Widener Law Commonwealth Celebrates the Power of Public Service at the Capitol
At the Pennsylvania Capitol on Wednesday night, Widener University Commonwealth Law School hosted Evening at the Capitol, an annual Law & Government Institute tradition that celebrates students, alumni, and leaders who are shaping public service across the Commonwealth.
The annual Evening at the Capitol has been a milestone event for Widener Law Commonwealth for several years. This year’s gathering carried a deeper sense of pride as stories of resilience, service, and community connection filled the rotunda. Each honoree, whether a student beginning their path or an alumnus leading at the highest levels of state government, reflected the school’s mission to find talent in places others sometimes overlook and prepare graduates to shape a better future for the Commonwealth.
Dean andré douglas pond cummings set that tone early, sharing that Widener graduates consistently tell him how the law school changed their lives. “Widener finds talent where many are not looking,” he said. “We lift students up so they can go out and do incredible things for this state and beyond.”
Those incredible things came to life through the stories of this year’s award recipients.
For Alexandra Acri Godfrey, one of three student recipients of a Public Service Impact Award, public service is a family tradition rooted not in spotlight moments, but in the unseen work that keeps government running. A second-year extended division student pursuing certificates in both administrative/constitutional law and legislation and public policy through the Law & Government Institute, Godfrey works full-time as the librarian of the Senate of Pennsylvania. She also curates a daily political newsletter read by a statewide audience of policymakers, advocates, and other stakeholders, and she does it all while raising two young children with her husband.
She shared that her sense of service comes from watching her grandmother clean offices in the Capitol at night and her mother work to make the legislative process transparent to the public. “I want to build on what they started,” she said. “They showed me that public service isn’t always loud or flashy. It’s about helping people understand what their government is doing and why it matters.”
Bill Rafferty, another Public Service Impact Award recipient, focused on his passion for environmental law last summer during a placement with the Department of Environmental Protection. He researched environmental justice issues and saw firsthand how policy shapes the daily lives of Pennsylvanians, especially those living closest to environmental burdens.
“Water is a limited resource, and communities deserve protection,” Rafferty said. He hopes to return to DEP as counsel one day to work on water, zoning, and emerging environmental challenges. His award will help him continue down that path. In the meantime, the second-year regular division student is pursuing a certificate in environmental law.
Elizabeth Valencia, also honored with a Public Service Impact Award, carried a deeply personal story into the evening. A second-year regular division student pursuing multiple government-focused certificates, Valencia is the daughter of immigrant farmworkers and the first in her family to attend college or law school. Her career goal is to practice immigration law and expand access to legal rights for vulnerable populations.
“I saw the barriers my own family faced,” she said. “Now I want to help others understand their rights so they can protect their families and their futures.”
Her work with the Latin American Law Students Association already reflects that commitment. She helps connect members of immigrant communities with resources and information that empower them to advocate for themselves.
The evening’s alumni honor, the Excellence in Public Service Award, went to Clarke Madden, class of 2008. His career reads like a roadmap of state government service. He has taken on high-profile roles in the Office of Attorney General, the Department of Human Services, and the Office of State Inspector General, where he now serves as First Deputy State Inspector General.
Madden spoke openly about the influence Widener had on him, both personally and professionally. He met his wife at the law school, and he credits his Widener education with preparing him to navigate the complex inner workings of government with integrity and clarity.
He reflected on the responsibility that comes with public service and turned to a favorite line from James Madison to make his point: “The public good is the supreme object to be pursued.”
Madden urged everyone in the room to think about one small action they could take to strengthen their community. “The public good isn’t self-sustaining,” he said. “It needs people who care enough to protect it.”
Throughout the night, the underlying theme was clear. Widener Law Commonwealth, and especially its Law & Government Institute, continues to play a central role in shaping the future of public service in Pennsylvania.
The Law & Government Institute, founded by John Gedid, emeritus professor and the school’s inaugural vice dean, more than 25 years ago, equips students to work at the intersection of law, public policy, and regulation. With certificate programs, mentorships, public lectures, and hands-on opportunities with government agencies, students learn how to translate legal knowledge into meaningful action.
Director Rob Teplitz said the Law & Government Institute now has more students pursuing certificates than ever before. “These students want careers that matter, and they’re putting in the hard work to get there,” he said.
