Penn State Scranton Appoints Durell Johnson as Interim Chancellor Durell Johnson, Ph.D., chief academic officer at Penn State Scranton, has been named interim regional chancellor for Penn State’s Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre campuses. Johnson has been with the University for over 25 years, starting at Penn State Scranton in 1999 as an assistant professor of human development and family studies. After earning tenure, he was promoted in 2005 to assistant director of academic affairs, served as discipline coordinator for the Division of Health and Human Development in the University College from 2008-09, and was named associate director of academic affairs in 2009 before being promoted to chief academic officer in 2016. “I’m honored to have been selected for the role of interim chancellor,” Johnson said. “I look forward to supporting our students, faculty and staff at all three campuses and maintaining the academic excellence and positive community impact for which Penn State is known.” A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Johnson holds a baccalaureate degree in psychology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, a master’s degree in experimental child psychology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a doctoral degree in developmental psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He resides in Clarks Summit.
Ballet Theatre of Scranton’s The Nutcracker Celebrates 50 Years Click here to find more information. Schedule:
Munley Law Welcomes Associate Attorney Noah Musto Premier Pennsylvania personal injury law firm Munley Law is pleased to announce that Noah Musto has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney. Musto joins Munley Law directly from completing a judicial clerkship with the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, where he spent the past year gaining firsthand experience in judicial decision-making and courtroom proceedings. This position gave him unique insights into legal analysis and civil procedure that will benefit Munley Law’s clients. “We are excited to welcome Noah to our team,” said Managing Partner Caroline Munley. “His judicial clerkship experience provides invaluable insight into the court system, and his demonstrated commitment to public service throughout his career aligns perfectly with our firm’s mission of fighting for justice on behalf of injured victims. Noah’s addition strengthens our ability to provide exceptional representation to our clients.” Prior to his clerkship, Musto gained legal experience through internships with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s procurement law division, the Commercial Law Development Program, and the National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit. These positions allowed him to develop expertise in various areas of law while maintaining a focus on public interest work. A native of Pennsylvania, Musto has deep roots in the Commonwealth and a strong connection to the Scranton area. He previously served as a Constituent Services Intern for U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.’s Greater Scranton office, where he assisted constituents with federal matters and gained valuable experience in public service. His commitment to Pennsylvania communities is also evident through his work as a Campaign Fellow with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, where he helped organize grassroots efforts in Centre and Clinton counties. Musto earned his Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School, where he served on the Public Contract Law Journal and as Secretary of the American Constitution Society chapter. He was active in the Equal Justice Foundation and participated in the first-year moot court competition. He graduated cum laude from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and served as Secretary of the Beta Pi chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society. Musto is admitted to practice law in Maryland (2024) and is currently pending admission to the Pennsylvania Bar.
Munley Law Welcomes Associate Attorney Jack Cartwright Munley Law, a premier personal injury law firm in Pennsylvania, is pleased to announce that Jack Cartwright has joined the firm as an Associate attorney. At Munley Law, Cartwright will focus on personal injury litigation, bringing his extensive legal experience to serve injured victims and their families throughout Pennsylvania. Cartwright has been recognized for his exceptional legal work, earning selection as Best Lawyers Ones to Watch in both 2024 and 2025, and being named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2024. These prestigious honors reflect his dedication to excellence in litigation and client advocacy “We are thrilled to welcome Jack to our team,” said Managing Partner Caroline Munley. “His commitment to justice aligns with the values that have defined Munley Law since its founding. Having Jack join our practice represents the continuation of our firm’s legacy and its future.” Cartwright recently served as an Associate Attorney at Krevolin & Horst in Atlanta, focusing on commercial litigation, whistleblower (qui tam) litigation, criminal defense, and voting rights matters. Before that, he spent nearly four years as an Associate Attorney at Winston & Strawn LLP in New York, handling complex litigation matters for the international law firm. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where he served as Associate Editor of the Journal of Law and Social Change and Articles Editor of the Journal of Law and Public Affairs. He was also active in public interest work through the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, Penn Law Health Law Policy Project, and Penn Law Pardon Project. Cartwright graduated magna cum laude from Hamilton College with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government. He also studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His commitment to public service is evident throughout his career. Cartwright served as a Law Clerk to former U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and completed a judicial internship with the Pennsylvania Superior Court. He also dedicated time as a Winston & Strawn Pro Bono Fellow at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, working as a Law Clerk with the Immigration Law Project. Cartwright represents the third generation of the Munley family to practice law at the firm, following in the footsteps of Robert W. Munley, the firm’s founder, and his mother, Senior Partner Marion Munley. “I am honored to join Munley Law and continue my family’s tradition of advocating for those who have been injured through no fault of their own,” said Cartwright. “Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the impact that legal representation can have on families during their most challenging times. I look forward to working alongside our exceptional team of attorneys and staff to ensure our clients receive the justice and compensation they deserve.” Cartwright is admitted to practice law in Georgia (2023), New York (2021), and the District of Columbia (2020). He is currently pursuing admission to the Pennsylvania Bar.
Munley Law’s Marion Munley Sworn in as AAJ VP Munley Law is pleased to announce that Senior Partner Marion Munley was recently sworn in as the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Vice President. Marion has held several executive positions in the AAJ over the years, having previously served as Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian. She was the first woman to chair the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group and has served on the Board of Governors and its Executive Committee. Marion is widely recognized as one of the most prominent and respected personal injury lawyers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She has won many multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts for injury clients throughout the United States, including one of Pennsylvania’s largest truck accident settlements. She is triple board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Law, Civil Practice Advocacy, and Truck Accident Law. She is the second woman in Pennsylvania to become a Civil Trial Advocate. Since 2023, Marion has consistently been selected as one of the Top 10 Super Lawyers© in Pennsylvania, one of only two female lawyers to receive such a distinction. In addition, she has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America© since 2013 and was named the 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers© for Product Liability in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She has been named a Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer every year since 2019. The American Association of Justice is a 20,000-member organization of plaintiff attorneys dedicated to protecting the rights of trial by jury. The mission of the AAJ is to promote justice and fairness for injured victims, safeguard victims’ rights, and strengthen the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public safety and health.
Munley Law Celebrates Marion Munley’s Third Super Lawyers Recognition Munley Law is pleased to announce that truck accident lawyer Marion Munley has been included in the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Pennsylvania, the Top 100 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, and the Top 50 Women Pennsylvania Super Lawyers lists in the 2025 edition of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers. This is the third year in a row that Marion has been featured in the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Pennsylvania. Marion has been consistently selected to the list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for the past 22 years and has been named to the Top 100 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list since 2022. She has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America since 2013 and was named the 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Marion was recently named a 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer. Marion is widely recognized as one of the most prominent and respected personal injury lawyers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She has won many multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts for injury clients throughout the United States, including one of the largest truck accident settlements in history. She is triple board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Law, Civil Practice Advocacy, and Truck Accident Law. A leader in the legal community, Marion is an active member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and is currently the AAJ Secretary. She was the first woman to become Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group in 2018 and is a past chair of the AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. She is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the International Society of Barristers, the Summit Council, and formerly served as President of the Melvin M. Belli Society. Only 5% of attorneys in the United States are selected to Super Lawyers. To be included in Super Lawyers, an attorney must be nominated by his/her peers, or identified by the Super Lawyers research department; lawyers cannot nominate themselves nor can they pay to be recognized on the list. Nominated attorneys are subjected to a thorough evaluation and selection process.
Munley Law Attorneys Named to 2026 Best Lawyers List Munley Law is pleased to announce that all 10 of its lawyers have been included in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Our personal injury lawyers received recognition in the following practice areas: Marion Munley – Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs Daniel W. Munley – Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs James Christopher Munley – Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants Caroline Munley – Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants Robert W. Munley III – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Workers’ Compensation – Claimants John M. Mulcahey – Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs Katie Nealon – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Workers’ Compensation – Claimants Melinda Ghilardi – Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Workers’ Compensation – Claimants Edward Monsky – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Workers’ Compensation – Claimants Attorney Mackenzie Wilson was named to the 2026 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ list for Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants. Ones to Watch™ is an honor given to attorneys early in their legal careers. Since 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America® list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing. Lawyers must have at least ten years of experience practicing law to be considered.
WIC Nutrition Program Announces Increased Income Guidelines Maternal and Family Health Services announced that the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program has increased income guidelines allowing more families to participate in the free nutrition education program. According to the new income guidelines for WIC, beginning on July 1, 2025, a family of four could earn $59,478 annually and qualify for WIC. For a family of three, the income limit is $49,303 to qualify, and a family of two can earn up to $39,128 and qualify for nutrition assistance. A complete list of income guidelines is below. WIC provides participants with supplemental healthy foods, which contain vital nutrients essential for healthy development during critical growth periods, such as pregnancy, infancy and early childhood. The WIC Nutrition Program is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and provides nutrition education and access to healthy foods for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children under the age of 5. To qualify, participants must meet the income guidelines, have a nutritional or medical need, and live in Pennsylvania. WIC is the nation’s premier public health and nutrition education program with an overall goal to influence lifetime nutrition through positive health behaviors. In addition to the eWIC card which can be used to purchase nutritious foods, WIC participants receive nutrition education, breastfeeding support, immunization record checks, iron deficiency screening, farmers’ market vouchers and referrals for other health and social services. For more information or to apply for WIC, visit www.mfhs.org, or call (570) 273-1288.
The Wright Center: Dr. Hassan Joins As Teaching Hospitalist A teaching hospitalist and physician has joined The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Faiza Hassan will serve as a teaching hospitalist for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, supervising resident physicians in clinical learning environments across Northeast Pennsylvania, including Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and Geisinger Community Health Center. In this role, Dr. Hassan will support program leadership in developing, implementing, and evaluating curriculum for the internal medicine residency program, as well as mentoring resident learners and assessing their progress. Additionally, Dr. Hassan will provide responsive and inclusive whole-person primary health services for individuals 18 and older, including checkups, physicals, screenings, and treatment of common illnesses and injuries at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave. The community health center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019. Dr. Hassan earned her medical degree from Fatima Jinnah Medical University in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. She moved to the United States in 2014 and completed her internal medicine residency at Central Michigan University Health in Saginaw, Michigan, in July 2025. The program focuses on training resident physicians for careers as hospitalists and primary care physicians.
Shapiro Administration Continues Safety Efforts with Roundabouts Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that roundabouts continue to provide safe, efficient travel across the Commonwealth. Since 2005,104 roundabouts have been built to improve traffic flow and/or decrease crash severity, and more than 30 additional roundabouts are in various stages of design and construction across Pennsylvania. “For us, it’s simple. Roundabouts remove cross-traffic turns and eliminate T-bone crashes, while improving traffic flow” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Any design that dramatically reduces the most serious crashes we see on the road is worthy of consideration in our projects.” PennDOT finalized a data review through 2024 using 20 years of crash data from roundabouts around the state. Study findings showed that crashes with injuries were reduced by 51 percent and total crashes decreased by 7 percent. Pennsylvania data reflects national studies that found changing two-way sign-controlled intersections to a single-lane roundabout reduced injury crashes by more than 80 percent. Likewise, changing a signalized intersection to single-lane or multilane roundabout reduced crashes with injuries by up to 78 percent. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) lists roundabouts as a “Proven Safety Countermeasure” that improves safety by reducing vehicle speeds by angling incoming traffic. The crashes that do occur tend to be sideswipe crashes with vehicles traveling at slower speeds rather than T-bone or head-on collisions. Additionally, eliminating left turns across opposing traffic results in dramatically fewer injuries. In addition to safety improvement, roundabouts carry, on average, approximately 30 percent more vehicles during peak traffic than similar intersections. In off-peak hours, roundabouts cause almost no delay, compared to traffic signals. As roundabouts are constructed around the state, it is important to know how to correctly navigate them. Here are a few key things to remember when navigating a roundabout: Slow down and be prepared to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Circulating traffic has the right of way. Look left and check for approaching traffic. If there are multiple circulating lanes, yield to both before entering. Do not assume the vehicle in the inside lane will stay there. Do not stop while in the circulatory roadway, and always use your right turn signal to indicate your exit. Click here for PennDOT’s data review Click here for the national studies
