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Professor Anna Hemingway has spent more than two decades guiding law students at Widener University Commonwealth Law School. Now, she’s taking on a new challenge as associate dean for academic affairs, a role that allows her to support students, faculty, and the broader academic mission of the school in new ways.

“I’ve always loved teaching, and I still get to do that,” Hemingway said. “But this role pushes me to grow professionally in a different direction. There’s a lot of learning involved, and I find that really exciting.”

Hemingway has been part of the Widener Law Commonwealth community since 1998. A Lancaster County native and Hempfield High School graduate, she’s one of the few faculty members with deep roots in central Pennsylvania.
Her path to the legal academy wasn’t traditional. With undergraduate degrees in psychology, sociology, and anthropology, and a master’s in clinical psychology, Hemingway initially planned to pursue a career in mental health. But after realizing she wanted to make a broader impact, she shifted course and went to law school, always with the end goal of teaching.

Before joining Widener, she spent several years practicing law, primarily in real estate transactions, while teaching part-time at a community college. She describes her path to Widener as a lucky break—an opportunity that arrived at just the right time.

“I come from a family of educators. My dad was a math professor and my mom was a Spanish teacher, so teaching felt like it was in my blood,” Hemingway said. “I didn’t have lawyers in the family, so I didn’t know about clerkships or how competitive legal academia was. I just knew I wanted to teach law.”

As associate dean, Hemingway now works closely with faculty and administration on scheduling, curriculum matters, adjunct hiring, and academic policies. She sees her new position as an opportunity to support every facet of the law school—from faculty and administrators to students navigating the demands of law school life.

“My goal is to be helpful—to the dean, to the faculty, to students,” she said. “If there’s a rough spot, I want to help smooth it out. It’s about playing a supporting role across the board.”

Though she admits the role comes with a steep learning curve, Hemingway said she’s been surprised at how much she has enjoyed it so far. “I have a tremendously supportive dean, and because I’ve been here so long, I feel comfortable in the community. I’ve always held my students in the highest esteem, so this really feels like a continuation of what I love.”
Dean andré douglas pond cummings said Hemingway’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for the law school’s continued growth and impact.

“Professor Hemingway has been a dedicated, anchoring presence on our faculty at Widener Law Commonwealth for two decades,” cummings said. “She is thoughtful. She is careful. She cares about our students, our staff, our legacy, and our brand more than nearly anyone I know. While it will be huge shoes to fill, stepping in for Juliet Moringiello, Anna is prepared, ready, prolific, and will help me—help us—move the needle and increase our brand and reputation in meaningful ways.”

cummings added that Hemingway’s depth of experience as both a teacher and scholar makes her uniquely suited to shape the academic experience for students and support faculty success.

“She is clear-eyed about what our students need and how to help them accomplish their goals,” he said. “She knows our curriculum—its strengths and where we can grow—and she knows our students. Because she’s so familiar with both, she will be superlative in helping us plan our curricular outputs and in helping students achieve their goals. And in her 20 years here, she has become a nationally known scholar and teacher in legal writing and property law. She’s poised to work closely with Associate Dean of Faculty Research and Development Jill Family and with me on our administrative team to strengthen our academic programs and help students succeed.”

Outside of her administrative duties, Hemingway remains active in legal scholarship. She recently contributed to the next edition of a property law casebook and is writing an article on the role of kindness in legal education.

“The legal profession hasn’t always been kind,” she said. “But that’s no excuse. There’s zero reason we can’t be kind to one another in this work. Kindness helps build better learning environments. It’s something as simple as using a student’s name in class—it shows you care and that they matter.”

Hemingway also encourages students to take ownership of their law school experience by preparing early and becoming part of the community. Her advice to incoming students is practical: come prepared, act professionally, and be mindful of how quickly the three years will pass.

“The days are long, but the years are short,” she said. “Law school flies by. The more students invest in building relationships and becoming part of the law school community, the more they’ll get out of it.”

She also encourages incoming students to develop good reading habits early. “It doesn’t matter how you read—blogs, books, audiobooks—just keep reading. That’s how we grow.”

One specific title she recommends is Writing Essay Exams to Succeed in Law School by Widener Law Commonwealth professor emeritus John C. Dernbach. “It’s not flashy, but it’s a great primer,” she said. “It really helps students understand what their job is when they’re writing out exam answers. It’s well worth the time.”

Hemingway continues to teach in the Trial Admissions Program, a summer program for incoming students that remains one of her favorite parts of the year.

“It’s such a joy to teach students at the start of their journey,” she said. “They bring such enthusiasm to the classroom. It’s a great reminder of why I love doing what I do.”

Despite her expanded responsibilities, Hemingway says she hopes to stay involved in programs like TAP and continue teaching. “It’s what grounds me,” she said. “Teaching is still my first love.”

As she settles into her new role, Hemingway remains focused on the same principles that have guided her career since day one: compassion, professionalism, and a commitment to student success.

“I love this school. There’s no other word for it,” she said. “We care deeply about our students. That’s not just something we say—it’s who we are.”