The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has announced the appointments of Joan Marie Wright, a Senior Paralegal at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, and Nancy Conrad, a partner and the chair of the Higher Education Group at White and Williams, LLP, as Members of the Board.
The appointments are effective April 1, 2026 for a term of six years.
Joan Marie Wright
A Senior Paralegal at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Joan Marie Wright is a member of the Business Litigation Practice Group and supports a nationally recognized trial team in defending pharmaceutical and financial service clients facing governmental investigations and inquiries, enforcement proceedings, and complex litigation involving the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute.
Throughout Ms. Wright’s nearly twenty-five years as a paralegal, she has developed a deep respect for the ethical responsibilities that accompany the privilege of practicing law and gained valuable insight into the challenges legal professionals face and the importance of a fair, balanced, and transparent disciplinary process.
Ms. Wright earned a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies from Peirce College and served as a member of the College’s Inaugural Leadership Development Program. Ms. Wright is a NFPA PACE Registered Paralegal and a Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal.
Outside of the legal profession, Ms. Wright serves as a Member of the Board of the Harrowgate Civic Association and as a Community Granting Advisor to the Kensington Community Resilience Fund. She is involved in many other community service-related projects.
Nancy Conrad, Esq.
Nancy Conrad is a partner and the chair of the Higher Education Group at White and Williams, LLP. She works with employers to address and resolve workplace issues. For more than twenty years, she has represented businesses, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations in all aspects of workplace disputes.
In addition to litigating employment-related disputes, Ms. Conrad counsels employers in all aspects of workplace issues. She has particular experience in representing colleges, universities, and schools in matters related to faculty, staff, and students.
Ms. Conrad has led investigation teams for employers, including educational institutions. She conducts internal investigations on issues related to compliance, personnel, and sexual misconduct. She is a certified Level 2 ATIXA Civil Rights Investigator.
Ms. Conrad is a frequent speaker on workplace issues, including ADA, FMLA, and EEO compliance. She supports organizations and philanthropic programs that provide training and mentoring to students, faculty, and staff, including Title IX compliance.
From 2017-2023 and again in 2025-2026, Ms. Conrad served as a Disciplinary Board volunteer Hearing Committee Member for District II. She is a past president of the Bar Association of Lehigh County and is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys. In 2025, she was recognized among the 2026 Best Lawyers®. Ms. Conrad also was honored with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Athena Award which honors women striving for the highest levels of professional accomplishment while devoting time and energy to their community.
Ms. Conrad served as the president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) from 2024-2025. In 2019, the PBA Commission on Women in the Profession honored Ms. Conrad with its Anne X. Alpern Award, which “recognizes a female lawyer or judge who demonstrates excellence in the legal profession and who makes a significant professional impact on women in the law.”
After earning her bachelor’s degree from Lycoming College, Ms. Conrad earned her master’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University and her Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law.
The Disciplinary Board was created by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to review conduct and assure compliance by all attorneys to the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct. The board assists the Supreme Court in the licensing and discipline of attorneys in Pennsylvania. Its mission is to protect the protect the public, maintain the integrity of the legal profession, and safeguard the reputation of the courts.
Disciplinary Board Members, which include ten lawyers and two non-lawyers from across the Commonwealth, meet regularly to decide cases, policies, and board administrative matters. All members of the Disciplinary Board serve as unpaid volunteers.