Widener University Commonwealth Law School welcomes distinguished new faculty members
Widener University Commonwealth Law School is proud to announce the addition of its newest faculty members, set to begin their roles on July 1. This esteemed group of legal scholars brings a wealth of experience and a diverse array of accomplishments that will significantly enhance the academic environment at the law school.
“I am delighted that we are bringing such talented new faculty to Harrisburg at Widener Law Commonwealth who are among the most talented, diverse, and gifted law professors in the country,” stated Dean andré douglas pond cummings. “I could not be happier with this class of four faculty members to share with the students, staff, faculty, and community.”
Professor F. Lee Francis joins as associate professor of law. Professor Francis brings a wealth of experience, having directed the Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Center at Mississippi College School of Law. His career spans roles as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and active-duty service as an Army JAG officer, currently holding the rank of Captain in the Army Reserves. Specializing in constitutional law, criminal procedure, and evidence, Professor Francis has made significant contributions to the Second Amendment and firearms law scholarship.
Professor Noah Chauvin joins Widener Law Commonwealth as assistant professor of law. Professor Chauvin’s teaching portfolio includes Legal Methods I, Legal Methods II, Constitutional Law and First Amendment. Previously, he served as counsel in the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice and as an attorney-advisor in the Intelligence Law Division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. His research, notably on the First Amendment and surveillance law, has been published in prestigious law journals such as the American University Law Review and the South Carolina Law Review.
Professor Guadalupe Luna joins as visiting professor of law for the 2024-25 academic year. Professor Luna is an internationally recognized scholar whose teaching areas of expertise include property law, agricultural law, immigration law, jurisprudence, and remedies law. She has authored dozens of law review articles and book chapters, including entries in "The Encyclopedia of Latina/o Politics and Social Movements" and an extensive bibliography on the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, both published by Oxford University Press. An elected member of the American Law Institute and an American Bar Association Fellow, Professor Luna's career is marked by her advocacy for social justice and the rights of marginalized communities.
Professor Timothy J. Peterkin (T.J.) also joins Widener Law Commonwealth as a visiting assistant professor of law, bringing a rich background in legal education and academic support. Most recently, he served as the director of academic support and visiting assistant professor at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, where he taught first-year skills labs, second-year targeted support courses, and third-year bar preparation courses. Previously, at the University of South Dakota School of Law, he served as the director of academic success and bar prep, conducting weekly workshops and teaching courses such as Race and the Law, Critical Legal Skills, and Legal Reasoning. Professor Peterkin also spent seven years at North Carolina Central University School of Law, where he was named Professor of the Year for 2011-2012.
This newest hiring class reflects Widener Law Commonwealth's ongoing commitment to academic excellence, belonging, and preparing students for a dynamic legal landscape.
