Kenn Robinson, Class of 2009, traveled from his home in Templeton, Massachusetts, to celebrate Widener Law Harrisburg’s 25th anniversary at a party that featured a live band, lots of food and a wine tasting in the library held by nearby Spring Gate Vineyard.
“It’s great that Widener has become such a force in Harrisburg,” he said. “It continues to produce leaders. I put so much of what I learned here to good use in my practice and my community service.”
Robinson and about 100 other alumni, current students, faculty and staff gathered in the Pit to reconnect and remember their time in law school.
Earlier in the day, 35 golfers kicked off the festivities at the Manada Golf Course in a shot gun format tournament. Prizes were awarded to Todd Rothermel, Class of 2009, for the longest drive, and Matthew Sembach, Class of 2010, for closest to the hole. The winning foursome consisted of Daniel Jameson, Corey Mowery, Todd Rothermel, and Adam Santucci, all from the Class of 2009.
2009 graduate Jason Gottesman also praised his alma mater, saying that he thinks his Widener legal education made him more versatile, which helps him in his career as a legislative affairs expert and reporter.
“Widener produces practical professionals,” he said. “We are ready to practice on day one, but can transition to other careers, too, as I did. Widener students come out not only with academic and professional skills but also with life skills that are useful in the real job landscape.”
Gottesman also spoke about the extensive Widener alumni network. “No matter where you go in Harrisburg, someone went to Widener. This places gives you ‘street cred,’” he said.
Widener University President James T. Harris, III spoke at the reception, recognizing the law school’s impressive stats. It has graduated 3,334 students and there are 3,285 Widener Law Harrisburg alumni practicing in 45 states plus Washington, DC, and the Virgin Islands.
Today, Widener Law Harrisburg has 245 students, 19 full-time faculty members, 30 adjunct professors, and three emeriti professors.
President Harris warmly recognized the first vice dean of the Harrisburg campus, Professor Emeritus John L. Gedid, who was in attendance, calling him the “Ben Franklin” of the law school for his many years of visionary leadership during Widener’s start-up phase. Among other innovations, Dean Gedid founded the Law &amp; Government Institute, now the Harrisburg campus’ signature program.
Other notable programs at Widener Law Harrisburg include:

The Environmental Law and Sustainability Center, which brings nationally recognized experts on environmental law and policy, climate change, and sustainability to central Pennsylvania. Participating students make real-world contributions working alongside faculty on projects ranging from developing a report card on Pennsylvania’s performance on the 20th anniversary of the state’s recycling law to drafting a series of ordinances promoting sustainability for the Harrisburg City Council.
The Harrisburg Civil Clinic, which has has helped approximately 4,600 clients with the assistance of over 690 Widener Law students and three full-time faculty members since 1992. Students assist clients on a range of matters including divorce, bankruptcy, criminal defense, and veteran’s assistance benefits.
The Widener Incubator Program, a concept supported by the American Bar Association, was created by Widener Law Harrisburg together with the Dauphin County Bar Association and launched this year. The incubator provides skills training geared for small or solo law practice and participating attorneys are given office space, computers, printers, and mentoring and networking support.
The Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts program, which debuted last fall as a collaboration between Widener, the Dauphin County Bar Association and the MakeSpace Arts Collective. This program, the only one of its kind between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, is designed to pair artists in need with volunteer attorneys assisted by law students.
Many partnerships with influential organizations that support Widener’s commitment to service, such as the tax preparation work done in conjunction with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, the Law &amp; Government Institute’s sponsorship and hosting of the Pennsylvania Women’s Forum, student volunteer efforts to support Pennsylvania’s Wills For Heroes project, and student-founded Relay For Life charity walk events that have raised roughly $85,000.

Last month, Widener Law Harrisburg announced a series of changes taking effect July 1.  The law school will formally split from Widener University Law School’s Delaware campus and change its name to the Widener University Commonwealth Law School. In addition, Christian A. Johnson has been appointed to serve as dean.  Johnson is currently the Hugh B. Brown Presidential Endowed Chair in Law at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law. 
Professor Johnson, the dean designate, also attended Saturday’s celebration and expressed his eagerness to move to Harrisburg and get started on his new job.
University Provost and Senior Vice President Stephen Wilhite thanked Interim Dean Robyn L. Meadows. He joked that she paused “only briefly” before agreeing to serve as interim dean after the retirement of Dean Linda L. Ammons in 2014. He commended her in particular for her leadership in the negotiations with the American Bar Association for Widener Law Harrisburg’s independent status.
Current SBA Secretary Nicole Danner manned the student governing body table during the celebration and was enthusiastic about Widener’s future. “I am excited to have a new dean and an independent Widener Law Harrisburg. I think we have a big opportunity here,” she said as she campaigned for SBA president in advance of the April 22-23 election.
State Senator Rob Teplitz, in whose senatorial district Widener is located, attended the reception with his wife, Randi Blackman-Teplitz, an adjunct professor at the law school in the legal methods program.
“It is an honor to have an educational institution of this caliber in my district,” said Senator Teplitz. “I also work and interact with many Widener graduates at the Capitol. This school provides a personalized, hands-on, quality legal education, and I expect it will continue to be a fixture in our community for another 25 years.”
Two current state legislators who are Widener Law Harrisburg alumni – Senator Richard Alloway, Class of 2002, and Representative Peter Daley, Class of 1993 – sponsored resolutions from their respective chambers recognizing Widener’s many accomplishments. Senator Teplitz and Representative Sue Helm, whose district encompasses Widener’s campus, were co-sponsors of those resolutions.  Governor Tom Wolf also sent a proclamation to mark the school’s milestone.
Other Widener Law Harrisburg alumni of merit include United State Magistrate Judge Susan E. Schwab, former Congressman Patrick J. Murphy, Commonwealth Court Judge P. Kevin Brobson, Mifflin County Court of Common Pleas President Judge David W. Barron, Pennsylvania Representative Mark Cohen, Pennsylvania Senate Chief of Staff and Chief Counsel Drew Crompton, Pennsylvania Senate Secretary-Parliamentarian Megan Consedine Totino and Pennsylvania Supreme Court Prothonotary Irene Bizzoso