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Public service was always a goal for Michelle Henry ’94. That, combined with her dream of working as a prosecutor, led her to Widener Law Commonwealth. 

“I chose the campus in Harrisburg because it is a great location in the middle of the commonwealth, with many opportunities to begin a career in public service,” she said.

Professor Mary Kate Kearney fondly remembers Henry during her time at the law school, who left a deep impression on her.

In a recent article, Kearney described her as not the most vocal student, “but she was the most engaged,” she explained. When she spoke, her classmates listened.

“She’s not someone who will walk in and dominate a room through the force of her personality, but through her intellect and good judgment, (she) ultimately becomes the leader in the room,” Kearney added.

During her time at Widener Law Commonwealth, Henry credits her participation in the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program (ITAP), as well as her participation in Moot Court and the Central Pennsylvania Law Clinic in providing her substantial preparation to enter the profession. “Widener Law Commonwealth’s unique programs helped me hone my courtroom skills, practice thinking on my feet, and graduate feeling prepared for my chosen path.”

Before joining the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Henry served as the first assistant district attorney of Bucks County, where she prosecuted former state Attorney General Kathleen Kane on several corruption charges. In 2017, she was awarded the Excellence in Public Service Alumni Award from Widener Law Commonwealth. In mid-January 2023, newly elected Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro nominated her to be the state’s next attorney general. Her nomination was confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate in March 2023.

“My time with the Office of Attorney General has brought me back to Harrisburg, so it feels like I have come full circle,” Henry said. “It’s been great working in the city that played such a big role in my formative years.”