Celebrating Anniversaries of VSB Centers, Degrees and Programs
The Helen and William O’Toole Dean Wen Mao, PhD
Director, Marketing and Communication
Monica Mlynaryk Allen
Associate Director of Communication and Editor
Shannon M. Wilson
Contributors
Colleen Donnelly
Kim Shimer
Amy Swift Meghan Winch ’15 MA
Principal Photography
Melissa Kelly Theresa Regan
Design and Production
Matthew Schmidt Design
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Cover Illustration: Mike Austin
Dean’s Update
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has gripped our society. When you turn on the news, listen to a podcast or scroll through social media, you are bound to hear some mention of it—perhaps you’ve even noticed the ads on the SEPTA for the AI specialization in the Villanova MBA program! Business and business education are not immune to its growing influence and use. It is an exciting topic, filled with many possibilities, challenges and questions. This issue’s cover story explores the impact of AI on different business sectors and how VSB is adapting to best prepare our students for the opportunities and challenges it presents.
Alongside exploring future innovations, VSB continues to remain focused on our overarching mission. We are pleased to highlight a few of the dedicated faculty, staff, students and alumni who bring the VSB mission to life every day. Their commitment is mirrored by so many of you who do the same.
You can also read about several programs and centers celebrating milestones this year. Each of them embodies our Augustinian Catholic values and serves our school in meaningful ways. We are excited to celebrate their contributions!
As I conclude my first year as dean, I am so proud to be a part of this VSB community that continues to inspire me each day. As I have told many of you, Villanova’s values led me here; Villanova’s community keeps me here and inspired. I am grateful to have met so many of you this past year and am thankful for your support. Together, I look forward to building upon our legacy and propelling us into the future.
Wen Mao, PhD
The Helen and William O’Toole Dean Professor of Economics
Villanova School of Business
AI
AND THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS
How VSB Is Preparing Students
The topic of artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere these days. Much of the recent attention stems from the introduction of ChatGPT and similar tools that are revolutionizing how work gets done. But AI is certainly not new. In fact, VSB has been preparing students for the impacts of AI in the business world for many years.
As AI tools become more mainstream, VSB continues to consult with employers, faculty and industry experts to adapt, innovate and incorporate AI into the classroom. Employers are looking for students with some level of experience and exposure to AI tools, according to Wen Mao, PhD, the Helen and William O’Toole Dean of VSB. Dean Mao explains that employers want graduates who can combine their knowledge of AI tools with the critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills needed to analyze and interpret AI outcomes to clients.
It’s clear that AI will impact all areas of business in some way. “At VSB, we want our students to understand how to match the right AI tools with the right purpose and validate the results,” says Dean Mao. “Equally important, we want students to understand the complex ethical implications that arise in using AI and to apply critical thinking wherever they go, as we strive to develop business leaders for a better world.”
AI IS ONE TOOL IN THE BUSINESS ANALYTICS TOOLKIT. IT IS ANY AUTOMATED, COMPLETELY AUTONOMOUS COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT USES DATA TO GENERATE OUTPUT.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE ARE SEEING WHERE AI IS TRULY CAPABLE OF GENERATING OUTPUTS ON ITS OWN. THE GOAL IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE OUTPUTS CAN BECOME IMPLEMENTED DECISIONS.”
David Anderson, PhD Associate Professor, Management & Operations
AI WILL UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE AN IMPACT IN FINANCE. HOWEVER, THE OPPORTUNITIES AI CREATES ARE BALANCED WITH THE SENSITIVE AND CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THE INDUSTRY.
WE TEACH STUDENTS TO THINK CRITICALLY AND UNDERSTAND WHAT’S BEHIND THE NUMBERS. VALUATION IS AT THE HEART OF FINANCE, AND IT IS MORE OF AN ART THAN A SCIENCE.”
YOU
CAN WAKE UP TOMORROW AND GOOGLE WILL HAVE CHANGED ITS SEARCH ALGORITHM OR HOW IT LOOKS AT A PARTICULAR ASPECT OF SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION.
OUR GOAL IS TO TRY TO TEACH STUDENTS A BROAD RANGE OF SKILL SETS SO THEY HAVE A GOOD FAMILIARITY WITH THE TOOLS AND ARE READY FOR WHATEVER JOB COMES THEIR WAY.”
An AI Primer
A glossary of commonly used words and phrases
Artificial Intelligence
Any automated, completely autonomous computer system that emulates intelligent behaviors
Generative AI
AI that generates text (such as ChatGPT), video, audio or images
Hallucinations
Incorrect or misleading outputs generated by AI but presented as factual
Machine Learning (ML)
A type of AI that uses machines to imitate human behavior and learning by looking for patterns in vast amounts of data
Deep Learning
A machine-learning method in AI that teaches computers to act in a way that mimics the human brain by learning and performing complex patterns and tasks
Neural Networks
The underlying technology for deep learning
Shelly Howton, PhD Professor and Chair, Finance & Real Estate
Matthew Sarkees, PhD Professor and Chair, Marketing & Business Law
We spoke with leaders in the various academic departments at VSB to learn how AI is impacting different sectors of business and academic disciplines.
Management & Operations
“It’s clear that AI is affecting all areas of society, but from a management perspective, it affects what kinds of work we do, who does that work and how the work is completed. AI brings a whole host of concerns such as labor, training and ethics.”
Kevin Clark, PhD
The Carmen and Sharon Danella Endowed Professor in Business Innovation and Chair, Management & Operations
The Management & Operations Department has been involved with artificial intelligence for well over a decade. In 2011, the Center for Business Analytics was established to prepare students with the digital tools and knowledge to transform, innovate and impact business strategy. The Center helped create a required Business Analytics course for all VSB students beginning in 2012, one of the first business schools in the country to do so. This course grew into a minor and eventually the Business Analytics co-major, which has become one of the most popular majors at VSB. In 2014, the specialized Master of Science in Business Analytics was created, and later a specialization in Business Analytics was added to the MBA program.
“Giving students opportunities to learn and use some of the amazing AI programming tools gets them hungry to learn more. We are constantly thinking about how we can add value for our students to best prepare them for their future careers.”
Stephen Mahar, PhD
Villanova University Endowed Professor in Business
Because business analytics uses AI techniques for decision modeling, the department not only teaches students what AI is and what the implications are, but also how to use various AI tools. Dr. Clark says the Department is focusing deeply on the topic of AI and keeping abreast of the rapid pace of changes and the implications for the courses, tools and techniques being taught.
Accounting & Information Systems
In 2020, the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) minor was created in the Accounting & Information Systems Department, and in 2021, the MBA program added an Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning specialization. Both the AI/ML minor and the MBA specialization consist of three courses that examine AI and all its components, including building prototype intelligent systems, natural language processing, expert systems, supervised and unsupervised learning, and robotics.
“There’s a lot of hype around AI and it’s something we see all the time with emerging technology, but this is definitely a topic our faculty are addressing in all of their courses.”
William Wagner, PhD
Professor and Associate Chair, Accounting & Information Systems
The AI/ML minor—open to all VSB students regardless of major—built upon existing coursework, including an Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning course and a Python class. “Python is the programming language for machine learning and using large data sets, so we modified our Python course to have more of an AI focus,” says Dr. Wagner.
Accounting faculty are also beginning to integrate AI tools into student assignments and addressing industry implications, says Michael Peters, PhD, chair, Accounting & Information Systems, and the Alvin A. Clay Endowed Professor of Accounting. The graduate accounting master’s programs—which integrated data analytics into the curriculum in 2018—have also introduced a new Digital Accounting Experience course that will examine a range of issues, including cybersecurity and AI, from an accounting perspective.
“There’s tremendous potential for AI to add value in accounting, particularly in areas such as fraud and analytics, and looking for outliers in data collection,” explains Dr. Peters. He expects many accounting firms to implement proprietary AI systems within their companies to ensure data integrity, but the process to completion will likely take several years.
Finance & Real Estate
“Finance is about facts and the ability to interpret those facts within the broader story of the economy or sector. The critical thinking skills needed for finance cannot be replaced by AI.”
Caitlin Dannhauser, PhD
Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Finance & Real Estate
Shelly Howton, PhD, professor and chair, Finance & Real Estate, says students will still need mentorship from senior employees to ensure continuity and fully understand the business. “Finance and real estate are about making assumptions formed on years of experience. Having the expertise of someone who has weathered the ups and downs of the market is more relevant than anything AI can produce.”
A recent addition to the finance major is the Applied Quantitative Finance concentration, which incorporates more quantitative components into the curriculum. Further, the Victoria and Justin Gmelich ’90 VSB Lab for Financial Markets, under the guidance of David Ratigan, PhD, gives students and faculty the data, resources and hands-on experience necessary to stay at the forefront of innovation in the industry.
Marketing & Business Law
Keeping up with the pace of AI changes in the digital and social media marketing world can be challenging. Getting students hands-on access to AI tools and technology is a key part of the department’s strategy of incorporating AI into the curriculum. In the Business Law minor, students can take an elective course on cyberlaw that addresses the legal and ethical implications of AI.
Last fall, VSB students participated in a national digital marketing competition that required students to incorporate an AI component into their marketing pitch. Three VSB teams placed in the top 10, including a team that placed second and received the “What’s Trending Award,” given to the team that provided the most creative use of AI in the competition.
AI in the Job Search
The Clay Center at VSB helps students use generative AI tools to assist with job searches and writing résumés and cover letters.
The co-curricular Backpack-to-Briefcase course includes a workshop on AI and Writing for the Job Search. Students are taught to use AI appropriately, creatively and effectively, being mindful of incorporating their authentic voice.
“Current economic studies suggest that AI will have more of an overall labor-enhancing effect than a labor-replacing effect.”
Erasmus Kersting, PhD Professor and Chair, Economics
Dr. Kersting says the impact of AI in the field of economics is more subtle because a large part of the curriculum teaches the underlying economic principles behind business and policy decisions—and those have not changed. And even in a world with AI, analysts need to understand the origins and quality of the data they work with to trust the conclusions and answers.
According to Zeynep Yom, PhD, the Lisa D’Alessandro ’87 Assistant Professor of Economics, research compiled by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development estimates anywhere from 10% to 50% of total employment in the U.S. risks being automated. Timeframes for these impacts vary, but most experts say the automation process will take between 10 and 20 years, a pace significantly faster than what was expected just two years ago.
Dr. Yom says research supports the idea that certain sectors will see greater impacts of AI than others. Studies from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) show that occupations requiring higher technical skills are more likely to be impacted by AI. However, occupations requiring more critical thinking skills are less likely to be impacted.
Faculty and Staff Achievements
VSB’s renowned faculty and staff continue to make their mark as teacher-scholars, researchers, leaders and innovators in the world of business. Their expertise and impact are shaping the future of business education and the next generation of business leaders in the classroom and beyond.
Denise Hanes Downey, PhD
Associate Chair, Accounting, and KPMG Endowed Professor in Accounting
Won the 2024 Innovation in Auditing and Assurance Education Award
The Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association (AAA) recognized Dr. Downey for a case study she co-authored in Issues in Accounting Education, the top pedagogical journal in accounting. The AAA lauded the case’s creative instructional approach and educational benefits in helping students develop a greater awareness of new technologies used in audit practice.
Jessica Taylor Appointed to the Board of Directors for Blue Light Capital
Jessica Taylor, director of the Daniel M. DiLella Center for Real Estate, will work with other leaders in business, academics and sports to make a positive impact on the student-athlete community. The nonprofit aims to educate and empower student-athletes to lead successful careers in commercial real estate after their college sports journeys end.
American Academy of Advertising Recognizes VSB Faculty Research
Jeremy Kees, PhD, the Richard J. and Barbara Naclerio Endowed Chair in Business and professor of Marketing & Business Law, received the Arnold Barban Award for Most Impactful Article from the American Academy of Advertising. The academy recognized the impact of Dr. Kees' research that confirmed the viability of Amazon’s Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform for data collection in advertising research. Since its publication, his article in the Journal of Advertising has been cited by hundreds of researchers.
Dr. Kees was also a co-recipient of Villanova’s 2024 Outstanding Faculty Research Award, honoring faculty members who demonstrate the highest standards of excellence in their research, scholarship and contributions to their field.
Charles (Ray) Taylor, PhD, the John A. Murphy Endowed Chair in Business and professor of Marketing & Business Law, received the American Academy of Advertising Best Conference Paper Award. In their winning paper, Dr. Taylor and his coauthors detailed the development and validation of the WETA scale—a multifaceted research tool that provides a reliable and tested method of measuring women’s empowerment through advertising.
Jeremy Kees, PhD
Charles Taylor, PhD
Embracing New Leadership Roles
As VSB moves forward into its next century of success, its leadership team embodies the Augustinian values of Veritas, Unitas, Caritas and is committed to fostering a community of mutual respect, inclusion and continuous improvement.
Julie Pirsch, PhD
Jonathan Doh, PhD
Appointed Senior Associate Dean for Research, Faculty Advancement & Global Engagement
Dr. Doh, the Herbert G. Rammrath Endowed Chair in International Business, will be responsible for faculty talent development, policies related to qualifications and reporting for accreditation, tenure and promotions for faculty as well as research grants and funding. Dr. Doh joined VSB in 2001 and will continue to oversee VSB’s Centers of Excellence and the research, service and international business-related committees and programs, and he will serve as a University liaison on faculty, research and global policies.
Cathy J. Toner, JD, ’23 MSCM
Appointed Assistant Dean for External Relations & Event Planning
Toner will further external relations efforts to create and expand relationships with various constituents; engage key stakeholders; and provide oversight and strategic direction of the events-management team. Joining VSB in 2012, she most recently served as the assistant dean for Talent & Staff Development and Community & External Outreach, where she oversaw the VSB Communication & Marketing team and led VSB’s community and external outreach efforts.
Appointed Senior Associate Dean for Teaching & Programs
Dr. Pirsch, teaching professor, Marketing & Business Law, will lead and partner with the associate deans of VSB’s graduate and undergraduate programs to oversee curriculum, experiential learning initiatives and operations. She will have responsibility for faculty teaching awards and enhancements and will also oversee the implementation of VSB’s Strategic Plan as it relates to competencies and program portfolio. Dr. Pirsch joined VSB in 2002 and has been recognized for her teaching excellence.
Four New Endowed Faculty Appointments
Christopher Kilby, PhD
The inaugural James Joo Jin Kim Endowed Chair in Economics
Dr. Kilby, professor of Economics, is known for his expertise in development economics and foreign aid and has authored numerous articles in leading international academic journals. Since joining Villanova in 2008, Dr. Kilby has earned several research awards and taught courses across the Economics curriculum. He has also served as chair of the VSB Service Committee, on the University Rank and Tenure Committee, and on the Faculty Congress.
Nitin R. Joglekar, PhD
The John F. Connelly Endowed Chair in Management
Following a nationwide search, Dr. Joglekar joins Villanova this fall after more than two decades on faculty at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. He has taught undergraduate, graduate and executive courses in operations, AI and digital transformation, winning numerous teaching awards for his impact in the classroom. A leading researcher, he has also published numerous papers in top operations and management journals.
Timothy B. McCulloch ’14 MBA
The inaugural James F. Kelly Jr. ’55 VSB Endowed Professor of Practice in Professional Selling
Professor McCulloch has extensive corporate experience in developing, selling and managing corporate partnerships. Since joining Villanova in 2018, he has taught various courses in sales and marketing and risen from an adjunct professor in Marketing & Business Law to faculty director of Professional Selling. Professor McCulloch serves as a key adviser to the Professional Selling Student Society and coaches student teams for external competitions.
Benjamin Scheick, PhD, ’03 VSB
The inaugural Hovnanian Family Endowed Chair in Real Estate
A renowned expert in commercial real estate investment and finance, Dr. Scheick has been recognized as one of the top 30 most productive real estate researchers. He has presented his research at international, national and regional academic conferences and published his work in several leading academic journals. Since joining the Villanova faculty in 2012, Dr. Scheick has been recognized for excellence in his teaching, research and service.
P&Q
2024 Best & Brightest
Each year, Poets&Quants honors 100 senior students from the top 50 undergraduate business programs around the country who are poised to be the future leaders of the business world.
“I am most proud of being the first person in my family to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in the United States.”
Christian Lee ’24 VSB
From Colts Neck, N.J., Lee graduated with an Accounting major and Management Information Systems minor. This first-generation college student built a comprehensive résumé during his time at Villanova University, serving as chair of Business School Operations for the VSB Dean’s Undergraduate Student Advisory Council, on the executive boards of both Villanova Accounting Society and VSB Ambassadors, and as a member of the Villanova Korean Student Association. Lee was also inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honors Society and awarded the Andrew J. Markey Merit Scholarship, a coveted award for students with exceptional academic achievement, leadership and community service.
Throughout the past four years, he has interned at KPMG twice as an Embark Scholar intern and as a deal-advisory financial due-diligence intern, and at Blackstone as a real estate finance summer analyst. He joined PwC this summer as a management consulting intern and will return to Villanova this fall as a Master of Accounting with Data Analytics full-time student and graduate fellow. Lee says, “My family made many sacrifices to get me to where I am today, and I am so grateful to have been the first person to accomplish this achievement.”
“Knowing
Elizabeth Vaughn ’24 VSB
that I've developed more than just technical skills makes me excited to hone all of my skills as a professional.”
A Presidential Scholar and NCAA Division I Cross Country and Track and Field athlete from Dayton, Ohio, Vaughn earned an Applied Quantitative Finance major and Mathematics minor. She has made a lasting impact during her four years at Villanova University as a student-athlete; president of the Society of Women in Financial Training; executive chair of Villanova Presidential Scholars Program; committee leader of the VSB Dean’s Undergraduate Student Advisory Council; student representative on the Opus Prize Oversight Committee; Villanova University Board of Trustees investment committee member; Villanova Student Government Association senator; and member of Wildcat Fund, M&A Society and Villanova Investing Academy.
In addition to being a leader across campus, Vaughn was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honors Society; placed first in both the 2023 Villanova University Social Impact Case Competition and the 2024 Villanova University Ignite Change Case Competition; completed Girls Who Invest’s Online Intensive Program; and earned Academic Director’s Honor Roll and Dean’s List all semesters. After graduation, Vaughn joined Alvarez and Marsal’s Advancing and Cultivating Emerging Leaders program as a corporate performance improvement analyst.
When my family and I came to tour Villanova, I just fell in love with it. New Orleans is a really tight-knit community, and I could tell that was the case at Villanova too. ” –Jene Baquet ’26 VSB
Posse Scholar
From New Orleans to Villanova
With leadership, service and academic excellence as his guideposts, Jene Baquet ’26 VSB took the next step in his journey: a prestigious opportunity in Washington, D.C.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Jene Baquet ’26 VSB comes from a family with one of the city’s longest-running Black-owned business legacies. “We’ve had a restaurant in our family for more than 75 years,” Jene says. “Working in the restaurant industry has played a big part in my life.”
Jene took on the role of part-time assistant manager at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe as a junior in high school when his parents took over the family restaurant in 2021. It’s a position that requires good communication, excellent problem-solving, strong leadership and interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and a positive attitude—all while multitasking in a fast-paced environment.
This foundation forged in the Big Easy prepared him to excel as a Posse Scholar—a member of a cohort of academically gifted students with leadership potential from New Orleans who are selected to attend Villanova through a partnership with the Posse Foundation. “Jene is very driven and mature,” says Sonya Williams-Stanton, PhD, an assistant teaching professor in VSB who serves as a mentor for Posse Scholars. “He’s so multidimensional—I am impressed with how well he organizes his days so that he can pursue his various interests while also setting high standards for his academic performance.”
As a team manager and practice player for Villanova Women’s Basketball, Jene attends practice almost every day, including weekends, to run drills with the players and support the team. He also plays on Villanova’s club basketball team, practicing twice a week with a game on Saturdays, and participates in at least one weekly service event with his brothers in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. In the Competitive Effectiveness course competition, his team won first place for their comprehensive marketing plan for Reckitt’s AirWick brand.
“It’s a thrill for me,” Jene says. “I like going from class to basketball practice to a fraternity event to a networking event for school the next day. That’s just how I’m wired.”
This ability to succeed and serve in multiple arenas helped set Jene apart in one of the most competitive applicant pools to date for the Institute of Responsible Citizenship's Washington Program. The two-summer opportunity supports some of the best and brightest African American male college students in the country. One of just 12 students in this year’s cohort, Jene is the third Villanovan —and first VSB student—to participate in this highly selective program. He spent the summer living with his cohort in a university residence hall in Washington, D.C., while completing an internship at Trusted Advisory Group, a D.C.-based management consulting firm focused on the commercial real estate industry. The scholars participated in a challenging seminar on economic and constitutional principles, met with prominent leaders from the public and private sectors, attended personal and professional development workshops, and enjoyed a variety of social activities.
I’m so grateful for the many opportunities for professional development and growth, and the brotherhood that the Washington Program offers,” Jene says.
“Juggling all of that with a 9-to-5 internship really gave me a glimpse of life in business.”
Did you know?
Both previous Villanova Washington Program participants have gone on to succeed in the business world.
– Jay L. Finch ’08 CLAS is CEO of Polydelta, a software development company.
– Elliot Williams ’16 CLAS is the Arts and Culture reporter for WAMU 88.5, the NPR station for the nation’s capital.
The Posse Foundation is one of the nation's most prestigious college access and leadership development programs, known for identifying, recruiting and training students with extraordinary leadership potential who may be overlooked by the traditional admissions process. Since 2019, Villanova has partnered with Posse to bring 10 academically exceptional students from New Orleans to the University each year. To learn more, visit possefoundation.org
Plot Twist
This Accounting alumna and award-winning author is changing how children with hearing loss see themselves in stories.
Data has shown just 3.4% of children’s books feature a main character with a disability. As author of the awardwinning Mighty Mila children’s book series, Kathryn (Moran) Petruzziello ’03 VSB is on a mission to change that.
A veteran accountant who has been at PwC for 21 years, Petruzziello can recall the exact night her unexpected journey to becoming a children’s book author and disability advocate began. It was Spring 2020, and her then-three-year-old daughter, Mila, had recently undergone cochlear implant surgery. Mila was picking a bedtime story, and her frustration was mounting with each book she added to the discard pile.
“How come no one has these?” Mila asked, pointing to her cochlear implants. Her mother suggested some educational children’s books they had, but Mila was looking for a “fun book.” And so the idea for Mighty Mila was born. “Children with hearing loss deserve to see themselves represented in stories as regular kids where hearing loss is not the focus of their story, and it’s important for children with typical hearing to read these stories too,” Petruzziello says. “Since these books didn’t exist, I knew I needed to write one.”
A director in PwC’s U.S. Deals practice, Petruzziello has spent years helping clients navigate major changes in their businesses like mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and capital markets transactions. And so, she met this major period of transition in her own family head on.
In October 2021, Petruzziello self-published Mighty Mila “I never explored traditional publishing because I was on a tight timeline to get this book out while Mila was still reading children’s books,” she says. Inspired by her spunky daughter, the story is about a character who wants to prove to her family that she’s a big kid—and she happens to have cochlear implants.
The heartwarming tale immediately took off. Over 90% of self-published books sell under 100 copies during their lifetime.
Mighty Mila has sold more than 10,000 copies in less than three years, winning multiple book awards.
An Amazon best-selling author, Petruzziello received a prestigious award from the Center for Hearing and Communication, has visited dozens of schools to educate children about deafness and the importance of celebrating differences, has delivered keynote addresses, has been featured on several news outlets and podcasts, and just recently published her second book, Mighty Mila: Dream Job—all in addition to her role at PwC, which has been extremely supportive of her efforts.
“I can honestly say the Villanova School of Business; my experience at PwC; and the support of my husband, Fabio, and family have prepared me for all of it,” Petruzziello says. “They’ve instilled in me this ability to push outside my comfort zone, to innovate and to be agile.”
Through her book donation program, Petruzziello has provided more than 700 books to children with hearing loss and educators via local children’s hospitals, schools and hearing loss organizations. And now many children go home with a “fun book” after their cochlear implant surgery.
“I’m often asked, ‘Did you always want to be a writer?’” Petruzziello says. “The truth is I never even considered it before that night after Mila’s surgery. Writing is simply the vehicle for the change I want to ignite.”
Kathryn (Moran) Petruzziello ’03 VSB and her husband, Fabio Petruzziello ’03 VSB, met in Public Speaking class at Villanova. They have three kids Luca, Mila and Sofia; both Mila and Sofia have sensorineural hearing loss.
So many families have shared that their children feel inspired knowing there is a real-life Mila and they connect with her story.”
–Kathryn (Moran) Petruzziello ’03 VSB
It’s been a milestone year for several VSB
Centers, degrees and programs.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS
Center for Church Management
The Center for Church Management (CCM) was established in 2004 under the direction of Professor Emeritus Charles Zech, PhD. The first of its kind in the nation, CCM began outreach to serve leaders of churches and Christian faith-based ministries through a specific focus on the administrative and management functions in churches, dioceses and apostolates across the nation. The Center develops and delivers education programs and scholarly insight contextualized for congregational leaders, addressing the areas of strategy, finance, human resources management and more—all through the lens of mission.
Over 300 students representing 94 dioceses and 19 countries have completed CCM’s Master of Science in Church Management Program.
Over 950 students, representing more than 80 dioceses worldwide, have completed a non-credit Certificate in Church Management or a non-credit Certificate in Catholic School Management.
The center is a recipient of three consecutive grants from the Lilly Endowment’s National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges for Pastoral Leaders, specifically to further scholarship, research and education to build financial literacy for ministers.
Master of Science in Finance
The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) prepares students for careers in finance, investment banking, trading, portfolio management and more. With an emphasis on hands-on learning and professional development, the MSF program combines a solid foundation in finance with exposure to the areas reshaping finance today.
The program has seen tremendous growth since its inception and continues to expand to prepare students for the increasing demand for detailed and advanced financial analysis. In recent years, the program has added more quantitative courses, including Python and R Programming, Quantitative Finance and Data Analytics. In addition, MSF is now STEM-designated, meeting governmental criteria as an approved field of study in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
Over 400 students have completed the degree program since 2004 and enrollments have steadily increased over the years.
Global Citizens Program—London
The Global Citizens Program began in London in 2004 with six students. This unique program—specifically designed for first-year business students—combines academic coursework with a practical internship, offering a life-altering experience to students where they can challenge preconceived notions of the world, test career assumptions early and become true global citizens.
Since 2004, more than 420 students have participated in 16-week study experiences around the globe through the Global Citizens Program.
CENTERS
PROGRAMS
YEARS
PROGRAMS 10
Global Citizens Program—Asia-Pacific
The Global Citizens Program in Hong Kong, Singapore and Asia-Pacific for VSB's first-year students has played a significant role in developing global citizens. Hundreds of students have studied internationally, gaining professional experience and immersing themselves in other cultures.
Center for Marketing and Consumer Insights
In its 10-year history, the Center for Marketing and Consumer Insights (CMCI) has dedicated itself to fostering unique learning experiences and thought leadership that advance the practice and science of marketing. With an Executive Board and Advisory Council composed of alumni industry professionals, the Center bridges the gap between academic theory and practical application, collaborating with faculty to integrate the latest industry practices into the curriculum.
CMCI offers real-world experiences such as conferences, case-study challenges, industry immersion opportunities and hiring initiatives. Its annual Marketing Mania event provides information about the major and associated career pathways, and each spring CMCI hosts a Marketing Hiring Meet-Up to connect students and employers. The Center seeks to foster an inclusive, equitable environment within Marketing at VSB through programming that enables more underrepresented students to pursue marketing careers.
The Center has supported over 500 student research projects and impacts an average of 900 students each year.
VSB Mentor Program
The VSB Mentor Program offers students the opportunity to develop meaningful, individualized relationships with an alumni mentor. Led by the O’Donnell Center for Professional Development and guided by an advisory board consisting of 60 alumni and student leaders, the program provides a foundation for career development, success and fulfillment. Established in 2014, the program is the largest alumni engagement initiative within VSB.
To date, 4,100 Villanovans have participated, including 2,200 students and 1,900 alumni.
Over 95% of participants recommend the program to their peers. Several hundred student mentees have re-joined the program as alumni mentors, recognizing the “pay it forward” value of developing future business leaders.
Urbino Business and Culture in the Italian Context
The Urbino Business and Culture in the Italian Context program, which takes place in Urbino, Italy, gives students the opportunity to work for an Italian company. Urbino's central location in Italy, along with its rich academic history, offers an excellent vantage point for students to explore the many facets of modern Italy’s economy and culture in a global context. More than 250 students have participated in the program in the past 10 years.
Celebrating 10 Years of VU Women in Tech
For a decade, VU Women in Tech has been a dynamic community—breaking barriers, fostering connections and empowering women to thrive in the ever-evolving tech landscape. It all began over 10 years ago in a spirited discussion at Bartley Hall.
Students who attended the sold-out 2015 Philadelphia Women in Tech Summit were inspired by the positive energy and knowledge-sharing. They challenged Sue Metzger, professor of the practice in Information Systems, to create a campus group focused on women and tech. Less than six months later, the inaugural VU Women in Tech Conference was held—with over 125 attendees, 18 speakers and 10 tech sessions.
Since then, VU Women in Tech has hosted a conference every winter, and on Saturday, January 25, 2025, VU Women in Tech will celebrate its 10th conference. Its theme, Building on the Past to Empower Today and Shape the Future, will feature a wide range of speakers from different backgrounds, generations and industries. Breakout sessions will address trends and delve into current and emerging technologies, including ethical issues and pathways to becoming more involved. Keynote sessions will highlight industry technologists who will share their personal journeys, current excitement and future ambitions for themselves and the tech community.
As the current director of VU Women in Tech, Alicia Strandberg, PhD, professor, non-tenure, Management & Operations, leads the group's committee, which has representation from all schools and many of Villanova’s Centers of Excellence, and seeks to give women the opportunity to imagine a technology-based career, increase participation in technology, share experiences and network across schools and disciplines. Together, they envision a world where women thrive in tech careers, break barriers and build lasting connections.
Professor Metzger, founder of VU Women in Tech, states, “All challenging problems today require data and smart computation to solve. The opportunities in technology are vast, ranging from sales to modeling and coding. Women need to be ready to work in this space—one that has competitive compensation and rewarding work and needs compassion and care to see that solutions are not negatively impacting the world.”
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Fall 2024 event with Kate Zernike, New York Times reporter and author of The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science
Saturday, January 25, 2025
VU Women in Tech Conference 10-year celebration
Scan the QR Code or visit vuwomenintech.org to join our email list and register.
10 Years of Tech Advancements
A decade ago, we did not have the following:
Zoom
ChatGPT
Smart Watches
Virtual Assistants
Video Doorbells
Drones
Augmented-Reality Headsets
The Ethereum Network
Keras ML Library
Google Colab
VU Women in Tech Conference Through the Years
Conference Theme
2025 Building on the Past to Empower Today and Shape the Future
2024
2023
The Power of AI to Enhance Human Knowledge and Build a More Caring World
The Power of Tech in Making the World More Sustainable and Just
2022 Quantum Computing
2021 Engaging, Envisioning and Enabling with Tech
2020 Driving Progress, Pushing Limits
2019 Pivot: Tech as Your Turning Point
2018 FinTech
2017 Tech for Social Impact
2016 Lead, Innovate and Inspire
Keynote Speakers
Speakers to be announced Fall 2024
Rana el Kaliouby, PhD
Beth T. Mazzeo, ’81 VSB
Amanda Makulec
Kathy Kleiman
Special Agent
Jessica Nye, PhD, ’05 VSB
Jessica Pointing, PhD
Cathy O'Neil, PhD
Rebecca Mercuri, PhD
Nance Dicciani, PhD, ’69 COE
Virginia Eubanks, PhD
Eloise N. Young
Sabina Nawaz
Karin Risi ’94 VSB, ’99 MBA
Bettina Warburg
Marisa Weiss, MD
Karen Mazer
Deering will serve as VSB’s co-chair for Villanova University’s upcoming capital campaign. She is looking forward to working with VSB Dean Wen Mao, PhD, her former Economics professor, and is excited to continue serving the VSB community.
Continuing a Legacy of Caring and Community
Inspired by alumni who made a lasting impact on her, Angela (Capron) Deering ’00 VSB seeks to continue the legacy of supporting the next generation of Villanovans.
Angela Deering's first introduction to Villanova came from her aunt and godmother, Susan (Capron) Palmer ’74 FCN, who received a scholarship from Villanova and the Navy to study Nursing. “Her enthusiasm about Villanova was inspiring and made me want to apply,” explains Deering, who enrolled as an Accounting major. While commuting on the boat into Manhattan for an accounting internship, Deering met Dave Bauer ’78 VSB. Bauer worked in fixed income as the global head of sales for Credit Suisse First Boston and encouraged her to consider a career in sales and trading. Deering took his advice and added a double major in business administration to her Accounting studies.
Through Bauer, Deering met his colleagues George Coleman ’78 VSB, Bill Melchionni ’66 VSB and Jess Sodaski ’98 VSB. The group wanted to hire more Villanovans on Wall Street and prepped Deering for the competitive interview process, offering guidance and support. “I have tremendous respect and gratitude for what they did,” Deering shares. “All four of them made a point of stopping everything they were doing to help me and made an incredible difference.”
I wanted to help make things a little easier for deserving students and give them the encouragement to come to Villanova because I know that once they get to VSB, they are going to be a success.”
With the group’s support, Deering landed a job at Credit Suisse and continued to work in fixed income for the next 18 years. In 2019, Deering joined J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where she is currently managing director for Global Investment Opportunities. Coleman has continued to be a valuable mentor to Deering throughout her career and helped her make the transition to J.P. Morgan as well. She has been inspired at J.P. Morgan by many Villanovans in senior management who serve as mentors, especially her classmate Craig Sullivan ’00 VSB.
Deering says each of these individuals embodied the Villanova spirit of caring, celebrating successes and being there for each other during times of adversity. “Villanova was the bounce in their step. Their looking out for me and helping me made me want to do the same for others,” she says.
Over the years, Deering has given her time and expertise to VSB, serving on the Finance Department Advisory Council since 2018. She has mentored numerous Villanovans, including a deep network of alumni at J.P. Morgan. She makes a point to encourage younger alumni to stay connected and offer support to those who might be a year or two behind them, continuing the example that was shown to her.
Her aunt’s scholarship experience and the culture of respect and community shown to Deering inspired her to establish the Angela Capron Deering ’00 Endowed Scholarship Fund for VSB students with financial need. “Everything I learned at Villanova helped me be the leader I am today,” Deering says.
A Conversation with Shawn Howton, PhD
Shawn Howton, PhD, professor, Finance & Real Estate, recently stepped down as faculty director of the Daniel M. DiLella Center for Real Estate, a position he held since the Center was established in 2007.
We spoke with Dr. Howton about his experience with the Center over the past 17 years.
QWhat led you to get involved with the DiLella Center?
In 2006, a group of alumni in the real estate industry approached former VSB dean Jim Danko about adding real estate to VSB. I had written several papers with my wife (Shelly Howton, PhD, chair and professor, Finance & Real Estate) and a friend from my PhD program, Swint Friday, PhD, on real estate investment trusts (REITs). Dr. Friday was the real estate expert on the papers and my wife and I were more corporate finance researchers. At Dean Danko’s request, I made a presentation on what it would take to have a quality real estate program at VSB. Dan DiLella’s gift to establish the Center followed that meeting and I was asked to be the initial faculty director. The offer to help shape the program was too exciting to pass up.
QHow did you go about learning about the real estate industry?
I tried to make as many connections as I could and learn on the fly. I was introduced to industry experts, attended investment committee meetings, learned about the inner workings of real estate firms, and was mentored by our talented Center fellows and adjunct professors. I also taught every course as we created the real estate minor and then co-major. Nothing motivates you to learn a topic like having to teach it to Villanova students!
QWhat do you see as the Center’s most significant accomplishments to date?
There are many, but I’ll narrow it to the following:
1. The introduction of real estate into VSB’s curriculum: We went from a minor to a co-major and then to a full major in a short period. Over 1,300 students have gone through our programs. We also have a successful minor for the College of Engineering, which underscores our commitment to cross-college education.
2. The development of experiential opportunities for our students: The Center hosts an annual career conference and annual case competition, the latter of which has become one of the best-known and longestrunning competitions in the country. Over 1,100 students from 40 different schools have competed through the years and many have said it was one of the most impactful parts of their college experience.
3. The creation of our Nova Next Committee and the DiLella Mulroy Student Managed Fund: Nova Next is a young-alumni advisory council that brings incredible energy to the real estate program. The council also manages the DiLella Mulroy Fund, the first of its kind for undergraduate students. Students get to experience the real estate process from sourcing to presenting to an investment committee and closing deals.
Q What is unique about the DiLella Center?
All our efforts are focused on students, improving the student experience and building a community within the real estate industry. We have a “Villanova Real Estate Family” where our students stay in touch with each other after graduation and frequently return to help us improve our programs and serve as guest lecturers. The strength of the Center and the University is this sense of community.
Leading the Center through its formative years has been a pleasure and a privilege. We’ve had an amazing team of people, and I would not be stepping down if I did not have the utmost confidence in my successor:
Ben Scheick, PhD, ’03 VSB, The Hovnanian Family Endowed Chair in Real Estate; Associate Professor, Finance & Real Estate; and Faculty Director, DiLella Center for Real Estate.
As an undergraduate at VSB, Dr. Scheick was a student in two of my classes. He has been incredibly successful as a researcher and top scholar in the field. I could not be more excited about the future of the Center under Dr. Scheick’s leadership and Center Director Jessica Taylor’s experience and talent.”
–Shawn Howton, PhD
Dr. Howton has been instrumental in shaping the DiLella Center for Real Estate over the last 17 years. Under his leadership, the Center has flourished, growing from a singular class to a robust and thriving program focused on educating the next generation of real estate industry leaders. Dr. Howton created a meaningful legacy and an unmatched undergraduate real estate program. His contributions, fueled by his dedication and passion, will leave an indelible mark for many years to come.”
–Daniel DiLella ’73 VSB CEO, Equus Capital Partners
International Fellowships Enable Alumni to Take the Road Less Traveled
While VSB alumni traditionally set their sights on beginning a career or graduate school, a select few choose to pursue a less common path in the form of an international fellowship. In addition to programs like the Gilman Scholarship and Boren Awards, the Fulbright captures the interest of the greatest number of Villanova students, and their success in this regard has made the University a top producer of Fulbright U.S. students for 16 consecutive years. In 2023–2024, Villanova was tied for fifth in the nation.
The most widely recognized and prestigious international exchange program in the world, the Fulbright Program offers students grants to conduct research, study and teach abroad. While there is no typical Fulbright student, certain qualities rise to the top: a solid academic record, past international or cross-cultural experience, demonstrated involvement and leadership, and language skills. These are qualities that define many VSB students, including alumni Annie Cowen ’22 VSB, Cristina Green ’24 VSB and Katherine (Gibbs) Parr ’01 VSB.
I want to be exposed to new cultures, new ways of life, new thoughts, new ideas, a new way of living.”
Annie Cowen ’22 VSB combined her International Business major with Accounting and had a variety of cultural experiences, including a virtual internship with a company in Hong Kong, an internship in Dublin and a summer-long volunteer opportunity in Spain. Through the Fulbright Program, she will be teaching English in Indonesia. She points to the influence of Kim Cahill, director of the Global Leaders Fellowship Program, for serving as “a great mentor and advocate” for pursuing international opportunities and the Fulbright.
Currently a public accountant with PwC in New York City, Cowen looks forward to exploring new professional avenues after completing her Fulbright.
I love living in a different country, but also experiencing cultural exchange.”
As a Marketing and International Business major, Cristina Green ’24 VSB already had an impressive resume when she decided to apply for a Fulbright. In addition to interning with the Bank of New York, she explored her passion for cultural experiences during a study abroad semester in Spain and during internships in Singapore and with the Mexican consulate in Philadelphia.
Green credits Villanova for preparing her exceptionally well for a 10-month bi-national business program in Mexico. She, too, credits Cahill, as well as Jonathan Doh, PhD, her Global Business Management professor. “His course solidified that this is what I want to do,” Green says.
The collaborative community approach of the Fulbright Program is unique in its approach to improving relations between many diverse perspectives in today’s increasingly divided world.”
After graduation, Katherine Parr ’01 VSB pursued a successful career in the fashion industry and founded a namesake luxury jewelry brand and later a chocolate business. This spring, she received a Fulbright Specialist Program Award whereby she will apply her expertise in business administration and entrepreneurship in an advisory capacity to university leadership and students in Jordan. The goal is to help solve some of the country’s economic and educational challenges for young women.
International Fellowships for VSB Graduates Since 2016
Recipient Fellowship
Michael Colonna ’24 VSB Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Annie Cowen ’22 VSB Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Cristina Green ’24 VSB Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Katherine Parr ’01 VSB Fulbright Specialist Award
Corrine Sullivan ’23 VSB Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Kathleen Biehl ’18 VSB Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Sydney Karpowich ’22 VSB Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Henry Kriesl* ’22 VSB Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Amanda Lee ’23 VSB Gilman Scholarship
Elizabeth Einig ’16 VSB Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Kathleen Biehl ’18 VSB Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Emily DiMatteo ’19 VSB Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Carolyn Silipigni ’19 VSB Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Lucille Finnegan ’18 VSB Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Emily Gilmore ’19 VSB Fulbright U.K. Summer Institute
Evan Schultz ’19 VSB Boren Scholarship
Wendy Wang ’20 VSB Gilman Scholarship
William Elmore ’18 VSB Gilman Scholarship
Joshua Kim ’18 VSB Gilman Scholarship
Kathleen Moon ’19 VSB Gilman Scholarship
Stephen Wemple ’16 VSB Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Gilman Scholarship: Enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity
Boren Scholarship: Facilitates study abroad by U.S. undergraduate students in world regions critical to U.S. interests * Award was declined
Business Society Leadership Awards
VSB Students Earn First Place in Real Estate Case Competition
In March 2024, four VSB students took first place in the Monmouth University Real Estate Case Competition.
Elizabeth Curley ’24 VSB, Daniel Magrini ’24 VSB, Dilan Patel ’25 VSB and Mark Moore ’24 VSB (pictured from left to right) earned first place against teams from Monmouth University, Princeton University, University of Baltimore and Rutgers University for their development proposal and town center model for a site in Carteret, N.J.
VSB recognized student leaders, student organizations and faculty advisers who were exceptional leaders and embodied the Augustinian Catholic values of truth, community, caring and leading through service. Through their work within and outside of VSB, these groups and leaders helped fellow students to develop and grow into creative problem solvers who become ethical, influential leaders. The 2024 VSB Student Leadership Recognition and Awards Dinner, presented by the Deloitte Student Group Fund, was held in April 2024.
Veritas Award – Management Information Society
For demonstrating truth and commitment to their profession
Unitas Award – Ascend
For fostering an environment of unity in the Villanova School of Business
Rising Star Award – Business Sustainability Club
For making significant contributions to the Villanova School of Business
Society Advisor of the Year
Lucy Chen, PhD
For making a positive impact on a business society
Student Leader of the Year – Michelle Ky ’24 VSB
For inspiring growth and development of others in Ascend and VSB
2024 Council of Presidents Executive Board:
President: Eugenio Nocera ’24 VSB
Junior Vice President: Matthew Vercelli ’25 VSB
Sophomore Vice President: Emily Ciccarone ’26 VSB
President of the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank Visits Campus
Dr. Patrick Harker visited campus on April 2 to speak to more than 500 students who were enrolled in the spring semester Introduction to Macroeconomics courses. After brief remarks, he answered questions from the students.
The event was hosted by the Economics Department and represented the third time such an event was organized for students in the introductory Economics courses. Paul Licari ’11 VSB, manager of Global Banking Policy and Analysis at the New York Federal Reserve, was instrumental in introducing Dr. Harker to the Villanova community.
In his role as a Federal Reserve president, Dr. Harker participates in the discussions that formulate the nation’s monetary policy and has served on the Federal Open Market Committee. Before joining the Fed in 2015, he was the president of the University of Delaware and dean at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
VSB Dean’s Advisory Council (DAC)
The DAC provides advice and guidance to Wen Mao, PhD, the Helen and William O’Toole Dean of VSB, on important strategic initiatives under consideration.
Greg Wilson ’95 VSB; Chair Partner
Goldman Sachs
Alana Hoskin ’00 VSB: Vice Chair Vice President, Global Audit and Chief Risk Officer Nike
Anthony Abbatiello ’97 VSB Partner, Workforce Transformation Practice Leader. PwC
Jennifer Barbetta ’95 VSB Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director TA Associates Management
Arthur Batson III ’98 VSB President and CEO Lucas Tree Expert
John Cashwell ’87 VSB, P ’19, ‘23 Senior Managing Director, Private Credit (Retired) Blackstone
Anthony Chiarello ’77 CLAS Principal/Owner Lighthouse Maritime Advisors
Susan Ciccarone ’95 VSB Partner
Further Global Capital Management
Brian Collie ’95 CLAS Managing Director and Senior Partner; Global Leader, Automotive & Mobility Practice Boston Consulting Group
Thomas Colligan P ’92 Vice Dean (Retired) The Wharton School
Angela Deering ’00 VSB Managing Director J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Stephen Delaney ’91 VSB Partner, Audit and Assurance Services, Office Audit Leader–Philadelphia Deloitte
Dante D’Egidio ’94 VSB
Americas Vice Chair of Assurance EY
Thomas A. Donnelly ’98 VSB Principal KPMG
George Eberle ’87 VSB, P ’23 Partner
PJT Park Hill
Richard Furtek ’91 VSB, P ’18, ’20, ’23 Principal Furtek & Associates
Michael Giarrusso ’01 VSB Partner, Financial Services Consulting EY
Debbie Kolman P ’23 Retired Investment Banker Goldman Sachs
Greg Mancini ’95 VSB Co-Head Global Research and Portfolio Manager Nuveen
Mario R. Masrieh ’12 VSB Principal Trivest Partners
