This morning, I was thrilled to present an award to Jennifer Noel and Timothy Snyder of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor at the Widener Law Fund firm representative breakfast. The award honors a 100% participation rate among alumni in their firm for gifts to the Widener Law Fund. This is the eighth consecutive year that Widener alumni at Young Conaway have achieved this 100% goal. Thank you for your continued dedication to and support of Widener Law!
[this originally appeared on our Law School Site] Law students looking for advice about leadership were given a lot to think about when former Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner visited the Delaware campus recently for an informal talk in the student lounge.
Minner, who was widowed at 32 with three young children and only a 10th-grade education, said success is tied to confidence. If you lack it, don’t let it show.
“Perception is what I call 85 percent of the job,” she said. “If you show confidence they’ll think, ‘She knows what she’s doing, she’ll handle this problem.’’’
Her ability to stay cool under pressure has been tested repeatedly. Minner explained how she had to find work to support her children after her husband died, but she couldn’t secure a car loan without a man’s co-signature. She eventually managed with the help of an acquaintance in the auto business, but the roadblocks were enough to inspire a political career that led to Woodburn. She earned her general equivalency diploma, began work as a secretary in Legislative Hall and eventually ran for House of Representatives. Twenty six years and 11 successful campaigns later, she became Delaware’s first female governor in 2000.
To underscore her theme about confidence, Minner told the story of hosting a dinner party for 32 guests at Woodburn not long after the Sept. 11 tragedy. An airplane carrying 258 passengers became lost over Delaware, but without knowing the full extent of the problem public safety officials were quickly suspicious. The plane ultimately landed safely at Dover Air Force Base, but not before she was involved in some difficult briefings about the public-safety threat the situation presented, and even how the plane might have to be forcibly brought down. She maintained her composure with her guests, while also handling 11 phone briefings.
“On the inside you may be turning upside down but on the outside you can’t let it show,” she said.
Earlier this year, I nominated LeaNora Ruffin, Assistant Dean of our Career Development Office for the 2009 Office of Women in Higher Education, Delaware Network, Leadership Award. At the Annual Fall Dinner and Awards Ceremony held in Dover at Wilmington University, LeaNora was honored with this prestigious award. Co-workers and family attended this event. The keynote speaker was Lillian M. Lowery, Secretary of Education for the Delaware Department of Education. The president of the ACE OWHE Delaware Chapter this year is our own Deborah McCreery, Assistant Vice President for Law School Development and Alumni Relations for the Delaware and Harrisburg campuses.
This past Sunday, November 1, I had the privilege of addressing a crowd of dedicated Delaware Volunteer Legal Services (DVLS) supporters as they prepared to race. These dedicated souls braved gray, rainy skies for the inaugural 5k Run/Walk on a beautiful course that began at Rockford Park. Widener Law alumns, faculty and friends of the Law School along with other community leaders ran the course.
I visited Brian Tierney, '87 last year at the Philadelphia Inquirer headquarters
On Monday, September 21st, I will welcome Brian P. Tierney ’87, Kevin C. Tierney ’82, and Michael J. Tierney ’93 to Widener Law’s Delaware Campus for my annual Dean’s Leadership Forum. From 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. in The Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom, Iwill interview the Tierney brothers in a talk-show style setting to discuss the qualities found in a leader.
Brian P. Tierney, Esq. is the Chief Executive of Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC and publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he received his J.D. from Widener Law in 1987. He has worked for the Republican National Committee, served as president and CEO of the public relations division of Lewis Gilman & Kynett, and he founded the Tierney Group. In 2005, he founded Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC to buy The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and philly.com.
Kevin C. Tierney, Esq. earned his J.D. from Widener Law in 1982 and went on to found his own Law Firm, the Law Office of Kevin C. Tierney, located on Broad Street. Michael J. Tierney, Esq. graduated from Denison University and earned his J.D. from Widener Law in 1993. He is now a Partner at the Law Firm of Dilworth Paxson LLP in Philadelphia, where he is the Co-Chair of the Media Law Practice Group.
I hope to see you all there! The event will be broadcast to the Harrisburg campus as well.
