Noteworthy

Widener University Relations and one university administrator were honored recently with five “Cuppie” awards at the annual CUPRAP conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. CUPRAP, or the College and University Public Relations and Associated Professionals, presents the awards for creative excellence in marketing and communications. The competition drew more than 400 entries this year from colleges and universities predominately located in the northeast.

The department won:

• Silver, for the branding refresh on admissions materials for Delaware Law School.
• Silver, for the family-focused blog post “Supporting your student through academic recovery,” created in partnership with author Lori Blount, associate provost for student success. 
• Silver, for the story “Widener dining serves up belonging with new dishes and experiences.”
•  Bronze, for our AI-powered website chatbot that helps prospective and current students, families and more find answers quickly.
• Bronze, for the alumni website redesign that enhances engagement, opportunity, and connection. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-wins-marketing-and-communications-awards

Delaware Law School is celebrating a major national victory as students Kylie Lovelace, Damon Edwards II and Jayden Velazquez captured first place at the 41st annual Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence Moot Court Competition, held recently at Brooklyn Law School. 

In addition to the team’s overall win, Velazquez earned the competition’s top oralist award. The team’s success was strengthened by the guidance of coach and adjunct professor of law, Joshua W. Brownlie, whose leadership helped refine arguments and prepare the advocates for the rigor of national‑level competition.

The Jerome Prince competition honors the legacy of Dean Jerome Prince, a leading evidence scholar and author of “Richardson on Evidence,” and is recognized as one of the nation’s premier forums for evidence‑focused appellate advocacy. Hosted each spring by the Brooklyn Law School Moot Court Honor Society in Brooklyn Heights, New York,  the competition brings together teams from across the country to brief and argue a contemporary evidentiary issue before panels of distinguished judges and practitioners.

This victory marks the Moot Court Honor Society’s second national championship of the semester, following its first‑place finish at the Domenick L. Gabrielli National Family Law Moot Court Competition at Albany Law School. In this highly competitive environment, Delaware Law’s team excelled across all rounds, demonstrating exceptional command of evidentiary doctrine, written advocacy and oral argument. This national victory reinforces Delaware Law’s growing presence in appellate advocacy and highlights the talent, professionalism and collaborative spirit that define its students.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/delaware-law-students-capture-first-place-jerome-prince-memorial-evidence-competition

The Widener Anti-Sexual Violence Education program, known as WAVE, was recently awarded funding through the Pennsylvania It’s On Us campaign. 

The grant of nearly $40,000 is part of a $1.7 million statewide package intended to combat sexual assault through education and awareness, and help empower survivors.

“The It’s On Us PA campaign challenges all of us to confront the problem of sexual violence directly through awareness, prevention and support services for survivors. These efforts make a real difference in the lives of young people,” said Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Carrie Rowe.

It's On Us PA brings together college and university presidents, superintendents, administrators, teachers, students, families and community members to reframe the conversation around sexual violence and pledge to be part of the solution.

At Widener, this is the second consecutive year of receiving It’s On Us PA funding for comprehensive sexual violence prevention programming. Thanks to previous funding, WAVE implemented 128 interactive prevention workshops for more than 3300 participants in 2025, in addition to trainings for all incoming students. The new grant will allow Widener to refine first-year training experiences and provide more prevention education throughout the year. 

Earlier funding also supported workshops geared toward the LGBTQ+ community and a new, monthly support space for survivors and their loved ones led by the Delaware County Victim Assistance Center. It provided materials for 16 tabling events and targeted programming around Valentine’s Day, sexual assault awareness month, stalking awareness month and domestic violence awareness month, including a game dedication in partnership with the Pride football team. The new funding will allow Widener to expand and diversify these events and partnerships, including with guest speakers.

In addition, the funding will support a partnership between WAVE and the Office of Student Inclusion and Belonging, to offer tailored prevention workshops in partnership with multicultural and LGBTQ+ student groups.

“We are grateful to the commonwealth for its support and encouragement of the important and innovative work we’re doing at Widener,” said Jamie O’Leary, associate director of violence prevention education.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/its-us-campaign-supports-widener-anti-sexual-violence-education-program

Widener University Delaware Law School is proud to announce that Dean Todd J. Clark has been appointed to a national working group charged with examining the future of law school accreditation. The appointment, announced by the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators, places Clark among only three law school deans nationwide selected to serve on this influential body.

Clark is one of 15 leaders from across the judiciary, legal education and private practice selected to serve on the Committee on Legal Education and Admissions Reform, or CLEAR, working group. The group will study how accreditation standards can support innovation, expand access to legal education, and help address the nation’s justice gap while maintaining the rigorous preparation required of future lawyers.

The working group will evaluate accreditation frameworks and develop recommendations that promote high‑quality, cost‑effective and forward‑looking models of legal education. A key focus will be ensuring that state supreme courts—which ultimately license and regulate attorneys—have meaningful input into the standards shaping law school programs nationwide. A draft report is expected to be submitted to CLEAR by December.

The dean’s  appointment reflects his leadership in legal education and his commitment to expanding opportunity within the profession. His participation ensures that Delaware Law School will play a visible role in shaping national conversations about accreditation, licensure and the future of legal training.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/dean-todd-j-clark-appointed-national-law-school-accreditation-working-group

Assistant Professor Maria Luiza Pinho co-authored a recently published article in the International Business Review, a premier journal in the field. Pinho’s new work, “MNEs in crossfire: A critical review of global business-society tensions,” highlights tensions that multinational enterprises (MNEs) face when trying to balance their economic goals and the expectations placed on them by society.

The authors introduce the Responsible Global Business (RGB) framework which focuses on unifying previously fragmented strands of business-society research into a coherent alternative approach.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/management-faculty-publishes-new-article-international-business
 

Widener recently welcomed Timothy Renick, the founding executive director at the National Institute for Student Success, as the 2026 Beideman Visiting Scholar in conjunction with the university’s Student Success Summit.

Renick delivered the keynote address, “Transforming student outcomes through data and institutional change” in Alumni Auditorium. He gave a data-driven presentation about changes to policies and processes at Georgia State University, which is home to the institute, known as NISS. Since combining data and leadership to transform student outcomes at Georgia State University, NISS has partnered with 150 other colleges and universities – including Widener – to develop customized plans for similar successes.

The NISS partnership with Widener over the 2024-25 academic year led to a “playbook” of process and policy ideas designed to promote student retention, graduation rates and, ultimately, successful career outcomes.  

“Hopefully this can be instructive and inspirational for your purposes,” Renick said at the outset of his remarks, which chronicled changes at Georgia State University.

In addition, as the visiting scholar, Renick and representatives of the institute hosted multiple interactive, hands-on sessions attended by members of the Widener community. The sessions focused on leadership development and evidence-based practices that strengthen student outcomes. Topics included effective use of academic data, consistent and proactive student advising practices, intentional academic pathways for first-year student success, and student financial support.

Renick was named one of the most innovative people in higher education by Washington Monthly, was the recipient of the Award for National Leadership in Student Success Innovation and was awarded the McGraw Prize in Higher Education. In 2021, Fortune named him one of the world’s 50 greatest leaders. He has served as principal investigator for more than $60 million in grants to support the success of college students.

The Beideman Visiting Scholar Program brings world-class speakers and scholars to the Widener campus on an annual basis to stimulate discussions on current and pertinent theories and practices related to leadership development and the effective exercise of leadership. The program is made possible by a generous gift from Widener Board of Trustees Chair Paul Beideman and his wife Caroline Beideman.

“We were delighted to host Dr. Renick on the Chester campus,” said Paul Beideman. “He shared a lot of practical, research-based ideas for student success at Widener. This work really highlights how much it matters for students to feel welcome, supported and like they truly belong here.”

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/leader-national-institute-student-success-2026-beideman-visiting-scholar
 

Assistant Professor Sarah Everhart has published a new article, “State Siting of Renewable Energy: Preemptive Power Grab or Power Play?” in the Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum. The article examines how states are increasingly asserting authority over the siting of large‑scale wind and solar projects. Everhart analyzes recent legislative trends that shift decision‑making power from local governments to state agencies, a response to growing local restrictions and community opposition that have slowed renewable‑energy deployment.

At Delaware Law School, Everhart teaches environmental law and property. She also directs the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic, where she guides students in addressing real‑world environmental and land‑use issues affecting communities across the region.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/delaware-law-professor-releases-new-article-exploring-state-control-renewable-energy-projects

Widener hosted a Mathematical Puzzle Programs (MaPP) math puzzle challenge event on campus for the third consecutive year. The event, designed for students grades 7-12, has grown to over 75 participants in 2026 with students competing in an interactive, team-based puzzle challenge.

Student participants were based in the University Center but needed to visit other areas on campus to find clues to solve their puzzles for a day of fun and teamwork. Widener students and faculty where there to help guide and encourage the teams to solve the case. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-hosts-math-puzzle-event-area-students
 

Delaware Law School is proud to announce that one of its interscholastic moot court teams has won the 38th Annual Domenick L. Gabrielli National Family Law Moot Court Competition hosted at Albany Law School March 6–7, 2026. The team, which consisted of Ethan Adams, Jacob Shobe, and Marisa Miraglia, earned first place after two days of rigorous advocacy against competitors from across the country.

Two Delaware Law teams participated in this year’s competition. The winning team of Adams, Shobe, and Miraglia was joined by teammates Zakariyya Allen, Collin Henry, and Gabi Umstead who also represented the law school with distinction. The teams were coached by Associate Professor Leslie Johnson and Professor John Culhane, whose guidance and preparation were instrumental to the students’ success.

The Gabrielli Competition is one of the nation’s premier family law moot court events, drawing 28 teams from law schools nationwide. Delaware Law’s victory adds to the school’s strong history at the Gabrielli Competition, securing the champion title in 2023 and 2013. The Moot Court Honor Society continues to demonstrate the strength of Delaware Law’s advocacy training and the dedication of its student advocates.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/delaware-law-team-wins-38th-annual-domenick-l-gabrielli-national-family-law-moot-court-competition

Widener University showcased the creativity and talents of three faculty award winners at the President’s Lecture Series held recently in Harris Hall. 

“Our presenters have shown us what it means to push boundaries, to serve with purpose, and to lead through innovation,” President Stacey Robertson said in kicking off the program. “From transformative research to innovative teaching and meaningful service, each awardee embodies the spirit of curiosity and impact that moves our institution forward.”

The event featured remarks by:

• Associate Professor Hilary Barnes, recipient of the Outstanding Researcher Award that recognizes a faculty member who has exhibited distinction in scholarly work. Barnes teaches in the Jack & Nancy Dwyer School of Nursing and her remarks were titled, “From Role Transition to Health Policy: Research on Nurse Practitioners and Healthcare Delivery.”
  
  Barnes’ research program focuses on understanding and optimizing the roles and impact of nurse practitioners within an evolving healthcare delivery landscape. Her work aims to inform policy, education, and practice to improve healthcare access, quality and value. She is recognized as a national leader on the nurse practitioner workforce, having published in high-impact, interdisciplinary journals.
   
• Professor Stuart Eimer, recipient of the Civic Engagement Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to students’ understanding of their social responsibilities, and to Widener’s civic engagement in the local or global community through teaching or research. Eimer is co-chair of the Department of Sociology and teaches in the College of Arts & Sciences. His remarks were titled, “What Kind of Civic Engagement.”
  
  Eimer’s civic engagement initiatives are longstanding and have run the gamut from first-year seminars to research, internships and workshops for adult union members. The efforts have included high-impact service-learning classes, such as fundraising to buy bicycles for low-income children in Chester, tutoring in after-school programs and helping to staff food pantries. He has engaged in collaborative work with community partners to evaluate programs, and with union leaders to develop and deliver meaningful educational opportunities for members working for social change.
   
• Associate Teaching Professor Catherine Safran, recipient of the Fitz Dixon Innovation in Teaching award, recognizing faculty who have designed, implemented and assessed an innovative or experimental teaching and learning project. Safran teaches in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her remarks were titled, “Bridging Instructional & Student Goals Through Peer-Supported Science Courses.”
  
  Safran is the founding director and coordinator of the Widener Learning Assistant program, a structured program that supports the teaching community while fostering student learning. Learning assistants are undergraduate students embedded in the classroom who enhance student belonging and facilitate learning under the guidance and mentorship of course instructors. The program aligns with Widener’s institutional priorities of student retention and the application of high-impact teaching practices.
  
  Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/presidents-lecture-series-features-three-award-winning-faculty

Assistant Professor Keeshea Turner Roberts presented her article “Governing the Poor,” at the 2026 Poverty Law Conference hosted by the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. 

The Poverty Law Conference brings together scholars, educators, and advocates from across the country whose work centers on poverty, inequality, and access to justice to promote meaningful conversation through paper presentations and roundtable discussions. 

“I am honored to contribute to this important conversation and to engage with colleagues committed to advancing justice in this moment,” Roberts said of the opportunity.  

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/delaware-law-faculty-presents-2026-poverty-law-conference
 

Widener University has announced the students who achieved president’s list status at the conclusion of the fall 2025 semester. The president’s list recognizes students who earned a grade point average of 4.0 in two consecutive semesters of full-time coursework.

The list includes undergraduate students from the College of Arts & Sciences, School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, School of Business Administration, School of Engineering and the Exploratory Studies program.

• Olivia Allred
• Abdullah Al-Quaid
• Makayla Alston 
• Caroline Anderson
• Avalynn Baer
• Shawn Beaty
• Rachael Brown
• Morgan Butler
• Abdul Butt
• Maxwell Calvert
• Valentina Candelori
• Jonathan David
• Mea Diorio
• Wendy Dorsainvil
• Mia Elisano
• Mesoma Ezeiruaku
• Noor Fatima
• Brian Fitzpatrick
• David Frew
• Sania Galloway
• Raven Garabo
• Gianna Genoese
• Siani George
• Nina Gervasio
• Alyssia Gomez
• Mary Goodhart
• Eliana Guerrieri
• Samantha Guindi
• Emily Hammer
• Zoe Harper
• Thomas Hegarty
• Carter Hoover
• Micah Hoover
• Dylan Lajudice
• Sarah Lausi
• Sanii Lockett
• Kimberly LoFaso
• Alexis Love
• Isabella Magazzeni
• Christina Mahoner
• Damian Mancevski
• Jessica Mantz
• Jahlivia Mickens-Williams
• Maura O'Brien
• Sofia Palacio
• Kayleen Park
• Cameron Pelletier
• Lauren Petsch
• Ariana Piech
• Laura Polaski
• Giovanni Rapposelli
• Lainey Rutyna
• Nadia Sabir
• Anthony Santangelo
• Kiyah Santiago
• Meredith Schroeder
• Kennadi Sell
• Taylor Sholl
• Ethan Smith
• Erin Snyder
• Lilly Stiles
• Jasmine Sykes
• Daniel Thorpe
• Kristen Vacca
• Krystal Washington
• Morgan Weintel
• Noah West

• Jamie Zagrocki

  Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/presidents-list-fall-2025
   

Widener University is pleased to share outstanding news about the accomplishments of our May 2025 graduates in the six months since they earned their undergraduate degrees. Each year, the university surveys the most recent graduates and reports the data to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Highlights include:

•    Of graduates who responded to the survey, along with data collected by our Career Design & Development office, 93 percent achieved a positive career outcome, which includes direct employment, graduate education or military service.
•    The median starting salary was $74,000.

Widener 2025 graduates have begun rewarding careers at a wide variety of workplaces, big and small. Some employers who hired Widener graduates included: 

•    WSFS Bank
•    SimplySafe Home Security 
•    AstraZeneca
•    Aflac
•    Ford Motor Company
•    Exelon Corp.
•    Pepco Holdings
•    U.S. Department of Defense
•    Constellation Energy
•    Penn Medicine
•    Jefferson Health 
•    Main Line Health
•    Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia
•    The Walt Disney Co.
•    Allied Security

“We’re proud to see this class step into the futures they’ve worked so hard to earn,” said Janet Long, executive director of the university’s Career Design and Development office. “The entire Widener community is committed to their success, and to seeing them apply their knowledge and skills into meaningful careers.”

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/positive-outcomes-may-2025-graduates

A team of senior biomedical engineering students earned recognition at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, or ASME, Philadelphia Section Student Project Competition, a regional engineering competition among major area universities. The students presented their capstone design project which consisted of a smart prosthetic sleeve with integrated temperature control aimed at reducing cold-weather pain and improving quality of life for individuals with lower-limb amputations. The Widener student team, which was one of more than 25 teams presenting, gained recognition for their project's practical impact and thoughtful engineering design, earning the team a $600 award.

Team members pictured left to right: Akem Kpuyuf, Yamen Jlilati, Kayleigh Armstrong, Victoria Rebelo and Saeed Tiari, associate professor, chair of biomedical engineering and project supervisor. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/biomedical-engineering-students-awarded-local-asme-student-competition

Delaware Law School student Daniela de León has been selected as one of the Philadelphia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division’s 2025 Diversity Scholarship recipients. The scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate strong academic performance, a commitment to community service and Bar Association involvement, a connection to the Philadelphia legal community, a diverse background, and financial need.

The Young Lawyers Division, or YLD, is a section of the Philadelphia Bar Association made up of attorneys who are in the early years of their legal careers. It provides professional development, networking, mentorship, and community‑service opportunities for new lawyers, and it plays a key role in helping emerging attorneys become active participants in the Bar Association.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/delaware-law-student-recognized-philadelphia-bar-associations-young-lawyers-division
 

Babak Eslami, associate professor and chair of mechanical engineering, published in the international, peer-reviewed journal Polymers. The study titled, "AI-Powered Thermal Fingerprinting: Predicting PLA Tensile Strength Through Schlieren Imaging," ran in the Special Issue 3D/4D Printing of Polymers: Recent Advances and Applications.

The study's objective was to develop a low-cost, non-destructive framework for predicting tensile strength during 3D printing by directly measuring convective thermal gradients surrounding the print. To accomplish this, Eslami and his team of student-researchers introduced thermal fingerprinting, a novel non-destructive technique that combines Background-Oriented Schlieren, or BOS, imaging with machine learning to predict the printed material's strength during printing. The findings represent the first successful application of Schlieren imaging to polymer additive manufacturing and establishes a methodological framework for real-time quality prediction. The demonstrated framework enables real-time application and contact-free quality assurance of 3D printing by enabling on-the-fly identification of mechanically unreliable prints in laboratory, industrial, and distributed manufacturing environments without interrupting production.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/mechanical-engineering-professor-chair-publishes-polymers

Widener University has again been recognized by Colleges of Distinction, a unique information platform for college-bound students. In being named a college of distinction for 2026, the university met the outlet’s signature four distinctions:

Vibrant community – through a welcoming campus environment that fosters personal growth.

Engaged students – who get hands-on learning through internship and research opportunities.

Great teaching – with small class sizes, dedicated faculty and emphasis on critical thinking.

Successful outcomes – involving graduation rates, career-readiness programs and strong alumni networks.

The outlet also placed the university on eight specialized “best” lists, including best colleges for nursing, business, and engineering, as well as best colleges with outstanding career services. 

Colleges of Distinction are selected for their dedication to student development, academic excellence and holistic support. In determining recognition, the organization also considers federal data available through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the Common Data Set, a collaborative effort among data providers in the higher education community.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-named-college-distinction-0
 

Widener University has received the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, a designation awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching that highlights an institution’s commitment to community engagement. 

The classification has been the leading framework for institutional assessment and recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education for nearly 20 years. 

Widener is one of 277 institutions nationally to be given the classification and one of only 80 private colleges and universities named in the 2026 cohort. The designation, which celebrates our dedication to partnering with public, private and nonprofit entities to foster civic engagement and create real-world learning opportunities for students, is valid until 2032. 

The honor recognizes Widener’s work to deepen partnerships, leverage community assets and address societal challenges with clarity and distinction. In awarding the classification, the organizations noted Widener had documented excellent alignment among campus mission, culture, leadership, resources, and practices that support dynamic and noteworthy community engagement, and that the university had provided rich descriptions and examples of exemplary institutionalized practices of community engagement. 

The Carnegie Classifications are the nation’s leading framework for categorizing and describing colleges and universities in the United States. They are used frequently by policymakers, funders, and researchers, and are a critical benchmarking tool for postsecondary institutions.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-given-national-civic-engagement-classification

Widener welcomed legendary alumnus Phil Martelli ’76 to campus to speak with the Pride’s men’s and women’s basketball players and athletic staff. Martelli is passionate about making a difference through community and corporate engagements. He spoke to students in attendance sharing life advice and stories, and covering topics such as relationship building, perseverance, and being a good teammate. 

Martelli, known for his long career as a college basketball coach, was a member of the Pride men’s basketball team from 1972-1976. Following his graduation from Widener, he went on to have a successful coaching career at schools such as Bishop Kenrick High School Saint Joseph’s University and the University of Michigan.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/legendary-pride-alumnus-phil-martelli-meets-basketball-players-and-staff  
 

Dear Widener Community,

Welcome to the start of spring semester!

Whether you’re continuing your academic journey at Widener or joining us as a new student, we’re so glad you’re part of the university community this semester.

The beginning of a new calendar year offers a powerful opportunity to reset and refocus. As classes begin this week, I hope you will take a moment to think about what you want to accomplish this year—both big goals and small steps. Maybe it’s exploring a new subject, getting involved in campus life or building habits that support your success. Whatever your aspirations, know that you have a network here cheering you on. You belong at Widener, and your contributions matter.

As I consider the fresh pages of my 2026 calendar, I’m reminded that progress often starts with simple actions — rest, reflection and routines that keep us grounded. New starts aren’t just about big changes, they’re about steady steps forward. The many activities happening across all three campuses this semester provide ways for us all to get involved and move forward together. 

Let’s approach this semester with optimism and collaboration. Celebrate your wins, support one another and make this a year of growth and achievement.

Here’s to new beginnings!

With Warmth and Widener Pride,
Stacey

Stacey Robertson, PhD
President

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/welcome-spring-2026-semester