COVER STORY
Our Changing World
A Special Update from Dean Russell The world has changed in unimaginable ways over the last six months. The COVID-19 pandemic has required VSB to adapt alongside the rest of the world and we’ve been inspired by so many stories of strength and resilience in our community. The early weeks of the pandemic seem like a lifetime ago. In a matter of a few days, VSB faculty, staff and students quickly transitioned to working from home and remote instruction for more than 350 courses. This unprecedented situation obviously presented challenges, but our community overcame these hurdles with grace, determination and the sense of unity that makes Villanova so special. As the duration of the virtual learning experience turned from weeks to months, our faculty and staff worked together to address concerns, demonstrate leadership and support our students. A faculty committee was formed to share best practices for teaching in a virtual environment. VSB partnered with the VU Career Center to advise and mentor students who were facing lost or reduced internships and jobs. Additionally, we expanded the Summer Business Institute to help non-business students who were also facing lost career opportunities. An all-time high of 157 students earned a business minor or certificate in business through SBI online. We know that the Class of 2020 did not have the final few months of classes or the commencement experience they wanted, but they handled a difficult situation with grace, dignity and perseverance.
Please visit business.villanova.edu for continued updates to our DEI initiatives; details of our health and safety plans for the fall semester; and additional stories of our students, faculty and alumni demonstrating leadership and helping others throughout the pandemic.
Our faculty continues to share their world-class expertise on the economic and financial repercussions of COVID-19 with the media. VSB faculty have been featured in several dozen radio and television interviews and have appeared in numerous digital and print communications. This growing collection of stories amplifies our dedication to developing business leaders for a better world. Members of our alumni and student community have been applying our Augustinian Catholic values to help those in need in these challenging times. We continue to be inspired by stories like Madeline Chang ’20 VSB, who made thousands of Villanova-themed masks with help from her family and donated them to frontline workers. Or Michelle Sparrow ’13 EMBA, who rallied former classmates to support her efforts to provide the Navajo Nation with hand sanitizer, personal protective equipment and food for hospital staff. Dante Giraldi ’22 VSB ran a half-marathon to raise funds to provide meals and support for those on the frontline and in his own community. These stories of Caritas are among countless others of our alumni and students doing their part in their local communities and beyond. In a time of uncertainty and distress for so many, contributions like these are what make me so proud to be part of this Villanova community.
