Destined for Teaching

Villanova faculty members routinely outshine their peers for their unparalleled dedication to teaching, research and service - and Wen Mao, PhD is certainly no exception. After 20 years in the Economics department, Dr. Mao continues to bring a high level of enthusiasm to her work with students, her research and the Villanova community–something she’s brought to her role as Vice Dean of the Villanova School of Business.

Teachers have had a profound influence on Dr. Mao’s life. Both her father and great grandfather were professors in China where she grew up. “Teaching is in my blood,” she quips.

It was while pursuing her PhD at Virginia Tech that she chose to specialize in game theory. Dr. Mao credits that choice to professors who shared their passion for this area of microeconomics that looks at strategic decision-making. Today, much of her research stems from game theory, including papers related to pricing, competition, decision-making in the stock market, elections, and even religious organizational structures.

She makes other significant contributions to the Villanova community, especially as it relates to her love for China. Every summer since the 1990s, Dr. Mao has led students on an immersion program to her homeland, well before it was as popular–or as expensive–as it is today.

During the program, one or two dozen undergraduates spend six to seven weeks at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, studying as well as working at any number of English-speaking companies. With the help of placement agencies and alumni, Dr. Mao coordinates a massive effort to identify internships at think tanks, NGOs, investment firms, real estate development companies and more general business roles in communications and human resources. She also hosts a group of VSB graduate students in Shanghai and Beijing for two weeks of lectures and corporate visits with top executives- all designed to expose students to Chinese business culture.

Despite the considerable time and effort required to run this program, Dr. Mao remains fully committed to its continued success. Enrollment increased by 100% this year over last, despite the escalating tuition cost per student. Fortunately, through the Center of Global Leadership, the Freeman Foundation awarded Villanova a $100,000 grant to support internships in Asia, which benefitted Dr. Mao’s program in China this past summer. The university will apply for another $400,000 grant to create more opportunities for students to intern throughout Asia over the next two years.

“Now students who otherwise couldn't afford the program have been able to attend,” explains Dr. Mao. “A more diverse group brings so many more perspectives and everyone becomes more open-minded.”

Originally published in the Winter 2016 Issue of Villanova Business magazine, with updates.