FACES OF CHANGE
FACES OF CHANGE Nearly 60 years separate the Faces of Change in this issue of Villanova Engineer, evidence that you’re never too young or too old to make a difference. In addition to individual stories, the magazine is excited to introduce you to a cohort from the Class of 2024, our future change makers. We will follow this group through their four years at Villanova to see where their college careers take them.
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The Philadelphia Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers recognized Robert Lund ’78 CE, ’81 MSCE as its 2020 Transportation Engineer of the Year. As deputy general manager for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), he is responsible for all transit/railroad operations as well as engineering and construction.
STEAM OUTREACH INITIATIVE EARNS FRESHMAN A YOUNG HEROES AWARD
Elizabeth “Liz” Porter ’93 EE, a member of the College’s Engineering Advisory Board, has been named Health Group president for Leidos, a FORTUNE 500® science and technology company. As group president, Porter will have responsibility for all Health Group activities, including new business growth, technology development and thought leadership.
Having emigrated to the US as a child, Phon Malone ’99 ChE would tell you that he is living the American dream. The CEO and founder of Revel Nail, Inc., a leading manufacturer of dipping powder used in the cosmetic nail industry, Malone was named a Greater Philadelphia Entrepreneur of the Year® 2020.
ivil Engineering freshman Brianna Davis wasn’t looking for recognition when she launched her “STEAM for All” initiative, but it came to her just the same. In September, she received a Young Heroes Award during the National Liberty Museum’s TD Bank Young Heroes Awards virtual ceremony. Brianna was one of 14 recipients from 11 sites across the nation, including seven from the Philadelphia area. Recalling a fellow Girl Scout troop member with special needs who hadn’t had much exposure to STEAM topics in the classroom, Brianna launched “STEAM for All” as a Girl Scout project to interest children of varying learning abilities in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. The 80-hour service project allowed her to research and plan activities that anyone can do with everyday items. With positive feedback from participants, she was motivated to put her lessons online, providing teachers with access to step-by-step instructions and other resources. School of the Future, the Philadelphia-based high school that Brianna’s fellow troop member attends, is expected to begin implementing STEAM lessons as a result. “STEAM for All is really about inclusivity,” says Brianna. “I’m hoping I can continue to inspire kids in these fields for the rest of my life.”
