Marjorie Rendell

Marjorie Osterlund Rendell became the 43rd First Lady of Pennsylvania when her husband, Governor Edward G. Rendell, was sworn in as Governor of Pennsylvania on January 21, 2003. Judge Rendell, a cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, received her Juris Doctor degree from the Villanova University School of Law in 1973. Upon graduation from law school, she joined the law firm of Duane, Morris & Heckscher, where she subsequently became the firm?s second woman partner. Over the course of her 20-year career as a practicing attorney, she specialized in bankruptcy law and commercial litigation, served as a mediator for the United States District Court and was a frequent speaker at law-related seminars and panels. Inducted as a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in March of 1994, Judge Rendell was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in November of 1997. She is the immediate past Chair (2003-2007) of the United States Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the Bankruptcy System. Judge Rendell is the Chair of the Third Circuit Bankruptcy Committee and a member of the Third Circuit Judicial Council Executive Committee. Judge Rendell is a former Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia and has served on the boards of many charitable and civic organizations. She is the Chair of Avenue of the Arts, Inc., and a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. At Penn, Judge Rendell is the immediate past Chair of the Board of Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania?s School of Nursing, a member of the board of Penn Medicine and a founding member of the Trustees Council of Penn Women (TCPW). She was recently honored as the recipient of TCPW?s 2005 Beacon Award and the 2007 Penn Alumni Award of Merit. As First Lady, Judge Rendell?s primary initiative focuses on imparting a sense of civic responsibility to our children (K-12) through civic learning. In furtherance of this initiative, she serves as a member of the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools? National Advisory Council and is a lead partner of the Pennsylvania Coalition for Representative Democracy (PennCORD). The First Lady also promotes Pennsylvania?s rich history, partners with the Pennsylvania Commission for Women on its initiatives, and is a frequent speaker to student and women?s groups across the Commonwealth. Judge Rendell has been recognized as a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania for her professional and individual contributions to the Commonwealth. The Rendells have been married over 35 years and have an adult son, Jesse. Additionally, they enjoy the company of their two golden retrievers, Ginger and Maggie.