Director of Disability and Accessibility Services supports mentee on his pathway to becoming an associate judge

When Marc DeSimone, ’01, was gathering recommendation letters for his application to be a judge, he immediately thought of Marcia Wiedefeld, Loyola’s director of Disability and Accessibility Services.

DeSimone, who has ataxic cerebral palsy, first met Wiedefeld more than 25 years ago when he was an incoming student at Loyola. He found a fierce advocate—and a lifelong mentor who has continued to support him and celebrate his success.

Most recently, Wiedefeld served as a professional reference for DeSimone, who was named associate judge of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. He was inaugurated in January 2024.

“I know Marc would have gotten to where he is with or without me,” Wiedefeld said. “He’s always been laser-focused on what he wanted to be, and he is one of the smartest and most gentle people I know. Of course he chose a career as a public servant.”

Wiedefeld came to Loyola in 1994 to help jump-start what would become the University’s Disability and Accessibility Services office, which was founded after the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990. The office works to provide students with disabilities the equal opportunity to participate in all Loyola courses, programs, and activities fully and independently. Wiedefeld quickly found her passion, combining her master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling with her love for academia. 

“It’s so rewarding to work with students and my colleagues to figure out a way to remove a barrier, whatever that may be,” she said. 

With Wiedefeld’s help, DeSimone thrived at Loyola, completing a double major in history and fine arts, with a concentration in music, in just three years. He was involved in student government, the sailing team, and various music ensembles, and he received the Ferguson Scholarship, which supports students with special physical needs. 

After graduation, DeSimone attended the University of Maryland’s Carey School of Law, where he later worked as an adjunct professor. He served in private practice before becoming an assistant public defender.

As she enters her fourth decade at Loyola, Wiedefeld is reflective about the importance of mentors—as well as what she refers to as “sponsors.” 

“You might have many mentors, but a sponsor is someone who can pick up the phone, call an employer, and say, ‘Here’s a great student. Can you do an informational interview with them?’” she explained. “I love helping students get connected to opportunities.”

DeSimone is well-aware of the sponsors who have helped him get where he is—and he wears his Loyola College cufflinks most days in court. 

“I would not be here today if it wasn’t for Loyola, and people like Marcia,” he said. “Loyola provides an education with a purpose—to go out and, as St. Ignatius said, set the world on fire.”