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.
Emanuel O. Akins-Atewogboye
Towson University, BA
Grace Emma Andrefski
Albright College, BA
Carey M. Anspach
American University, BS
Millersvile University, BSN
Emilie J. Baerga
Pennsylvania State University, BA
Noah Christopher Baia
St. John’s College, BS
Michael A. Bekhit
Montclair State University, BS
Alex Oldham Benson
Central College, BA
Grand Canyon University, MPH
Colin P. Black
Dickinson College, BA
Rachel L. Brady
Shippensburg University, BS
Nico George Cavalari
York College of Pennsylvania, BS
Ashton L. Clark
University of Florida, BA
Tara Cochran
University of Maryland, BA
Alexander C. Columbia
Iona University, BA
Jessica M. Cossaboone
Clemson University, BA
Austin H. Crowley
Kutztown University, BA
JamesOwen Cutts
Chestnut Hill College, BA
James Donegan
Pennsylvania State University, BA
Jason D. Dratch
University of Delaware, BS
Melissa Linda Esposito
Seton Hall University, BA
Cana G. Fasick
Central Penn College, BS
Alexander Hayden Fefolt
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, BA
Brent James Finkbeiner
Portland State University, BS
Kiera Rose Flannery
University of Scranton, BS
Edward D. Fracasso
University of Tampa, BS
Arianna Gambacorta
Muhlenberg College, BA
Tripat Kaur Gill
University of Maryland, BA
Noah Gabriel Glattke
Robert Morris University, BA
Juneidy Gomez Gonzalez
Montclair State University, BA
Carl Michael Grab
University of Pittsburgh, BA
Jermaine Dountaye Harris, Jr.
Pennsylvania State University, BS
Cassidy Faith Hartle
Dickinson College, BA
Christopher Andrew Higgins
Millersville University, BA
Abigail Emily Hoben
West Chester University, BS
West Chester University, MS
Sally M. Hornik
Stetson University, BA
Darryl G. Hunt Jr.
Chestnut Hill College, BS
Gianna Matrice Ianni
Pennsylvania State University, BS
Liz Jacob
McMaster University, BS
David K. James IV
High Point University, BA
Precious A. Johnson
Temple University, BA
Brooke Jones
West Virginia University, BA
Allen C. Kapit
University of Central Florida, BA
Emily Ann Karper
Shippensburg University, BA
Lindsey M. Keegan
Rowan University, BA
Christian M. Kline
Liberty University, BA
Olivia Kathleen Kline
Towson University, BS
Sydney Elaine Kline
Temple University, BA
Adam Klinger
Mansfield University, BA
Karen Elizabeth Kreis
Salisbury University, BA
Gabriel C. Kuehn
Albright College, BA
Lacey Lynn Lawrence
East Stroudsburg University, BS
Madison Nicole Levengood
Lebanon Valley College, BS
Sydney Blayne Lippe
Franklin & Marshall College, BA
Brianna Marie Maia
University of South Carolina, BS
Joseph Michael Marrero
Temple University, BA
Natalie Solano Martinez
Mount St. Mary's University, BA
Raquel E. Martinez
St. Mary's College of Maryland, BA
Jemarjo Mayor
Saint Joseph's University, BA
Allison P. McClain
Lock Haven University, BS
Aaron Peter McLaughlin
Stockton University, BA
Madison A. Milano
Widener University, BA
Kelly A. Monaghan
Pennsylvania State University, BA
University of Phoenix, MBA
Aubrey R. Morris
University of Akron, BA
Austin Thomas Myers
Duquesne University, BA
Rishi I. Nayee
Rutgers University, BS
Evan A. Novacek
Temple University, BA
Max Davison Oeler
Lycoming College, BA
Bloomsburg University, MBA
Paige Marie Oustrich
Elizabethtown College, BA
Elizabethtown College, MPP
Maggie Noelle Peiffer
Shippensburg University, BS
Katrina Paige Perea
Stevenson University, BS
Shana Monet Perez
University of Maryland, BA
Sarah Michelle Phillips
Wilkes University, BA
Nathalie Polo
Florida International University, BA
Veronica Porter
University of South Florida, BS
Aidan A. Reisser
Shippensburg University, BA
Christian James Ross
Allegheny College, BA
Kaden P. Rude
Pennsylvania State University, BA
Pennsylvania State University, BS
Chase Franklin Runyan
Shippensburg University, BA
Angel M. Sanchez
Pfeiffer University, BS
Pfeiffer University, BA
Tanya M. Scannelli
Pennsylvania State University, BA
Myranda Mae Shifflett
Pennsylvania State University, BS
Griffin L. Smeltz
Pennsylvania State University, BA
Molly Elizabeth Smith
Pennsylvania State University
Tara R. Smith
University of Colorado, Boulder, BA
Emily Anne Sweeney
Lebanon Valley College, BA
Alyse Taylor Thompson
East Stroudsburg University, BA
Justine Quinn Trevino
Alvernia University, BA
University of Cincinnati, MS
Karyna Vadalazkava
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, BA
Connor Wallace
Misericordia University, BS
Corinne Ellis Webster
Pennsylvania State University, BA
Elizabeth A. Wenger
Georgetown University, BS
Ellen McElhaney White
Wofford College, BS
Nicole Whittle
University of Pittsburgh, BA
Sierra Williams
Hampton University, BA
Tomyra M. Wilson
West Chester University, BS
Christopher Stephan Yurchak
Pennsylvania State University, BS
Ely Zeigler
University of Pittsburgh, BA
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
Center for Equity & Justice Black
MilitaryVeterans Red, White, & Blue
Pro Bono Red
Student Ambassadors Orange
Student BarAssociation Silver
Trial Advocacy Honor Society Brown
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 Mary-Clare Chun Lee, Mary-Grace Autumn 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
Opening of the Ceremony andré douglas pond cummings, Dean of Widener Law Commonwealth and Professor of Law
Alumni Advisory Board Welcome
Mark Kovalcin ’17
Chair of the Alumni Advisory Board
Student Bar Association Remarks
Ely Zeigler ’26
Valedictorian’s Remarks
Kiera Rose Flannery ’26
Commencement Speaker’s Address
The Honorable Dave Sunday ’07
Pennsylvania Attorney General
Introduced by Douglas Wolfberg ’96, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees
President’s Remarks
Stacey Robertson, President of Widener University
Conferral of Degrees
President Robertson
Each candidate is announced by Randi Teplitz, Assistant Dean of Students and hooded by Professor Robyn Meadows and Professor Christian Johnson
Dean’s Remarks
Dean cummings
Recession
Alumnus Dave Sunday serves as the attorney general of Pennsylvania, the commonwealth’s chief law enforcement officer, where he leads with a vision grounded in accountability, public safety and the belief that the justice system must also create pathways for redemption. He graduated from the law school in 2007.
ARepublican, Sunday was elected attorney general on November 5, 2024, and sworn into office on January 21, 2025, succeeding Michelle Henry ’94, a fellow Widener Law Commonwealth graduate. His election represents the culmination of a career built in service, from the military to the courtroom to public leadership at the county and federal levels.
Before taking office statewide, Sunday served more than a decade in the York County District Attorney’s Office, including seven years as district attorney. There, he led major crime prosecutions, supervised the Felony Narcotics Unit, and advanced initiatives to combat the opioid epidemic, protect older Pennsylvanians, and strengthen partnerships addressing mental health challenges.
In 2013, he was appointed as a special assistant United States attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, prosecuting federal gang, gun and drug cases. He also led Operation Sunrise, a large-scale, multi-jurisdictional effort that resulted in the arrest and prosecution of more than 100 members and affiliates of the Latin Kings gang operating in York County.
Sunday’s commitment to public service began with his enlistment in the United States Navy, where he was deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Strike and later to SouthAmerica for counter-narcotics operations. He went on to serve as a legal intern with the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations and began his legal career as a law clerk in York County.
Across his career, Sunday has tried approximately 50 felony jury trials to verdict, including high-profile homicide cases and complex prosecutions involving violent crime, narcotics trafficking, fraud and conspiracy.
Today, as attorney general, he brings that experience to the commonwealth’s highest law enforcement office, advancing an approach centered on holding individuals accountable while also recognizing the importance of second chances and stronger communities.
Attorney General Sunday and his wife reside in York County with their son.
SUMMA CUM LAUDE
Alexander Hayden Fefolt
Brent James Finkbeiner
Kiera Rose Flannery
MAGNA CUM LAUDE
Carey M. Anspach
Gianna Matrice Ianni
Christian M. Kline
Sydney Elaine Kline
Max Davison Oeler
Griffin L. Smeltz
Tara R. Smith
Emily Anne Sweeney
Ely Zeigler
ADMINISTRATIVE/ CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
Alex Oldham Benson
Brent James Finkbeiner
Lacey Lynn Lawrence
Kelly A. Monaghan
Austin Thomas Myers
Paige Marie Oustrich
Chase Franklin Runyan
Corinne Ellis Webster
ADVOCACY
Gabriel C. Kuehn
Madison Nicole Levengood
Katrina Paige Perea
Christian James Ross
CUM
LAUDE
Alex Oldham Benson
Alexander C. Columbia
Jessica M. Cossaboone
JamesOwen Cutts
Jason D. Dratch
Cana G. Fasick
Arianna Gambacorta
Olivia Kathleen Kline
Gabriel C. Kuehn
Lacey Lynn Lawrence
Joseph Michael Marrero
Kelly A. Monaghan
Sarah Michelle Phillips
Kaden P. Rude
Justine Quinn Trevino
CERTIFICATEPROGRAMS
BUSINESS ADVISING
Ashton L. Clark
Jessica M. Cossaboone
Jason D. Dratch
Gianna Matrice Ianni
Emily Ann Karper
Allison P. McClain
Kaden P. Rude
Elizabeth A. Wenger
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
Veronica Porter
LEGISLATION & PUBLIC POLICY
Brent James Finkbeiner
Chase Franklin Runyan
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING
Brent James Finkbeiner
2026 ACADEMIC AWARDS
Valedictorian Award Kiera Rose Flannery
President's Award David Duggan
Dean's Award Rishi I. Nayee & Ely Zeigler
Distinguished Service Award Natalie Solano Martinez
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Eric D. Turner Award Jermaine Dountaye Harris, Jr.
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 Cana G. Fasick
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 Brent James Finkbeiner who has demonstrated excellence in administrative law.
Dean Anthony J. Santoro Outstanding Service Award Sarah Michelle Phillips
International Academy of Trial Lawyers Student Advocacy Award Gabriel C. Kuehn
James S. Bowman American Inn of Court Award Brooke Jones
John A. Fillion Memorial Award Allen C. Kapit
Legal Research & Writing Award Cassidy Faith Hartle & Sydney Elaine Kline
Awarded to a regular division graduate for significant achievement in legal research and writing.
Legal Research & Writing Award Justine Quinn Trevino
Awarded to an extended division graduate for significant achievement in legal research and writing.
Outstanding Clinical Advocacy Award Nico George Cavalari
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 Alex Oldham Benson
Awarded to the graduate who has demonstrated academic excellence in Law and Government studies.
Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award Justine Quinn Trevino
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 Kaden P. Rude
Awarded to the graduate who has demonstrated academic excellence in business law studies.
Robert & Audrey Dernbach Memorial Award for Environmental Law & Sustainability Sarah Michelle Phillips & Veronica Porter
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 Madison Nicole Levengood
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 Kiera Rose Flannery
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.
Emilie J. Baerga
Alex Oldham Benson
Ashton L. Clark
Jermaine Dountaye Harris, Jr.
Gianna Matrice Ianni
Brooke Jones
Sydney Elaine Kline
Madison Nicole Levengood
Tara R. Smith
Emily Anne Sweeney
Elizabeth A. Wenger
2026 ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
The Michael J. Aiello Scholarship Zoey Albertson
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 Katrina Paige Perea
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 Alyssa Morales
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 Eugene Deimler
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.
Professor Robyn Meadows Endowed Scholarship for Student Success Carey M. Anspach
Bruce M. & Elizabeth M. Monroe Intellectual Property Scholarship Christian M. Kline
Awarded to a student who has demonstrated academic achievement in intellectual property law.
The Page, Wolfberg & Wirth (PWW) Emergency Service Scholarship Cory Lightfoot
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 Angelo Mahaffey
This prize is awarded to an incoming or returning student who is pursuing a degree in law, and has an outstanding academic record.
Carey M. Anspach
Jessica M. Cossaboone
JamesOwen Cutts
James Donegan
Cana G. Fasick
Alexander Hayden Fefolt
Brent James Finkbeiner
Kiera Rose Flannery
Arianna Gambacorta
Noah Gabriel Glattke
Jermaine Dountaye Harris, Jr.
Cassidy Faith Hartle
Gianna Matrice Ianni
Christian M. Kline
Sydney Elaine Kline
Olivia Kathleen Kline
Karen Elizabeth Kries
Gabriel C. Kuehn
Joseph Michael Marrero
Shana Monet Perez
Nathalie Polo
Christian James Ross
Griffin L. Smeltz
Tara R. Smith
Justine Quinn Trevino
Connor Wallace
Corinne Ellis Webster
Ely Zeigler
The CALI Excellence for the Future Award is given to the highest scoring student in each law school class.
Grace Emma Andrefski
Michael A. Bekhit
Alex Oldham Benson
Nico George Cavalari
Ashton L. Clark
Brooke Jones
Nathalie Polo
Christian James Ross
Justine Quinn Trevino
Karyna Vadalazkava
Elizabeth A. Wenger
Ellen McElhaney White
Tomyra M. Wilson
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
Alexander C. Columbia, US Army Judge Advocate General’s Corp.
Brent James Finkbeiner, U.S. Army Combat Medic
Edward D. Fracasso, US Army Judge Advocate General’s Corp.
Christian James Ross, United States Army, Army Reserves
In gratitude, Widener Law Commonwealth recognizes those members of the Class of 2026 who are first responders, who have served, are serving, or will serve our country in its armed forces.
STUDENT AMBASSADORS
Emilie J. Baerga
Kiera Rose Flannery
Gianna Matrice Ianni
Brooke Jones
Madison Nicole Levengood
Brianna Marie Maia
Angel M. Sanchez
Justine Quinn Trevino
Tomyra M. Wilson
Ely Zeigler
Widener Law Commonwealth recognizes the student leaders who assist the Admissions Office in welcoming prospective students and visitors to our campus.
Kiera Rose Flannery
Editor-in-Chief
Brent James Finkbeiner
Executive Managing Editor
Joseph Michael Marrero
Internal Managing Editor
Jason D. Dratch
Business/External Managing Editor
Arianna Gambacorta
Internal Supervising Advisor
Carey M. Anspach
Sydney Elaine Kline
Internal Supervising Editors
Christian M. Kline
Max Davison Oeler
Katrina Paige Perea
Emily Anne Sweeney
Senior Staff Members
Membership in The Widener Commonwealth Law Review offers students, who maintain high academic achievement and attention to detail, the opportunity to hone their legal research and writing skills while advancing legal scholarship. Students gain admission to law review by demonstrating exceptional legal research, writing, and editing skills.
APPELLATE ADVOCACY HONOR SOCIETY
Brianna Marie Maia
President
Cana G. Fasick
Vice President of External Competitions
Cassidy Faith Hartle
Vice President of Internal Membership
Gianna Matrice Ianni
Allen C. Kapit
Olivia Kathleen Kline
Madison Nicole Levengood
Kelly A. Monaghan
Paige Marie Oustrich
Katrina Paige Perea
Tara R. Smith
Emily Anne Sweeney
Tomyra M. Wilson 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
Madison Nicole Levengood
External Vice President
Gabriel C. Kuehn
Treasurer
Karen Elizabeth Kreis
Colloquium Coordinator & Secretary
Alexander C. Columbia
Jessica M. Cossaboone
Carl Michael Grab
Abigail Emily Hoben
Brooke Jones
Tomyra M. Wilson
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
Cana G. Fasick
Carl Michael Grab
Cassidy Faith Hartle
Brooke Jones
Gabriel C. Kuehn
Madison Nicole Levengood
Brianna Marie Maia
Paige Oustrich
Katrina Paige Perea
Tomyra M. Wilson
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.
OFFICERS OF THE BOARD
Paul S. Beideman ’79, ’14H Chair
Chairman & CEO Associated Banc-Corp (retired)
Cynthia H. Sarnoski, PhD ’74 Vice Chair
Senior Vice President, Global Compliance & Quality Systems, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals (retired)
Douglas M. Wolfberg, Esq., ’96L Vice Chair Founding Member, Page, Wolfberg, & Wirth, LLC
Dexter Hamilton, Esq., ’83
Secretary Member, Cozen O’Connor
Nancy G. Hesse ’80 Treasurer Chief Nursing Officer
John H. Tilelli Jr. ’63, ’96H Past Chair General, U.S. Army (retired), Chairman Emeritus, Cypress International, Inc.
Stacey M. Robertson President, Widener University
BOARD MEMBERS
Domenic C. Colasante ’10 CEO & Founder, 2X
Jack Dwyer ’78
Founder & CEO of Capital Funding Bancorp, Inc. and CFG Bank
Damon Edwards II Student Trustee
James J. Hargadon ’75
Retired Executive Vice President & CFO Oki Data Americas, Inc. (retired)
J. Matthew Hartley Board of Advisors Professor of Education, University of Pennsylvania
James W. Hirschmann III ’82 President & CEO, Western Asset Management Company
Susan Larkin ’88
Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, Independence Blue Cross
Antoinette Leatherberry Principal, Deloitte & Touche, LLP (retired)
Christian Nascimento ’97 Senior Vice President, Comcast Corporation
Miguel O. Peña ’99, ’14 President & CEO, Tenex Technologies, LLC
Iraklis Prokopakis
Senior Vice President, Treasurer, Chief Operations Officer, Vice Chairman of the Board, Danaos Shipping Company
Catherine Pulos ’84
Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer, Wawa, Inc. (retired)
The Honorable Scott Reid, Esq. ’02L
United States Magistrate Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Louis Rodriguez Jr. ’91 President & Founder, Rodriguez Consulting, LLC
Timothy Speiss ’83, ’89 Partner, Eisner Advisory Group (retired)
Min S. Suh, Esq., ’95L Member, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellot, LLC
Richard L. P. Tan ’09H Founder & President, Pacific Millennium Group
David Velazquez, ’81 President & CEO, PECO (retired)
Kevin Wiggins, ’95 Chief Financial Officer, Power Home Remodeling Group
Marcia Zaruba-O’Connor ’90 CEO & Founder, The O’Connor Group
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Thomas H. Bown II ’67
Ira Harkavy
Eugene D. McGurk Jr., Esq. ’78L
Ronald S. Stead
Vito R. Verni ’61
Karol M. Wasylyshyn ’82
Stephen M. Wynne ’77, ’08H
Peter B. Zacharkiw ’72, ’77
Stacey Robertson President
andré cummings Dean of Widener Law Commonwealth and Professor of Law
Katie Herschede Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & Chief of Staff
Joseph Howard Vice President for Enrollment & Technology
Michael Janes Associate Vice President for Human Resources
Michelle Meekins-Davis Vice President for Inclusion & Belonging
Heather Meier Vice President for Administration & Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Mark Nicosia Provost
Gregory Potter Associate Vice President for University Relations
Terry Travis Vice President for University Advancement
Jill E. Family Associate Dean for Faculty Research & Development, Faculty Advisor for the Law and Government Institute, and Professor of Law
Anna Hemingway Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Director of the Legal Methods Program, and Professor of Law
Matthew V. Kerns Associate Dean for Admissions
Molly M. Acri Assistant Dean for Administration & Registrar
Nicole R. Antos Assistant Dean for Career Development
Randi B. Teplitz Assistant Dean for Students
WIDENER LAW COMMONWEALTH
FULL-TIME FACULTY 2025-2026
Randall Brandes, Esq., BS, JD
Faculty Fellow
Michal Buchhandler-Raphael, Esq., SJD, LLM, LLB
Associate Professor of Law
John J. Capowski, Esq., BA, JD Emeritus Professor
Michael J. Cozzillio, Esq., BA, JD Emeritus Professor
andré douglas pond cummings, Esq., BS, JD Dean of the Law School and Professor of Law
John C. Dernbach, Esq., BS, JD Emeritus Professor
James W. Diehm, Esq., BA, JD Emeritus Professor
Michael R. Dimino Sr., Esq., BA, JD Professor of Law
Jill E. Family, Esq., BA, MS, JD
Associate Dean for Faculty Research & Development, Faculty Advisor for the Law and Government Institute, and Professor of Law
Rebecca Feldmann, Esq., BA, JD Associate Professor of Law
F. Lee Francis, Esq., BA, MMA, JD
Assistant Professor of Law
Ann E. Fruth, Esq., BA, JD, ’92 Emerita Professor
John L. Gedid, Esq., BA, JD, LLM
Emeritus Professor
Anna Pribitkin Hemingway, Esq., BA, MA, JD
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Director of the Legal Methods Program, and Professor of Law
Michael J. Hussey, Esq., BA, JD, LLM
Associate Professor of Law
Christian A. Johnson, Esq., BA, MACC, JD
Commonwealth Professor of Business Advising, Director of the Business Advising Program, and Professor of Law
Mary Kate Kearney, Esq., BA, JD, LLM Professor of Law
Greg Randall Lee, BS, JD Professor of Law
Kellyn O. McGee, Esq., BBA, JD
Faculty Director of the Center for Equity and Justice and Associate Professor of Law
Robyn L. Meadows, Esq., BA, JD, LLM Professor of Law
Chiara Pappalardo, Esq., SJD, LLM, LLB Co-Director of the Environmental Law & Sustainability Center and Assistant Professor of Law
D.S. Pensley, Esq., AB, JD, MA
Co-Director of the Environmental Law & Sustainability Center and Assistant Professor of Law
Robert C. Power, Esq., AB, JD Emeritus Professor
Susan Raeker-Jordan, Esq., BA, JD Professor of Law
Mary Catherine Scott, Esq., BA, JD, ’94
Associate Clinical Professor, and Director of the Central Pennsylvania Law Clinic
Amanda Sholtis, Esq., BS, JD
Assistant Director of the Legal Methods Program and Associate Professor of Law
Rebecca Waldemar, Esq., BA, JD, ’08
Assistant Clinical Professor
WIDENER
LAW COMMONWEALTH ADJUNCT FACULTY 2025-2026
Robert Altenburg, Esq. ’08
The Honorable William Arbuckle
William Behe, Esq.
Olivia Unger Bort, Esq. ’15
The Honorable Martin Carlson
Scott Caron, Esq.
Joel H. Cheskis, Esq.
Christie Corado, Esq. ’93
Pamela F. Cross, Esq.
Vincent C. DeLiberato, Jr., Esq.
James Demmel, Esq. ’03
Kara Eshenaur, Esq. ’19
Terrance J. Fitzpatrick, Esq.
Crystal Fox, Esq. ’03
Kevin M. Gold, Esq. ’93
Rachel Haynes-Pinsker, Esq.
Brent Johnson, Esq.
Stephen Hladik, Esq.
Michele L. Kluk, Esq. ’06
Jonathan Koltash, Esq. ’07
Mark Kovalcin, Esq. ’17
Dan Kunze, Esq. ’12
Catherine Law, Esq.
Sarah Lockwood, Esq. ’20
Guadalupe T. Luna, Esq., JD
The Honorable Edward M. Marsico Jr.
Nicholas Matash, Esq. ’01
The Honorable Karoline Mehalchick
The Honorable Royce L. Morris
David Mueller, Esq.
Andrew Norfleet, Esq. ’99
Stephanie Patton, Esq. ’21
Jennifer Ann Robinson, Esq. ’14
Catherine E. Rowe, Esq.
Troy Sellars, Esq.
Richard J. Seneca, Esq. ’13
Craig R. Shagin, Esq.
Todd J. Shill, Esq. ’93
Elizabeth Simcox, Esq.
Randi Teplitz, Esq. ’95
Robert F. Teplitz, Esq.
John Thomas, Esq.
Rhodia Thomas, Esq. ’97
David Unkovic, Esq.
Jamie Lee Zadra, Esq.
WIDENER LAW COMMONWEALTH
COMMENCEMENT COMMITTEE 2025-2026
Molly Acri
Nicole Antos
Robert Brown
Scott Caron
Bob Dolbin
Stephanie Engerer
Brian Fearnbaugh
Thomas Foley
Valerie Hawkins
Paula Heider
Kim Hutnik
Jane Mera
Nia Ramsammy
Jessica Schuller
Randi Teplitz
Shannon Whitson
Lee Zimmerman
