Widener University announced the separation of its two law schools and named deans for both campuses.
As of July 1, the Delaware campus becomes the Widener University Delaware Law School, and the Harrisburg campus becomes the Widener University Commonwealth Law School.
Widener, which has its main campus in Chester, Pa., operates a campus for the law school on Concord Pike, north Wilmington. Widener Delaware Law School is the state’s only law school.
Christian A. Johnson was named the new dean of Widener University Commonwealth Law School and Rod Smolla was named the new dean of Widener University Delaware Law School. Smolla succeeds Linda Ammons who stepped own from the post last year.
The change in status and new names will take effect July 1, the day both deans begin their tenures. New websites for the schools debuted Friday at harrisburglaw.widener.edu and delawarelaw.widener.edu.
“This is an exciting time for Widener University and its law schools,” Widener President James T. Harris III said. “The Widener School of Law has offered exceptional legal education for over 40 years. During that time, the two law campuses have grown and developed their own strengths and unique identities. Both schools will benefit from this change as it will allow each campus to showcase their strengths and individuality. This change will allow us to enhance our student services and educational offerings, with separate law school administrations dedicated to the different locations.”
The new school names were selected after extensive listening sessions at both locations.
Delaware Law School is home to the Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law, the Family Health Law & Policy Institute and has environmental and advocacy programs.
Smolla is a visiting professor of law at the University of Georgia School of Law. He previously served as the dean of University of Richmond School of Law and Washington and Lee University School of Law, and as president of Furman University in Greenville, S.C.
A native of the Chicago area, Smolla graduated first in his class from Duke University School of Law and earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University.
“Delaware Law is an outstanding institution and I am honored to have this opportunity to serve as its dean during this important time in its history. I am looking forward to becoming an active participant in the Delaware legal community and building on the school’s already strong relationships with the bench and bar, and distinguished alumni throughout the region,” Smolla said. “I am looking forward to working with my law faculty colleagues, and to energetically participating in the academic and professional life of the Delaware Law student body, encouraging students to aspire to the highest traditions of the profession.”
Johnson, is the Hugh B. Brown Presidential Endowed Chair in Law at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, where he has been on the faculty since 2008. He teaches and writes in the areas of business, banking and tax law. He currently co-chairs Utah’s curriculum and ABA site visit committees and served as the school’s associate dean for academic affairs from 2012-2014. Prior to his time in Utah, he spent 13 years on the faculty of Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Johnson earned his law degree at Columbia University School of Law where he was executive editor of the Columbia Law Review and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.
The Delaware campus was founded as Delaware Law School in 1971 in Wilmington, and graduated its first class four years later. In 1989, Widener acquired property to house a law school in Harrisburg and opened a campus in that location. Today, the two locations are home to more than 700 law students pursuing Juris Doctor degrees in a three-year, full-time program, or part time in Widener’s four-year, extended division. The Delaware location also offers legal graduate, compliance certificate, paralegal and legal nurse consulting programs.
Widener University is a private university with an enrollment of 6,000.
