Campbell Law 50th Anniversary Spotlight: The Honorable Ann Marie Calabria ‘83
Throughout her career, The Honorable Ann Marie Calabria ‘83 has served as an attorney, an appellate judge, a district court judge and a mediator. Her legal career began at Campbell Law, where Calabria earned her JD as a non-traditional student. Calabria is originally from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and she earned her bachelor’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1977. In 2018, she was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the most prestigious awards conferred by the Governor of North Carolina. It is awarded to persons for exemplary service to the state and their communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and which has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina.
Current Role: Vice President, North Carolina Dental Services (NCDS)
Why Campbell Law?
Calabria says she joined Campbell Law based on its original location in Buies Creek and because the law school accepted her as an adult student. She credits her husband and mother for their support during law school, helping her balance her studies while raising their two daughters.
On practice
Currently, Calabria is helping the president of the NCDS board with strategic planning and decision-making. Prior to accepting her current role, she served as a North Carolina Court of Appeals judge for 16 years. Calabria has also worked as a mediator, a district court judge, and an attorney throughout her 43-year legal career.
A lesson that stuck
When asked what lesson stuck with her from her time at Campbell Law, Calabria responded she learned to “strive to represent clients as I would want to be represented to remain worthy of their trust.”
The people who shaped her
Calabria credits several professors for shaping her experience, including former U.S. Sen. Robert Morgan, who served as an adjunct professor at Campbell Law, and her Trial Advocacy Professor, Thomas Anderson. She interned with Senator Morgan’s law firm, where she wrote her first appellate brief and helped formulate oral arguments. She was also able to conduct research and prepare memos for court cases at the Harnett County Courthouse. She said Professor Anderson reminded her and her classmates to “always be prepared.”
On being Campbell Family
“The foundation of our Campbell Law family began with President Norman Adrian Wiggins, who had the vision to start a small private law school,” Calabria explained. “Dean Leary Davis was the first Dean when I was a student. All of our Deans – Patrick K. Hetrick, Willis Whichard, Melissa Essary and now J. Rich Leonard – have inspired all of us to continue to thrive while remaining true to our bedrock Christian values.”
Advice to current students
“Embrace all the new technology.” She noted when she was at Campbell Law she had to use the library for all of her research, since there was no access to computers, laptops or iPhones.
The next 50 years
Calabria believes Campbell Law’s next 50 years should continue to teach conflict resolution skills and focus on the values of “integrity, trustworthiness and commitment to justice,” which Dean Leonard reinforces.
Sidebar
Currently reading: The Wright Brothers by David McCullough, gifted to her by Judge John Tyson ‘79.
Most adventurous thing: Skiing in Whistler, British Columbia.
Favorite Raleigh spot: Angus Barn
Proudest moment: Being awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2018.