Award
Awarded to those graduates who demonstrated exemplary service to the Law School.
Emily Grace Corcuera
Kimberly Diaz
Morgan Tessia Engler
Gretchen M. Fullmer
Magali Gonzalez-Salas
Natalie Ann Guerra
The Michael J. Aiello Scholarship Emily Sweeney
Kendra C. Jimenez
Haley Jade Kyllonen
Benjamin William McFadden
Kira Nicole Meager
Sophie C. Miller
Aditi V. Patel
Awarded to a student who demonstrates an outstanding academic record through hard work and dedication to their studies.
George C. Blissman Sr. & Hannah K. Blissman Memorial Scholarship Keith O. Gregory
This prize is awarded to a student who is specializing or has an interest in the field of tax law at Widener Law Commonwealth.
The Pamela K. Karpouzis Memorial Scholarship Emily Wolfgang
Awarded to a student who has demonstrated the highest academic merit upon successful completion of the Trial Admissions Program.
The Captain Shane Mahaffee Scholarship for Excellence Edward Fracasso
Awarded to an active duty student or student veteran in memory of U.S. Army Captain Shane Mahaffee,’94 who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq in 2006.
2025 ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Professor Robyn Meadows Endowed Scholarship for Student Success
Alexander Columbia
Bruce M. & Elizabeth M. Monroe Intellectual Property Scholarship Artem Arutiunarian
Awarded to a student who has demonstrated academic achievement in intellectual property law.
The General Carl E. Mundy Jr., USMC (RET.) & Linda Sloan Mundy Marine Scholarship Eugene Deimler & Jisela Eck
Awarded to a a Widener Law Commonwealth veteran student with a demonstrated outstanding academic record.
The Page, Wolfberg & Wirth (PWW) Emergency Service Scholarship Jacob Russell
Awarded to a Widener Law Commonwealth student with a demonstrated outstanding academic record and who prior to attending law school was employed as emergency services personnel.
The Doug M. Wolfberg Scholarship Kaylie Marie O'Donnell & Katrina Perea
This prize is awarded to an incoming or returning student who is pursuing a degree in law, has an outstanding academic record.
Andrew Abdelqader
Braelyn Alexia Bishop
Kevin R. Brinker
Anthony J. Brown
Sarah Ann Burke
Joshua Michael Dinges
Morgan Tessia Engler
Gretchen M. Fullmer
Nicholas Grimes
Joshua D. Henry
Kendra C. Jimenez
Haley Jade Kyllonen
Madison Grace Long
Alisha Mangat
Anne Marie McCandless
Sophie C. Miller
Grace Gertrude Mills
Kaylie Marie O'Donnell
Catherine Ann Pleickhardt
Jessica A. Poley
Katrina Jin-Ah Raser
Madelyn Bea Singley
Sophia M. Soifer
Robyn St. Hilaire
Julie Marie Stenhouse
Riley J. Stoltenberg
Kendyl L. Swank
Miranda E. Thompson
Brian R. Weiss
W. Keith Williams III
Charles J. Zimmerman
The CALI Excellence for the Future Award is given to the highest scoring student in each law school class.
Megan Christina Bisco
Sarah Ann Burke
Kali M. Canuel
Emily Grace Corcuera
Kimberly Diaz
Gretchen M. Fullmer
Yazmin Giraldo-Tufano
Magali Gonzalez-Salas
Keith O. Gregory
Nicholas Grimes
Natalie Ann Guerra
Johnathan D. Hershey
Nicholas Charles Kahler
Keyunna Kalima Lawrence
Gabrielle Claudia Lipari
Madison Grace Long
Alisha Mangat
Benjamin William McFadden
Kira Nicole Meager
Alexandra Michela Nigro
Kaylie Marie O'Donnell
Brandon Lee Pauley
Catherine Ann Pleickhardt
Brian P. Poeschl
Jessica A. Poley
John R. Rimi
Shamsiddin Gafurovich Shamsiev
Zoë M. Wilson
Shyanne Wydo
Widener Law Commonwealth recognizes graduates who have completed 60 hours of pro bono community service. These graduates provided legal services to community organizations and received neither pay nor academic credit for their work. They are recognized today by the red cord they wear to signify their contributions.
MILITARY SERVICE & FIRST RESPONDER GRADUATES
Kaleb Earl Daubert, U.S. Army National Guard
Stephen B. Garrison, U.S. Army
Jessica A. Poley, Fire & EMS
Moroni D. Shelton, U.S. Army
In gratitude, Widener Law Commonwealth recognizes those members of the Class of 2025 who are first responders, who have served, are serving, or will serve our country in its armed forces.
STUDENT AMBASSADORS
Abbigale Marie Agosti
Morgan Tessia Engler
Natalie Ann Guerra
Megan E. Hayward
Helene Rene Hess
Nicholas Charles Kahler
Haley Jade Kyllonen
Benjamin William McFadden
Kira Nicole Meager
Rachel Anne Moffitt
Sahara Mtairi
Catherine Ann Pleickhardt
Dakota Rose Schweitzer
Sophia M. Soifer
Victoria Rose Waterhouse
Zoë M. Wilson
Widener Law Commonwealth recognizes the student leaders who assist the Admissions Office in welcoming prospective students and visitors to our campus.
WIDENER COMMONWEALTH LAW REVIEW
Miranda E. Thompson
Editor-in-Chief
Robyn St. Hilaire
Executive Managing Editor
Kevin R. Brinker
Internal Managing Editor
Riley J. Stoltenberg
Business/External Managing Editor
Jessica A. Poley
Pennsylvania Law & Symposium Editor
Megan Christina Bisco
Kendyl L. Swank
Charles J. Zimmerman
Internal Supervising Editors
Joshua Michael Dinges
Nicholas Grimes
Kendra C. Jimenez
Anne Marie McCandless
Grace Gertrude Mills
Gina Rose Salash
Julie Marie Stenhouse Members
The Widener Commonwealth Law Review is the flagship law review of Widener Law Commonwealth. Membership on the law review staff offers students the opportunity to hone their legal research and writing skills, while advancing legal scholarship. Members are selected from students who demonstrate drive, commitment, and academic excellence.
APPELLATE ADVOCACY HONOR SOCIETY
Sophia M. Soifer
President
Gretchen M. Fullmer
Vice President of Social & Academic Development
Haley Jade Kyllonen Vice President of External Competitions
Emily Grace Corcuera Vice President of Internal Membership
Issa Bader Dahdal
Kimberly Diaz
Morgan Tessia Engler
Justin Todd Foran
Nicholas Charles Kahler
Eric Scot LeVan
Madison Grace Long
Grace Gertrude Mills
Kaylie Marie O'Donnell
Marisa O. Swartley Members
Appellate Advocacy Honor Society members participate in national competitions with students from other law schools while working closely with professors and alumni to improve their writing and oral advocacy skills.
TRIAL
ADVOCACY HONOR SOCIETY
Kaylie Marie O'Donnell President
Morgan Tessia Engler
External Vice President
Kimberly Diaz
Colloquium Coordinator & Secretary
Abbigale Marie Agosti Treasurer
Nicholas Andrews
Megan L. Baum
Sarah Ann Burke
Emily Grace Corcuera
Shamsiddin Gafurovich Shamsiev
Yazmin Giraldo-Tufano
Kendra C. Jimenez
Maia Lynn Mash
Benjamin William McFadden
Kira Nicole Meager
Grace Gertrude Mills
Catherine Ann Pleickhardt
Brian P. Poeschl
Jessica A. Poley
Kendyl L. Swank Members
Trial Advocacy Honor Society members participate in external competitions and the annual Hugh B. Pearce Competition while working closely with professors and alumni to be trained in the art of litigation, courtroom skills, etiquette, and confidence.
ORDER OF THE BARRISTERS
Emily Grace Corcuera
Kimberly Diaz
Morgan Tessia Engler
Gretchen M. Fullmer
Haley Jade Kyllonen
Benjamin William McFadden
Grace Gertrude Mills
Kaylie Marie O'Donnell
Jessica A. Poley
Sophia M. Soifer
National membership in The Order of Barristers honor society is limited to graduating law students and practicing lawyers who attained high honor through the art of oral advocacy by demonstrating exceptional skill in trial advocacy and brief writing.
IN MEMORIAM
Juliet M. Moringiello, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law, was a pivotal figure at Widener Law Commonwealth, where she taught law courses in property, bankruptcy, secured transactions and sales, and seminars on cities in crisis, the mortgage crisis, and electronic commerce.
She began teaching at Widener 31 years ago and took on a number of additional leadership duties in her tenure, including directing the business advising program, serving as associate dean for research and faculty development, and then as associate dean for academic affairs – a position she assumed in 2021 and currently held.
Outside the classroom, Dean Moringiello was a leader in law reform on both state and national levels and was extremely active with both the ABA, where she held several leadership positions in the Business Law Section, and the PBA, which recognized her work by honoring her with the W. Edward Sell Business Lawyer Award in 2021. She served as a Uniform Law Commissioner for Pennsylvania and was an elected member of the American Law Institute – a highly distinguished honor within the legal profession.
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts appointed her to the Federal Judicial Center's Bankruptcy Judge Education Advisory Committee last summer. As a member of the committee, Dean Moringiello helped develop educational programs and resources for federal bankruptcy judges, equipping them with the latest knowledge and skills necessary for their roles.
In January, the Association of American Law Schools Section on Commercial and Consumer Law gave Dean Moringiello its 2025 mentoring award, recognizing her exceptional commitment to guiding and inspiring the next generation of legal professionals. Upon receiving it, she spoke openly about the idea that no one advances alone, and how important it was to her to give back.
A celebration of life was held at the law school in March. Dean Moringiello left a lasting impression on Widener and her influence will continue to be felt through the thousands of students she guided into careers that are helping others every day.
IN MEMORIAM
Toty Boley entered Widener Law Commonwealth as a first-year student in August 2021, and was soon appreciated for his positive contributions in both the classroom and the community. He worked in the Pennsylvania legislature for elected members of the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives, and at the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office.
Toty was born on February 26, 1994, in Liberia, to Mamie Gowah and Newili Glayer Batuna. Toty left his home and parents, during the Liberian Civil War, and relocated to the United States with his brother and grandmother. He graduated from Motivation High School, part of the School District of Philadelphia, in 2013, and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in philosophy with minors in political science and gerontology from Slippery Rock University in 2017. He earned his master of public administration degree, as a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society, from Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland, in 2020.
Toty was a beloved member of the staff of Senator Katie Muth since 2022, working in her Royersford district office as a constituent services representative. Prior to working with the Pennsylvania State Senate, he worked for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and interned with members of the United States Senate and the United States Congress. He was entering his final year of law school and was completing an externship with the Montgomery County Public Defender's Office when he unexpectedly passed.
Toty was a thoughtful and empathetic person with a unwavering dedication to learning and public service. He cared deeply for others and was eager to do as much good in the world as possible. We are grateful to have experienced his kindness and constant commitment to helping others, and we are honored to have been so positively influenced by him during his time with us. We extend sincere condolences to his family, fiancé, and many friends, and we honor his enduring legacy of compassion, commitment, and service.
