<p><img class="FloatRight" src="{staticroot}site/files/oldnewsfiles/debarretreat1.jpg" alt="debarretreat1" width="300" height="224" />Widener University School of Law proudly hosted the first Delaware Diversity Retreat presented by the Multicultural Judges &amp; Lawyers Section of the Delaware State Bar Association on Friday, May 11. <br /><br />Several area law firms sponsored the event, which was a daylong program dedicated to reaffirming a commitment to diversity in Delaware's legal profession. Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons made welcoming remarks and participated in an afternoon panel discussion. <br /><br />Ammons told the more than 100 attorneys and judges assembled in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom that she is acutely aware of the need to prepare the "best and the brightest" for the legal profession. "This is a partnership that is necessary and on time," she said of the Delaware bar and the law school - and the partnership reflected in the retreat location. <br /><br /><img class="FloatRight" src="{staticroot}site/files/oldnewsfiles/debarretreat2.jpg" alt="debarretreat2" width="300" height="116" />A diverse bench and bar comes from a diverse pool of lawyers, she said. "They must first come to law school," Ammons added, "and we are this state's law school." <br /><br />Participants also heard remarks from Douglas Reynolds, senior consultant with Verna Myers Consulting Group LLC. He gave the keynote address during the Judge Haile L. Alford Memorial Luncheon held at the law school's Barristers' Club. <br /><br />The day featured three panel discussions. Ammons participated in a panel on the topic of expanding diversity of the Delaware bar. Fellow panelists included Delaware Chief Justice Myron T. Steele, Delaware Attorney General Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III, University of Delaware Provost Daniel Rich and Delaware State University President Allen L. Sessoms. Joshua W. Martin III, partner in Potter Anderson &amp; Corroon LLP, moderated. <br /><br />Martin and Gregory B. Williams, partner in Fox Rothschild LLP, co-chaired the event. Major sponsors included Fox Rothschild LLP; Potter Anderson Corroon LLP; Morris, Nichols, Arsht &amp; Tunnell LLP; Young Conaway Stargatt &amp; Taylor, LLP; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &amp; Flom LLP; Richards, Layton &amp; Finger, P.A.; and Morris James LLP. <br /><br /><strong><em>Captions:</em></strong><br />Photo 1: Panelists, from left, Laura J. Davis of AstraZeneca, Israel J. Floyd of Hercules Inc., moderator Gregory B. Williams of Fox Rothschild LLP, Stacey J. Mobley of DuPont and Deneen Stewart of ING Direct.<br />Photo 2: Panelists, from left, Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons, Delaware Attorney General Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III, Delaware Chief Justice Myron T. Steele, Delaware State University President Allen L.Sessoms and University of Delaware Provost Daniel Rich.</p>