to the community that DiLella began his
academically and professionally.
career in commercial real estate. Forty
The DiLella Center for Real Estate is
years later he is the President & CEO
changing the face of business educa-
of BPG Properties, Ltd. Outside of his
tion at Villanova, and new courses in
career, DiLella is dedicated to improving
commercial real estate continue to
Villanova. His ongoing and consistent
be introduced. The first class of MBA
support has resulted in the creation of
students with a real estate specialization
the Institute for Research in Advanced
graduated in the spring of 2011, and
Financial Technology and the Daniel M.
the undergraduate real estate co-major
DiLella Endowed University Scholarship.
was launched in the fall of 2011. VSB
In 2007, he established the Daniel M.
students already have begun a Real
DiLella Center for Real Estate at VSB.
Estate Society, which now has more
In addition to his current member-
than 50 active members.
ship in the Heritage Society of 1842 at
Bartley Alumni Medallion Awarded to Daniel M. DiLella ’73 VSB
T
Hosted by the Daniel M. DiLella Center
Villanova and the DiLella Center for Real
for Real Estate, the Villanova Real Estate
Estate advisory council, DiLella previ-
Challenge is the largest of three national
ously served on VSB’s Dean’s Advisory
undergraduate university real estate
Council and was recently elected to the
development case competitions in the
Villanova University Board of Trustees.
United States. The event provides students
On September 28, 2011, DiLella was
with practical, real-world experience and
honored with the highest distinction
exposes sponsoring firms and industry
VSB can award to an alumnus, the Rev.
executives to the next generation of real
Joseph C. Bartley, OSA Alumni Medallion.
estate leaders. Opportunities like the
The award was presented to DiLella in
Villanova Real Estate Challenge enable
the company of VSB’s most supportive
Villanova students to enjoy consistent
he first time Daniel M.
business leaders by Villanova University
job placement success by leveraging
DiLella set foot on the Villanova
President Rev. Peter M. Donohue,
the center’s relationships with real
OSA, PhD.
estate industry alumni, parents, and
University campus was in 1967. At that time he was a sophomore at Roman
The Bartley Alumni Medallion recog-
community leaders. “As a history major with no busi-
Catholic High School in Philadelphia
nizes alumni who have distinguished
and a friend of his from high school, a
themselves in their careers, demon-
ness background, I knew that forging
freshman at Villanova, invited him to visit
strated service to their communities, and
relationships would be a necessity for
campus. He said of that visit, “It was fate,
provided extraordinary service to the
breaking into real estate” said Isabel
I was hooked on VU. I wanted to attend.”
Villanova School of Business. Through
Tinker ’11 A&S. “The DiLella Center was
“The first thing VU did for me was
the recipients’ efforts and involvement,
instrumental in introducing me to real
accept me into the class of 1973,” said
VSB is able to deliver a relevant business
estate professionals who guided my
DiLella. “The second thing VU did for me
education and enhance job opportuni-
career search and taught me the skills
was let me stay. During my tenure as a
ties for VSB students while embodying
I needed to learn to start my career.
student, I knew how to push the enve-
the Augustinian Values of Veritas, Unitas,
Best of all, those I met through the
lope and the patience of the faculty at
and Caritas (truth, unity, and love).
center are still mentors and friends.”
times.” It was during his undergraduate
“You have let me exceed my
“When I was a student, Villanova
years that DiLella said he matured, all
expectation of myself again with this
provided me with the knowledge and
the while earning a quality education
award,” said DiLella during the award
opportunities I needed to develop the
and learning both inside and out of the
presentation. “So, thank you Villanova
career I have today,” DiLella said. “It is
classroom. “The third thing VU did for
University—for accepting me, for
my hope that this center for real estate
me, which is a common theme among
teaching me, and for graduating me.”
will continue to provide young people
many alums,” he said, “was to have and to receive loyalty and camaraderie.” It was with this solid business education and strong commitment to service
With a “pay-it-forward” philosophy
who are interested in real estate, as
of giving, DiLella is watching students
I was, with the resources they need to
in real-time benefit from the Daniel M.
pursue successful and rewarding careers
DiLella Center for Real Estate, both
in the field.”
summer 2012 | villanova business
33
