John C. Dernbach is Associate Professor of Law at Widener's Harrisburg campus. Professor Dernbach received a B.S. from University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire in 1975, and a J.D. from the University of Michigan in 1978, where he served as Legal Notes Editor for the Michigan Journal of Legal Reform. Following graduation from law school, Professor Dernbach worked as Legal Writing Instructor at Wayne State University from 1978-79; Staff Attorney, American Lung Association of Michigan, Lansing, 1979-80; Assistant Counsel, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, Harrisburg, PA, 1981-87; Special Assistant, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, 1987-92 and Director of Advanced Science and Res. Team, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, 1992-93.

Professor Dernbach joined the faculty at Widener as a Visiting Associate Professor of Law in 1993. He served in that role from 1993-94, and has served as Associate Professor at Widener since 1994. Professor Dernbach is admitted to practice in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Professor Dernbach teaches and writes in the areas of Administrative Law, Environmental Law, International Law, International Environmental Law, Property, Sustainability and the Law, and Climate Change.  

Professor Dernbach has been active in a number of professional and civic organizations, including the Susquehanna Conference, the American Bar Association's Central and East European Law Initiative, the President's Council on Sustainable Development.  He is also a member of the executive committee for the Pennsylvania Resources Council and Pennsylvania Consortium for Interdisciplinary Environmental Policy.

Dernbach has spoken to state, national, and international audiences on environmental issues and sustainable development.