The Connector

Tracy Setlock Brala ’90 VSB is a connector who derives great pleasure in helping people connect with each other and Villanova University. She credits her VSB experience with teaching her the value of teamwork: “Working as a team with my classmates helped to make our projects better and one another smarter.”

Brala remains connected to Villanova through her volunteer service, most notably with the Villanova University Alumni Association (VUAA), where she served as President from 2014 to 2016. During her tenure as President, she coined an acronym to help Alumni understand the Association and its value:

N – Networking – Connecting Villanovans Personally and Professionally

O – One Villanova – Create the Shared Connection

V – Value of Villanova – Cultivate Time, Talent, and Treasure

A – Always a Wildcat – Connect Villanovans through their Passion Points.

In addition, Brala was a member of the President’s Advisory Council and has been an Advisory Council Member for the Anne Welsh McNulty Institute for Women’s Leadership since its founding in 2016. In recognition of her distinguished service to the University, Brala was selected by the VUAA as the recipient of its 2022 Loyalty Award.

Brala brings the same passion for teamwork and bringing people together as the Senior Vice President of Strategy & Partnerships at the University City Science Center, where she created Venture Café Philadelphia, a weekly event connecting innovators, entrepreneurs, community leaders and the creative community. Brala notes, “Since its inception in 2018, more than 25,000 people have attended a gathering, through which businesses have been formed, co-founders have connected, and friendships have been forged.”

When recalling how her time at Villanova influenced the individual she is today, Brala explains, “While a title or role may deem me ‘The Leader,’ I know how important it is to be a servant leader. I learned to be a servant leader at Villanova. It is exemplified in the University motto: Veritas, Unitas, Caritas. Truth, unity and love are hallmarks of how I approach serving others.”