When Wilmington University’s Farnan School of Law opened its doors, its first students stepped into something new. They joined a law school still building its traditions, shaping its culture and defining its place in Delaware’s legal community.
On Friday, May 15, 2026, that first class reached a defining moment.
The School of Law celebrated its inaugural commencement ceremony at The Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington, honoring Juris Doctor graduates who helped establish the foundation for Delaware’s newest law school.
The ceremony came after the School of Law received provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association, allowing graduates to sit for the bar exam, seek admission to the bar, and pursue careers that require a degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
“This ceremony recognized a remarkable and accomplished class,” says The Honorable Jan Jurden, dean of the Farnan School of Law. “These students placed their trust in a new law school, helped shape its identity, and prepared for meaningful service in the profession. We are proud of their achievements and the foundation they helped build.”
For the inaugural graduates, the milestone represented years of academic work, professional preparation and trust in a program still in its earliest chapters. Members of the class helped set expectations for student leadership, peer support, mentorship and engagement with the bench and bar.
Many graduates had already secured roles with respected employers, including the Delaware Department of Justice; Doroshow Pasquale Krawitz & Bhaya; Young Conaway, Tybout, Redfearn & Pell; and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Their early paths included public service, private practice, federal court practice, litigation, workers’ compensation and judicial clerkships. Others were preparing for careers in environmental law, criminal law, family law, personal injury and bankruptcy law, with graduates planning to sit for bar examinations in Delaware, Pennsylvania and California
Those outcomes reflected a core part of the Farnan School of Law experience: close mentorship, individualized professional coaching and direct connection to Delaware’s legal community. Through the School of Law’s mentorship program, students worked with practicing attorneys and judges who helped them understand the profession, build relationships, and prepare for the transition from law school to practice. The advisors also connected students with experienced members of the bench and bar, helping guide the school’s professional focus and strengthen its connection to the legal community.
That emphasis on professional preparation began early. Students received career guidance, built connections through externships and completed extensive bar preparation. They also took part in programming that developed professional identity, practical legal skills, leadership and judgment.
The commencement ceremony included remarks from Wilmington University President Dr. LaVerne Harmon and Dean Jurden, as well as a special appearance from Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer. Mary Christine Macmillan, a summa cum laude graduate, delivered the commencement address. Faculty members hooded each graduate, and Dean Jurden presented the Outstanding Student Leadership Award to Dalton Lahti.
“This first graduating class reflects the heart of Farnan School of Law,” says Dr. Harmon. “Their achievement speaks to the care of our faculty, the guidance of mentors, and the support of a legal community that has welcomed this school from the beginning. We are proud to celebrate them as they begin their legal careers.”
For Farnan School of Law, the first commencement marked a ceremonial beginning as much as an ending. The graduates left with degrees, professional goals, and the distinction of having helped shape a law school that will continue to thrive.
—Maria Hess
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When Wilmington University’s Farnan School of Law opened its doors, its first students stepped into something new. They joined a law school still building its traditions, shaping its culture and defining its place in Delaware’s legal community.
On Friday, May 15, 2026, that first class reached a defining moment.
The School of Law celebrated its inaugural commencement ceremony at The Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington, honoring Juris Doctor graduates who helped establish the foundation for Delaware’s newest law school.
The ceremony came after the School of Law received provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association, allowing graduates to sit for the bar exam, seek admission to the bar, and pursue careers that require a degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
“This ceremony recognized a remarkable and accomplished class,” says The Honorable Jan Jurden, dean of the Farnan School of Law. “These students placed their trust in a new law school, helped shape its identity, and prepared for meaningful service in the profession. We are proud of their achievements and the foundation they helped build.”
For the inaugural graduates, the milestone represented years of academic work, professional preparation and trust in a program still in its earliest chapters. Members of the class helped set expectations for student leadership, peer support, mentorship and engagement with the bench and bar.
Many graduates had already secured roles with respected employers, including the Delaware Department of Justice; Doroshow Pasquale Krawitz & Bhaya; Young Conaway, Tybout, Redfearn & Pell; and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Their early paths included public service, private practice, federal court practice, litigation, workers’ compensation and judicial clerkships. Others were preparing for careers in environmental law, criminal law, family law, personal injury and bankruptcy law, with graduates planning to sit for bar examinations in Delaware, Pennsylvania and California
Those outcomes reflected a core part of the Farnan School of Law experience: close mentorship, individualized professional coaching and direct connection to Delaware’s legal community. Through the School of Law’s mentorship program, students worked with practicing attorneys and judges who helped them understand the profession, build relationships, and prepare for the transition from law school to practice. The advisors also connected students with experienced members of the bench and bar, helping guide the school’s professional focus and strengthen its connection to the legal community.
That emphasis on professional preparation began early. Students received career guidance, built connections through externships and completed extensive bar preparation. They also took part in programming that developed professional identity, practical legal skills, leadership and judgment.
The commencement ceremony included remarks from Wilmington University President Dr. LaVerne Harmon and Dean Jurden, as well as a special appearance from Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer. Mary Christine Macmillan, a summa cum laude graduate, delivered the commencement address. Faculty members hooded each graduate, and Dean Jurden presented the Outstanding Student Leadership Award to Dalton Lahti.
“This first graduating class reflects the heart of Farnan School of Law,” says Dr. Harmon. “Their achievement speaks to the care of our faculty, the guidance of mentors, and the support of a legal community that has welcomed this school from the beginning. We are proud to celebrate them as they begin their legal careers.”
For Farnan School of Law, the first commencement marked a ceremonial beginning as much as an ending. The graduates left with degrees, professional goals, and the distinction of having helped shape a law school that will continue to thrive.
—Maria Hess
Want to read more in-depth stories? Explore our latest magazine articles.
