From the Dean

Action Heroes

“The degree To which you are concerned for

the common good rather than for your own is the criterion by which you can judge how much progress you have made.” These words are as relevant today as they were when St. Augustine wrote them nearly 1,600 years ago.

Then, as now, the practice of business in its various forms is fundamental to our shared societal life. But for students at the Villanova School of Business (VSB), the future will likely hold greater economic challenges and global complexities than those that have been seen by any other generation. From nanotechnology to geopolitical shifts, we find ourselves within a worldwide business environment that is changing every day. Accordingly, the focus of our VSB faculty is to help prepare our students for success within such rapidly evolving business realities.

In this edition of Villanova Business magazine, you will find examples of the many ways that VSB faculty, administrators, and alumni have joined together to enrich the student learning experience by infusing it with real-world, real-time business challenges. You will be introduced to five talented new VSB faculty members who are advancing diverse areas of scholarship. You will read about VSB students as people of action: men and women who are not only skilled in analytical thinking and technical business applications, but who are highly creative and capable of embracing change.

Most importantly, you will read about the deep commitment—on the part of these and many other VSB community members—to further corporate social responsibility and the public good through their contributions of time, treasure, and academic and business talent.

One of the most enjoyable parts of my deanship is the opportunity to read all VSB publications—including this magazine—before they go to print and to consider all the accomplishments of our community. Reading the draft of this edition, in particular, provided me with a deep sense of gratitude for all the extraordinary individuals who make our VSB learning environment such a special one.

I hope you share my sense of pride in the VSB community as you read this edition of Villanova Business. I also invite you to join me in celebrating the magazine itself, which won the 2010 MarCom Platinum award for a redesign led by Liz Field, our director of communication.

As always, I welcome your comments and questions.

“From nanotechnology to geopolitical shifts, we find ourselves within a worldwide business environment that is changing every day.”

James m. Danko The Helen and William O’Toole Dean Villanova School of Business