One is laying the groundwork for supporting veterans' legal needs. The other is working to open more doors for students pursuing careers in government.
Third-year regular-division student Grant Villa-Rodriguez and third-year extended-division student Alexandra Acri Godfrey have been selected as Widener University Commonwealth Law School's 2026-27 Patrick J. Murphy Law and Government Fellows, where they'll turn those ideas into projects designed to strengthen public service on campus and across Pennsylvania.
The Patrick J. Murphy Law and Government Fellowship is awarded through a competitive selection process to students who demonstrate a commitment to public service and leadership. Supported by a generous gift from Widener Law Commonwealth alumnus Patrick J. Murphy '99, a former U.S. congressman and former undersecretary of the U.S. Army, the fellowship provides students with hands-on experience in law, government, and public policy while supporting the work of the Law and Government Institute.
Throughout the academic year, fellows spend approximately five hours each week assisting with institute programming, conducting legal and policy research, engaging with policymakers and alumni, representing the institute and developing a special project that benefits the law school community.
For Villa-Rodriguez, this marks his second year as a Murphy Fellow and an opportunity to build upon work that began during his first year.
Before law school, Villa-Rodriguez served in infantry roles in the U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard, including two combat deployments, and later worked as a teacher. He said public service has been the consistent thread throughout his career and ultimately led him to pursue a law degree.
"I chose to pursue law because it offered a way to continue serving in a different capacity, one that combines advocacy, problem-solving and an understanding of how government institutions operate," Villa-Rodriguez said.
Widener Law Commonwealth's location in Harrisburg, the Law and Government Institute and the school's emphasis on public service drew him to the law school.
"I wanted to attend a law school where I could study how government works while also gaining practical experience with the judges, attorneys, agencies and policymakers responsible for carrying out that work," he said.
During his first year as a Murphy Fellow, Villa-Rodriguez researched veterans' access to justice, observed Veterans Treatment Court proceedings in Dauphin and York counties and studied diversion court frameworks. This year, he plans to build on that research by developing a plan to provide civil legal assistance to veterans in central Pennsylvania facing issues involving housing, public benefits, income, family stability, discharge status, debt, employment and elder or survivor planning.
"These problems rarely occur in isolation, and one unresolved legal issue can threaten a veteran's housing, health, finances or family," Villa-Rodriguez said.
Villa-Rodriguez also brings his own perspective as a veteran to the project.
"I understand how difficult it can be to navigate systems that are fragmented, technical and often disconnected from the realities veterans face after service," he said. "Veterans should not lose their stability simply because they cannot afford an attorney or do not know where to turn for help."
After graduating in May 2027, Villa-Rodriguez hopes to pursue government litigation and administrative law, ideally in a state attorney general's office or another public service position. His long-term goal is to serve as an administrative law judge.
"Government attorneys do more than resolve individual cases," he said. "They help determine how laws are interpreted, how agencies operate and whether public institutions treat people fairly."
Villa-Rodriguez said the Murphy Fellowship has helped prepare him for that work by teaching him how to take a public problem from research to an actionable proposal, including considering institutional authority, funding, implementation and the partnerships necessary to make change possible.
Godfrey brings a different perspective to the fellowship, shaped by nearly a decade of public service and her current role as librarian for the Pennsylvania Senate, where she oversees the Senate Law Library and conducts legal research for legislators, staff and the public.
Working alongside attorneys in state government inspired Godfrey to pursue a law degree after she saw how many leadership and decision-making positions were held by lawyers.
"There was a whole world of opportunity to be unlocked with juris doctorate credentials," Godfrey said. "The decision makers and leadership teams were filled with lawyers, and I realized I wanted to do what they do and have the confidence of understanding the legal landscape."
After spending years working in state government, Godfrey knew Widener Law Commonwealth's flexible extended division program would allow her to continue serving the commonwealth while earning her juris doctor.
"I'd run into countless successful attorneys who graduated from Widener Commonwealth and had positive experiences balancing the strenuous workloads of day and night responsibilities," she said. "I knew that as long as Widener supported students where they were at, I could be successful, and I'm thankful that's turned out to be true."
Godfrey plans to develop a comprehensive guide to government and public interest internships that satisfy the Law and Government Institute's certificate requirements. The resource will identify agencies and organizations willing to host Widener Law Commonwealth students while providing application contacts, hiring timelines and networking resources.
"Making a shortlist of internships and how to connect with hiring teams is the first step in making the job market in government, which so often relies on networking, more accessible," she said.
Godfrey hopes the project will introduce students to a broader range of public service opportunities while helping them build the professional connections needed to launch careers in government.
For her, the fellowship is also an opportunity to draw on her experience inside state government to help other students better understand the range of careers available to those interested in public service. By connecting students with agencies, internship opportunities and hiring contacts, she hopes to make government careers feel more accessible and attainable.
After graduation, Godfrey plans to continue serving the commonwealth in a legal role where she can make a meaningful difference for the people of Pennsylvania.
Although their projects focus on different communities, both fellows share a commitment to removing barriers, whether helping veterans navigate the legal system or helping future attorneys find careers in public service.
The Patrick J. Murphy Law and Government Fellowship officially begins at the start of the fall semester. In addition to their individual projects, Villa-Rodriguez and Godfrey will help organize Law and Government Institute programs, conduct legal research and serve as ambassadors for the institute throughout the 2026-27 academic year.
