News

Faculty, students, and distinguished guests gathered at Widener University Commonwealth Law School on March 20 to celebrate the life of Juliet Moringiello, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of law, whose remarkable career and profound impact were remembered during a heartfelt memorial on campus.

Dean andré douglas pond cummings opened the commemoration with a personal reflection on Moringiello’s influence, recounting the indelible impression she made on him during his first dinner interview for the deanship.
“She comfortably owned her power,” said cummings. “That night, I realized this was a woman not to be trifled with—fiercely loyal and deeply committed to this law school.”

cummings, who served with Moringiello during her final year, shared personal anecdotes of her mentorship and unwavering commitment, calling her “the penultimate example of what a law professor could be and should be.” He highlighted her many achievements, including her appointment by the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court to a bankruptcy education commission and receiving the 2025 Mentor of the Year Award from the Association of American Law School's Section on Consumer and Commercial Law.

“She was mic-drop impactful,” he said. “Students and alumni told me she changed the trajectory of their lives.”

Associate professor of law and former dean Michael Hussey reflected on the lasting impact of Moringiello's daily interactions with students and faculty alike.

“Trying to celebrate her life in four minutes is a little bit like trying to cram Thanksgiving dinner into the salad course,” Hussey said. “But in our day-to-day five- and ten-minute conversations, I got glimpses of all that she was — the joys, the frustrations, the laughter, and the tears. Her focus was always on student success.”

Hussey described Moringiello as an unrelenting advocate for her students, encouraging them to be prepared, thorough, and thoughtful.

“She wanted you to be great,” he said. “And to be great, you do not have to be perfect. She had her struggles and doubts, and she kept on plugging away. You can too.”

Though she initially resisted becoming a municipal bankruptcy expert, Moringiello’s sense of responsibility to the field and its future pushed her forward. “She never wanted to be a municipal bankruptcy expert,” Hussey recalled. “But when cities like Detroit, Stockton, and Harrisburg faced financial crisis, she stepped up. Eventually, she developed national expertise because she was willing to answer the call.”

Moringiello also championed innovation in the classroom and she remained supportive of new faculty members trying similar strategies.

“She was one hundred percent in support of colleagues experimenting and focusing on what was best for students,” Hussey said.

Jill Family, associate dean for faculty research and development and professor of law, echoed that sentiment, describing Moringiello as a mentor, friend, and even a real estate guide.

“It’s rare to meet someone who not only gives you a job, but also a house,” Family said with a smile. “Juliet set me up for success from the start. Her mentorship was in her bones—she boosted the careers of so many in academia and her students alike.”

Moringiello chaired the hiring committee that brought Family to Widener in 2005 and helped her find a home in a competitive market. Family praised her colleague’s ability to excel as a teacher, scholar, and community member.

Professor Melissa Jacoby, Graham Kenan Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, also offered heartfelt remarks.

“She was a community creator — clearly here, but everywhere else as well,” Jacoby said. “She worked on things that were really hard, but really mattered. And rather than making the community smaller or more exclusive, she opened doors and made it accessible.”

Moringiello’s work as a Uniform Law Commissioner and her role in drafting updates to the Uniform Commercial Code have already shaped legal practice across the country. Her scholarship and leadership in the American Bankruptcy Institute left a lasting mark on the field.

“She was recently honored with a nationwide Mentorship Award, which will now be renamed in her honor,” Jacoby shared. “Her work will endure, and so will the love and appreciation so many of us hold for her.”

Juliet’s approach to leadership was similar to her approach to life—direct. She did not ‘hide the ball,’” said Liz Simcox, coordinator of externships and adjunct professor at Widener Law Commonwealth, who worked closely with Moringiello for more than 25 years. “In her various leadership roles at the law school, work got done. Her dedication to legal scholarship was unmatched, and her impact on students was substantial. In my mind, Juliet’s legacy will be the success of her students.”

Jessica Poley, a third-year student and vice president of academics for the student bar association, recently reflected on her connection with Moringiello during a tribute that highlighted the late professor’s dedication, intellect, and influence.

“Professor Moringiello was one of my favorite professors at the school,” Poley said. “I was fortunate to have her for both Property I and Sales and Leases. She pushed me to be a better student. She challenged me to do better in her classes and put in the work. I’m eternally grateful to her for pushing me in every way that she did.”

Poley’s relationship with Moringiello began even before law school. In 2019, after her freshman year of college, she participated in a Women in Politics program that brought her to a networking reception at the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg. It was there that she met Moringiello for the first time.

“I went looking for the thank-you email I sent her after we met, and I found the response she sent back,” Poley recalled. “She told me it was inspiring to see young women engaged in making the world a better place. That message stayed with me because almost six years later, she was the one inspiring me and so many other students.”

Kendra Schleig, a third-year law student, had Professor Juliet Moringiello for property during her first year and most recently in sales and leases. 

“I respected her,” Schleig said. “There was never a time I left her classroom feeling confused. That mutual respect pushed me to be a better student. She challenged me to think differently, to trust that I already had the answers, and in doing so, helped me believe I belonged in law school—even when imposter syndrome told me otherwise.”

Eric Belfani, adjunct professor and 2000 alumnus, also fondly recalled his time as a student under Moringiello’s guidance. Reflecting on her role in his career, Belfani said, "She hired me as an Adjunct Professor, providing me with the opportunity to do what I truly love to do—teach. She was also instrumental in helping me get a research article into production with the Pennsylvania Bar Association, where it will be featured as the lead article in the April 2025 Quarterly Newsletter."

“She will be sorely missed by so many people and professions where she touched lives and made lasting impacts,” Belfani added.

Jessica Collier ‘24, another former student, reflected on Moringiello’s rigorous expectations and dedication to her students. “Professor Moringiello’s career exemplified overcoming challenges women face in law,” Collier said. “Her direct mentorship and genuine investment in students’ success will endure. Her legacy is carried forward by every life she touched.”

“Juliet may have seemed like the most unlikely of mentors for me — she was a polished, esteemed New Yorker with so much experience and intellect — but she quickly became my favorite professor and opened a new world to me,” said Angela McGowan ’07, a partner at Pillar+Aught. “Because of her, I discovered my potential in business and commercial law and have enjoyed an 18-year career as a transactional attorney. I literally owe that all to her.”

“I doubt she ever truly understood the magnitude of the impact she had on my life, but I’m grateful I was able to tell her,” McGowan said. “She smiled, she laughed, and I even saw a tear. She heard me. She knew. She understood. And I will always take solace in that.”

As the ceremony drew to a close, Rep. Nate Davidson, state representative for the 103rd House District, issued a proclamation honoring Moringiello’s enduring legacy.

“All of you are here with us today to celebrate the life and mourn the loss of our friend Juliet,” Davidson said. “I think that speaks to the kind of person she was. Some individuals leave a mark inside each of us—a memory, a lesson, a comfort—and Juliet was that type of person. She inspired young minds, mentored future leaders, and gave of herself to others. There are some people who leave a hole not just in our hearts, but in our whole community, and Juliet was one of those rare few. Her legacy lives on in the legal minds she nurtured and the hearts of her family and friends. She has left an indelible mark on our community.”

Davidson concluded with the formal proclamation:
“Be it resolved that the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania proclaims with enduring sorrow the passing of Juliet M. Moringiello, and extends heartfelt condolences to her many family members, friends, and colleagues.”

cummings closed the event with a moving call to action, urging those in attendance to honor Moringiello by embodying her values in their own lives.

“At moments like these, I always wonder—what can we do to remember?” cummings asked. “What I would like to suggest is that we remember Juliet in how we are, who we are with each other. If you have the chance to mentor, lift others—do it. If you are given opportunities to be powerful—own that power and use it to improve the lives of others. Let’s be magnificent. Let’s be unrelenting. Let’s be fearless.”

Click here to watch the Celebration of Life recording

Click here to view the Celebration of Life program

In Memoriam: Juliet M. Moringiello 

Widener University Commonwealth Law School is mourning the loss of one of its most esteemed faculty members, Professor Juliet M. Moringiello, who passed away on February 27, 2025. A fixture at the law school for more than three decades, Moringiello is remembered for her exceptional scholarship, leadership, and unwavering commitment to her students, colleagues, and the legal profession.

Joining Widener Law Commonwealth 31 years ago, Moringiello quickly earned respect for her rigorous intellect, compassionate mentorship, and dedication to excellence. She taught a wide range of courses, including property, bankruptcy, secured transactions, and advanced seminars on pressing legal issues such as cities in crisis, the mortgage crisis, and electronic commerce. Until just weeks before her passing, she continued to teach and inspire.

Her contributions extended far beyond the classroom. Moringiello led the business advising program and held key leadership roles, including associate dean for research and faculty development and, most recently, associate dean for academic affairs since 2021.