The University of Toledo
03/16/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/17/2026 06:43
Toledo Women Lawyers History Project to Induct UToledo Law Dean Into Wall of Fame
Toledo Women Lawyers History Project to Induct UToledo Law Dean Into Wall of Fame
The Toledo Women Lawyers History Project, in partnership with The University of Toledo College of Law and the Toledo Women's Bar Association, will honor two distinguished members of the region's legal community during the upcoming Toledo Women Lawyers History Project Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Wednesday, March 18.
The event, which begins at 5 p.m. in the SLK Lounge at the College of Law, will recognize UToledo College of Law Dean Rebecca E. Zietlow and The Honorable Mary Ann Whipple as the newest inductees into the Toledo Women Lawyers History Project Wall of Fame. Judges, attorneys, alumni, students and community members are invited to attend the celebration recognizing their contributions to the legal profession and to the Northwest Ohio community.
UToledo College of Law Dean Rebecca E. Zietlow will be inducted into the Toledo Women Lawyers History Project Wall of Fame in a Wednesday ceremony.
"I am deeply honored to be included in this project," Zietlow said. "I am so pleased to be inducted at the same time as Judge Whipple, whom I greatly admire."
About Dean Rebecca E. Zietlow
Rebecca E. Zietlow has played a transformative role in Toledo legal education since joining The University of Toledo College of Law in 1995. A nationally recognized constitutional scholar and the Charles W. Fornoff Professor of Law and Values, she has spent three decades shaping generations of lawyers through her teaching in constitutional law, federal courts and civil procedure, while building the college's national reputation through influential scholarship on civil rights and the Reconstruction Amendments.
In 2023, she became interim dean and in 2024 was appointed the first permanent woman dean in the College of Law's history, marking a milestone for the institution she has helped shape for nearly 30 years. As dean, Zietlow continues to expand the college's impact by advancing experiential learning, strengthening public-service pathways and developing new programs designed to prepare practice-ready lawyers while addressing critical legal needs across Ohio.
About Judge Mary Ann Whipple
Mary Ann Whipple, who grew up in Toledo, is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Stanford Law School. She returned home to practice law with a prominent Toledo law firm as an associate, and later as a partner focused on bankruptcy and commercial litigation. On May 1, 2001, she was appointed as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, a position she held for more than 25 years. She also served terms on the Sixth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel and as chief judge of the Northern District of Ohio Bankruptcy Court.
Judge Whipple taught debtor-creditor law as part-time faculty at The University of Toledo College of Law for many years and served the community through board and civic group participation. She advocated for building foundations of excellence and professionalism in the practice of law as one of the founding organizers of the Toledo Women's Legal History Project, through bar association speaking engagements and long-time participation in the Morrison R. Waite Inns of Court.
About The Toledo Women Lawyers History Project and Wall of Fame
The Toledo Women Lawyers History Project, housed at The University of Toledo College of Law, was created to preserve and document the stories of women who helped shape the region's legal profession.
The Toledo Women Lawyers History Project, housed at The University of Toledo College of Law, was created to preserve and document the stories of women who helped shape the region's legal profession. Through oral histories, archival collections and public programming, the project highlights the experiences and achievements of women lawyers in Northwest Ohio.
The Wall of Fame honors attorneys, educators and judges whose leadership, service and professional accomplishments have made lasting contributions to the legal community while opening doors for future generations of women in the profession.
The annual induction ceremony also serves as an opportunity to highlight the project's broader mission of collecting and preserving the histories of women lawyers, so their stories remain accessible to students, scholars and the public.
Community members interested in supporting the initiative can also contribute to the Toledo Women Lawyers History Project, which relies on donations to expand its archival collections, oral history interviews and educational programming.
More information about the event and the Toledo Women Lawyers History Project is available on The University of Toledo College of Law website.
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