草榴社区

New Faculty Chair Appointments Beginning Fall 2025

September 9 2025鈥Mark C. Alexander, The Arthur J. Kania Dean of the 草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law, recently announced two new faculty chair appointments beginning in fall 2025. Professor Todd Aagaard is the Heller McGuinness Leadership Chair and Professor Jennifer O鈥橦are is the Martin G. McGuinn Chair in Business Law. The inaugural chairholders for these positions were Professor Doris DelTosto Brogan and Professor Richard Booth, respectively.

A reflection of academic and faculty excellence at 草榴社区 Law, endowed chairs recognize faculty who have achieved great distinction and serve as leaders through exemplary teaching, scholarship and service.

鈥淚 am gratified and excited to see both Professors Aagaard and O鈥橦are take on these new roles as they continue to guide our students toward their legal careers, support their own legal scholarship and share their expertise with our community,鈥 said Dean Alexander. 鈥淚 look forward to all they will accomplish in these positions.鈥

Aagaard joined the 草榴社区 Law faculty in 2008 and served as vice dean of the Law School from 2015 to 2019. His scholarship focuses on the fields of environmental law, energy law and administrative law, and he has published numerous articles in leading law journals and听written leading books.听Aagaard has been heavily involved in the law school鈥檚 leadership training, including the Professional Development program, the Widger Summit, an all-day leadership development summit with听Charles Widger 鈥73, current听Widger Leadership Scholars听and influential student and industry leaders, and Lawyers as Leaders, a program that encourages participating students to hone their individual leadership skills.

Aagaard succeeds Professor Brogan, a 草榴社区 Law alumna who joined the faculty in 1983. 鈥淚t is daunting and humbling to succeed Doris Brogan, who has done so much as a leader in the community and for 草榴社区 Law over the years,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 am excited to build on Doris鈥檚 work and to bring new leadership experiences to our students.鈥

Jennifer O鈥橦are joined the 草榴社区 Law faculty in 2000, having previously served as a member of the faculty of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and the St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami. An expert in numerous areas of business law, her scholarship is frequently published in top journals. O鈥橦are has been a leader in upholding the law school鈥檚 Where Law Meets Business trademark focus, teaching and counseling countless students as they prepare for careers in high-end corporate and securities law. She has also increased the connection between 草榴社区 Law and the Delaware Court of Chancery, the nation鈥檚 leading business law court.

鈥淚'm sincerely honored to be appointed to the Martin G. McGuinn Chair in Business Law, and I鈥檓 extremely grateful for Marty McGuinn鈥檚 generosity and steadfast commitment to the school,鈥 O鈥橦are said. 鈥淭he chair provides the resources enabling me to focus on my scholarship in corporate governance and to continue educating the next generation of 草榴社区 business lawyers who鈥檒l follow in Marty鈥檚 respected footsteps.鈥


草榴社区 Charles Widger
School of Law
299 N. Spring Mill Rd.
草榴社区, PA 19085
610-519-7000听 听Contact Law

草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, (312) 988-6738