FEATURE 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. 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.

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.

We have also been inspired and humbled by efforts these past few months to address racial injustices. When we began working on the VSB Strategic Plan in 2017, we identified diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as integral components, as outlined in the winter 2019 and spring 2020 issues of Villanova Business. We have made progress in these areas, but we recognize, like the University has, that we have more work to do. We are listening to our community and are committed to learning, growing and understanding. Above all, we are committed to providing an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all students, faculty, staff and alumni.

To that end, we have revised our diversity, equity and inclusion plans to include more actionable steps with visible outcomes. We have expanded our VSB Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, led by Terrill Drake, VSB’s Head Diversity Officer and associate dean, Strategic Initiatives.

We are creating new training for faculty and staff that actively engages the community in dialogue about DEI topics and issues, and we are working to increase representation of underrepresented racial, ethnic, gender, socio-economic, religious, spiritual and other social identities, backgrounds and cultures across faculty, staff and students.

This is important work. As the business world becomes more global, business schools need to mirror the real world. Our faculty continues to share their world- class expertise on the economic and financial repercussions of COVID-19 with the media. Michelle Sparrow ’13 EMBA provided the Navajo Nation with hand sanitizer, PPE and food for hospital staff. Employers have told us that they want students who can work with individuals from different backgrounds and experiences. Above all, creating an environment that is diverse, equitable and inclusive is consistent with our Augustinian Catholic mission and values. I encourage you to visit our website for additional details and continued updates on our DEI initiatives.

As we returned to campus this fall, with our facial coverings and safety protocols in place, things looked and felt different. Class sizes were smaller, and some classes were even held outdoors. We will continue to maximize the best online learning tools available to supplement our in-person learning. We are committed to the shared responsibility of keeping the community healthy and safe to ensure a successful semester.

This is truly a time like no other, but through it all, Villanovans have proven their strength and resilience. I have never been more honored to serve as your dean. I am confident that we will meet the challenges ahead, seeking truth through caring for one another.

Joyce E. A. Russell, PhD

The Helen and William O’Toole Dean Professor of Management

VILLANOVANS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Villanova School of Business Madeline Chang ’20 VSB made Villanova- themed masks with help from her family and donated them to frontline workers. Dante Giraldi ’22 VSB ran a half-marathon to raise funds to provide meals and support for those on the frontline.