Professor Juliet M. Moringiello, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law at Widener University Commonwealth Law School passed away peacefully on February 27, 2025.
Juliet was a pivotal figure at Widener Law Commonwealth, where she taught law courses in property, bankruptcy, secured transactions and sales, and seminars on cities in crisis, the mortgage crisis, and electronic commerce. She began teaching at Widener 31 years ago and took on a number of additional leadership duties in her tenure, including directing the business advising program, serving as associate dean for research and faculty development, and then as associate dean for academic affairs – a position she assumed in 2021 and currently held. She was teaching until just a few weeks ago.
Outside the classroom, Juliet was a leader in law reform on both state and national levels and was extremely active with both the ABA, where she held several leadership positions in the Business Law Section, and the PBA, which recognized her work by honoring her with the W. Edward Sell Business Lawyer Award in 2021. She served as a Uniform Law Commissioner for Pennsylvania and was an elected member of the American Law Institute – a highly distinguished honor within the legal profession.
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts appointed her to the Federal Judicial Center’s Bankruptcy Judge Education Advisory Committee last summer. As a member of the committee, Juliet helped develop educational programs and resources for federal bankruptcy judges, equipping them with the latest knowledge and skills necessary for their roles.
Just last month, the Association of American Law Schools Section on Commercial and Consumer Law gave Juliet its 2025 mentoring award, recognizing her exceptional commitment to guiding and inspiring the next generation of legal professionals. Upon receiving it, she spoke openly about the idea that no one advances alone, and how important it was to her to give back.
A celebration of life will be held at the law school in the coming weeks. Dean Moringiello left a lasting impression on Widener and her influence will continue to be felt through the thousands of students she guided into careers that are helping others every day.
The school will honor the life, legacy, and gravity of Juliet on Thursday, March 20, 2025, from 1 – 2 pm, with a coffee reception to follow in the Dean’s Gallery at Widener University Commonwealth Law School, Room A180 – 3737 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
Parking is across the street.
If you have any questions or would like to share a memory in advance, please contact cwdean@widener.edu. Additionally, if you’d like the Zoom coordinates, don’t hesitate to reach out to the same address.
