Dean’s Blog

I am pleased to announce that both of our law campuses will hear commencement addresses from alumnus U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy. Murphy, a 1999 graduate of the Harrisburg campus, will speak at the Delaware graduation on the campus lawn Saturday, May 16 and again Sunday, May 17 at the Harrisburg graduation in The Forum at the Capitol Complex. He will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the Harrisburg ceremony.

Murphy is widely considered to be a rising star in national politics. He was the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress and he served as a captain in the U.S. Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division in Baghdad between 2003-2004. He was later awarded the bronze star for service. Murphy has also worked in private practice and early in his career was an associate professor of constitutional law at West Point. He was elected to Congress in 2006.

We have already honored our student award winners at ceremonies held in late April. Two of the most prestigious honors were the dean’s award and the president’s award. The dean’s award is given annually to the graduating student who, in the dean’s opinion, has demonstrated outstanding legal aptitude, exemplary service, significant leadership skills and the potential to become an outstanding member of the legal community.

In Harrisburg, on April 28, I was pleased to present the dean’s award  to Cory S. Winter and in Delaware, on April 21, I presented it  to Damien N. Tancredi.

The president’s award is given to the second-year student who has demonstrated scholastic achievement and possesses high potential for meaningful contribution to the law school, the community and the profession.

In Harrisburg, Widener University President James T. Harris III presented the award to Brianna Davidson. University Senior Vice President and Provost Jo Allen stood in for Harris at the Delaware program and gave the honor to student Christina M. Marinakis.

Fateen Jahaad Bullock, seen in the picture here with me, was honored with an Outstanding Service Award.