{
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    "content": "<h1>Eugene A. DePasquale&nbsp;&rsquo;02</h1>\r\n<p><img src=\"{wwwroot}files/resources/portrait-full-xxsml-updated-photo-eugene-d-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" />With a master&rsquo;s degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh under his belt, Eugene A. DePasquale &rsquo;02 was working as the head of economic development for the City of York when he decided he wanted to add a law degree to his academic credentials.<br /><br />But he had to support his young family and couldn&rsquo;t devote himself to law school full time.</p>\r\n<p><br />&ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t afford to take three years off,&rdquo; recalls DePasquale. &ldquo;The flexibility was critical.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p><br />Widener University Commonwealth Law School&rsquo;s extended program allowed him to continue in his job while working toward his law degree.</p>\r\n<p><br />&ldquo;In addition to the master&rsquo;s, having a law degree was a critical step in advancing my career in doing something in the public interest,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>DePasquale praised Widener for teaching him how to think critically and applying legal principles in a practical way. &ldquo;It was a great experience,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p><br />He said he appreciated the fact faculty members recognized that students in the part-time program were juggling many responsibilities at once.</p>\r\n<p><br />&ldquo;They knew there were going to be days when I was not at my best - not my A game - and that was ok,&rdquo; DePasquale said. &ldquo;This wasn&rsquo;t &lsquo;The Paper Chase,&rsquo;&rdquo; he said, referencing the 1973 classic film and subsequent TV series about a law school professor who berated his students.</p>\r\n<p><br />After a stint as deputy secretary in the Department of Environmental Protection, DePasquale made a successful run for the state House in 2006 and represented the City of York for two terms and before running for Auditor General. In 2012 he was elected Pennsylvania&rsquo;s 51st Auditor General and served two terms. In 2020, DePasquale won the Democratic primary in the race for the 10th Congressional district.</p>\r\n<p>In concluding his final term in office as the state&rsquo;s fiscal watchdog, DePasquale says he is most proud of an audit that led to fixing Pennsylvania&rsquo;s child-abuse hotline, where some 58,000 calls had gone unanswered, reducing the number of untested rape kits in Pennsylvania and across the nation, and recommending improvements in the state&rsquo;s response to the opioid crisis.</p>\r\n<p><br />Audits conducted under his watch identified more than $1.05 billion in misspent or potentially recoverable state money, including in several major state institutions such as the Philadelphia School District and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.</p>\r\n<p><br />Although he is not a practicing attorney, DePasquale says learning the reasoning skills and developing the ability to understand legal and policy documents and draft legislation has served him well in government and elected office.</p>\r\n<p><br />&ldquo;Widener taught me that words matter, where a comma is placed matters, and where there&rsquo;s room for interpretation of policy or not,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s where the law school training comes in.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p><br />DePasquale lives in York County, with his wife, Tracey, and their two children. He also volunteers as a football and baseball coach in York.</p>\r\n<p><em>Interview was conducted in Summer 2020 and updated in Winter 2022.</em></p>",
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    "box_content": "<h5>WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY?<br /><br /></h5>\r\n<p><strong>Alumni Spotlight Contact</strong><br /><a href=\"mailto:cwalumni@widener.edu\">cwalumni@widener.edu</a></p>",
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