Alumni Relations

About Us

Mission & Membership | Contact Us | Past Presidents
Third Year Brunch Speakers | Service Award Recipients

Mission & Membership

The Villanova Law Alumni Association (VLAA) was created by Founding Dean Harold Gill Reuschlein upon the graduation of Villanova University School of Law's first class in 1956.  The Association exists to strengthen alumni connections to Villanova Law and one another, to promote a commitment to serving those in need, and to assist the Law School and alumni in the pursuit of excellence in legal education and the practice of law.

The VLAA consists of more than 9,000 individuals working across the nation as well as internationally.  All graduates of Villanova Law are considered members of the Association.

The VLAA provides opportunities for alumni to: 1) network with fellow graduates throughout the country at reunions, receptions, luncheons, CLE programs, happy hours, and gatherings at cultural and athletic events; 2) engage in the life of the Law School and/or the community as a Reimel Judge, through “A Day in the Law” or public service programs Lawyering Together and Friends of PIFP; and 3) to shape the future by supporting a fellow graduate, a current student, a pro bono client and the Law School.

Contact Us

General Information

Villanova Law Alumni Association
Office of Alumni Relations
Villanova University School of Law
299 North Spring Mill Road
Villanova, PA 19085
alumni@law.villanova.edu
Phone: 610-519-7054
Fax: 610-688-0222

Meet the Staff

Erin E. Muhly
Director of Alumni Relations, Villanova University School of Law
Executive Director, Villanova Law Alumni Association
muhly@law.villanova.edu
610-519-7437

Karen A. Johnson
Secretary, Office of Alumni Relations
kajohnso@law.villanova.edu
610-519-7054

Past Presidents

We recognize the following past presidents of the Villanova Law Alumni Association for their dedication, leadership and service to the Law School, its alumni and students:

(in chronological order)

1956-1957 Hon. Joseph R. Glancey '56 JD
1957-1958 D. Barry Gibbons '56 JD
1958-1959 Robert P. Garbarino '56 JD
1959-1960 Francis R. O'Hara '57 JD
1960-1961 James A. Matthews, Jr. '57 JD
1961-1962 Anthony L. Bartolini '58 JD
1962-1963 Vincent P. Haley '59 JD
1963-1964 Anthony J. Ryan '58 JD
1964-1965 George S. Forde '58 JD
1965-1966 James W. Schwartz '59 JD
1966-1967 Robert H. Ford '63 JD
1967-1968 C. Dale McClain '64 JD
1968-1969 Lawrence F. Flick '62 JD
1969-1970 Edwin W. Scott '63 JD
1970-1971 Albert P. Massey '64 JD
1971-1972 William J. O'Brien '62 JD 
1972-1979 Mark H. Plafker '64 JD 
1980-1979 George C. Brady III '72 JD 
1981-1980 Hon. Thomas A. Pitt, Jr. '61 JD
1982-1981 Jerome E. Bogutz '62 JD 
1983-1984 Hon. Joseph R. Glancey '56 JD
1984-1985 Thomas A. Riley '64 JD
1985-1986 Thomas S. Forkin '62 JD 
1986-1987 Arthur R. Shuman '72 JD
1987-1988 Frank J. Benasutti '64 JD
1988-1989 James F. Kipp '63 JD
1989-1991 Stuart H. Savett '63 JD 
1991-1992 Bernard J. McLafferty '61 JD
1992-1993 Lawrence R. Lesser '67 JD
1993-1995 Joseph A. Tate '66 JD 
1995-1996 Rosemary M. Flannery '64 JD
1996-1997 Mason Avrigian, Jr. '87 JD
1997-1998 Jane E. Lessner '88 JD 
1998-1999 Richard A. Mitchell '70 JD
1999-2000 Linda Love Vines '90 JD, '94 LLM
2000-2001 Noël C. Birle '93 JD
2001-2002 Edward J. Hoffman '73 JD
2002-2003 James C. King '93 JD
2003-2005 Yolanda F. Pagano '89 JD
2005-2006 Sean P. Fahey '94 JD
2006-2007 Thomas M. Gallagher '89 JD
2007-2008 Thomas G. Jackson ’91 JD

Past Presidents of the Villanova Law Alumni Association celebrate the Law School's 50th Anniversary at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia. Standing from left to right: Edward J. Hoffman '73, Mason Avrigian, Jr. '87, James C. King '93, Richard A. Mitchell '70. Seated from left to right: Yolanda F. Pagano '89, Jane E. Lessner '88, Noël C. Birle '93 and Linda Love Vines '90.

Third Year Brunch Speakers

Each year, the VLAA Leadership hosts a brunch, designed to welcome members of the graduating class into the Association and celebrate the tradition of a Villanova Law education. The keynote address, focused on service and delivered by a distinguished graduate, is the highlight of the event. Below is a list past speakers.

2008 - Nina M. Gussack ’79 JD Chair, Pepper Hamilton LLP

2007 - Jeffrey S. Moorad '81 JD General Partner, Arizona Diamondbacks

2006 - Kelly A. Ayotte '93 JD Attorney General, State of New Hampshire

2005 - Richard L. Trumka '74 JD Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO

2004 - J. Gordon Cooney, Jr. '84 JD Partner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

2003 - Ellen T. Greenlee '73 JD
Chief Defender, Defender Association of Philadelphia

2002 - Frank P. Cervone '82 JD
Executive Director, Support Center for Child Advocates

2001 - Francis P. Devine '73 JD
Former Chancellor, Philadelphia. Bar Association

2000 - Hon. Kathryn S. Lewis '76 JD
Judge, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

1999 - David E. Worby '76 JD
Partner, Worby Groner & Edelman LLP

1998 - Paul A. Tufano '86 JD
Then: General Counsel, Commonwealth of PA

1997 - Hon. M. Jane Brady '76 JD
Then: Attorney General, State of Delaware

1996 - Francis P. Devine '73 JD
Then: Chancellor, Philadelphia Bar Association

1995 - Jami W. McKeon '81 JD
Partner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

1994 - Louis W. Fryman '62 JD
Then: Managing Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP

1993 - George H.T. Dudley '73 JD
Partner, Dudley Topper & Feuerzeig

1992 - Aubra S. Gaston '76 JD
Then: Sunoco, Inc.

1991 - Arthur J. Kania '56 JD
Partner, Kania, Lindner, Lasak and Feeney

1990 - Hon. Sandra Schultz Newman '72 JD
Justice, Pennsylvania Supreme Court

1989 – Martin G. McGuinn '67 JD
CEO Mellon Financial Corporation

1988 - Norman J. Shachoy '61 JD
Then: Partner, Bingham McCutchen LLP

Service Award Recipients

The Villanova Law Alumni Association, along with the Law School, confers distinguished service awards upon alumni and third year students in recognition of service to the community and/or the Law School. Click Here to learn more about our past recipients:

Villanova Law Alumni Association Award for Excellence

The Honorable Marjorie O. Rendell '73

Gerald Abraham Alumni Association Award for Service to Villanova Law School:

Arthur J. Kania '56
Norman J. Shachoy '61
Arthur M. Goldberg '66
J. Clayton Undercofler '66
Edward R. Murphy '67
Patrick J. O'Connor '67
David F. Girard-diCarlo '73
Kathleen M Shay '77
Doris Del Tosto Brogan '81
James L. McHugh, Esq. '62

Donald W. Dowd Alumni Association Award for Public Service:

Louis W. Fryman '62
Francis P. Devine III '73
J. Michael Nolan '75
Hon. Kathryn S. Lewis '76
John P. Delaney, Jr. '81
Frank P. Cervone '82
Karen C. Buck '87
Maj. Keith A. Forkin '96
Mark S. Schwartz '74

St. Thomas of Villanova Pro Bono Award:

Jennifer J. Kramer '01
Danielle E. Beckwith Lehman '01
J. Gordon Cooney, Jr. '84
Jordan Hyatt '08

Law Alumni Association Award for Pro Bono Service:

Alissa E. Halperin '99
Sara L. Woods '00
Matthew S. Heilman '01
Kelly S. Urban '01
Jodi L. Cordeiro '02
Lauren J. Vidal '03
Sarah E. Cox '04
Kelli A. Babinecz '05
Alex G. Isbell '05
Sonia Lee '06
Eileen F. Carroll '07

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