MBA AMBASSADORS

Michael Litz

Contact Michael via Email or LinkedIn

Undergraduate University and Major: Pennsylvania State University - Abington; B.S. Finance

Hometown: Huntingdon Valley, PA

Work Experience: I've worked for Chubb Insurance for the past four and a half years in Internal Audit, progressing to my current role of Financial Senior Auditor. My responsibilities include supervising and assisting with risk-based audits, advisory reviews, and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) regulatory work.

Favorite Philadelphia, Main Line or Villanova Activity: I love to play tennis and golf, and I enjoy getting out to local courts and courses with friends and family. I also love exploring new restaurants in Philly and the greater area, and like many other MBA Ambassadors, I'm a big Philadelphia/Villanova sports fan!

Why did you choose the Villanova MBA: While I knew that Villanova and the School of Business were highly regarded both nationally and locally, I also had the opportunity to speak with active Villanova MBA students and alumni, including those that I work directly with at Chubb, and they highlighted their incredibly positive experiences at Villanova, and ultimately a great sense of pride in their education.

Goals or plans for a career after graduation from Villanova:  I plan to leverage the skills and knowledge that I gain during my time at Villanova to progress further in my career, ideally towards a role that allows me to assume greater leadership and strategic responsibilities.

Katherine Porter

Contact Katherine via Email or LinkedIn

Undergraduate University and Major: Ursinus College; Major: Mathematics Minor: Biostatistics

Hometown: Sayre, PA

MBA Modality: Hybrid

Work Experience: I began my career at Lockheed Martin immediately after earning my undergraduate degree and have spent the past six years contributing to a diverse range of projects. Through this experience, I have advanced to my current role as a Senior Systems Engineer.

Favorite Philadelphia, Main Line or Villanova Activity: I enjoy supporting the Phillies, Eagles, and Villanova sports. Philly's energy for their teams is unmatched. 

Why did you choose the Villanova MBA: I chose Villanova for its strong academic reputation and the opportunity to engage in in-person learning, which enhances collaboration and networking. Additionally, the MBA program stood out for its well-rounded curriculum, experienced faculty, and focus on leadership development. The university’s expansive alumni network also provides valuable connections and opportunities for professional growth, making it an ideal choice for advancing my career.

Goals or plans for a career after graduation from Villanova:  I am utilizing the Villanova MBA program to gain clarity on my career direction and explore the best path for my professional growth.

Dana Eiselen

Contact Dana via Email or LinkedIn

Undergraduate University and Major: Haverford College, B.A. Economics

Hometown: Ocean City, NJ

MBA Modality: Hybrid

Work Experience: I've spent the past 14 years working in a variety of roles in the MedTech industry. For the past 3 years, I have worked at Stryker Corporation, a global leader in medical technologies. I am the director of our project management office (PMO) for healthcare compliance globally. My team implements strategic projects and programs.

Favorite Philadelphia, Main Line or Villanova Activity: Our VSB community is vibrant. I've enjoyed participating in the annual St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service with fellow students, cheering on the Wildcats compete in basketball and football, and hearing from esteemed leaders through the Ignite Your Strengths speaker series. There are many opportunities to connect with fellow students and alumni in the classroom and also through the many extracurricular activities available. The Villanova experience is what you make it!

Why did you choose the Villanova MBA: I chose Villanova for its strong reputation and commitment to excellence, active student and alumni community, and how its values Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas shine through all aspects of the operations. As a busy professional, I also was attracted to the flexible, hybrid modality, where in the same semester, I can take classes in person and online.

Caity Looby

Contact Caity via Email or LinkedIn

Undergraduate University and Major: MIT, B.S. in Physics and Minor in Finance

Hometown: Springfield, PA

Work Experience: I am currently a Project Controller at New Hudson Facades, responsible for financial forecasting, billing, and data analytics. Previously I have worked for J.G. Wentworth as a Sales Manager.

Favorite Philadelphia, Main Line or Villanova Activity: Rock Climbing at Gravity Vault

Why did you choose the Villanova MBA: I really liked the opportunity to participate in the Global Practicum trip and the mentor program. 

Goals or plans for a career after graduation from Villanova: Continue to look for new growth opportunities within my current role at New Hudson Facades. 

Dana Schioppo

Contact Dana via Email or LinkedIn

MBA Modality: Hybrid

Undergraduate University and Major: Stevens Institute of Technology, Quantitative Finance 

Hometown: Freehold, NJ

Work Experience: I am currently employed full-time as a Credit Analyst at Coface North America. I am also a Coface Diversity & Inclusion Council Member. 

Favorite Philadelphia, Main Line or Villanova Activity: As a hybrid student, the opportunity to attend classes on campus, utilize the facilities for studying, and interacting with other students has been enriching and rewarding. The school spirit is palpable and has been wonderful to be a part of and experience. 

Why did you choose the Villanova MBA: I chose Villanova because qualities such as intellectual curiosity, social responsibility, global awareness, an open mind, and a creative spirit are strong and promoted within the Villanova community. 

Goals or plans for a career after graduation from Villanova: To achieve an executive leadership position following the completion of my MBA.

Richard Lu

Contact Richard via Email or LinkedIn

MBA Modality: Hybrid

Undergraduate University and Major:  Drexel University, BS in Chemical Engineering

Graduate Institution and Degree: Drexel University, MS in Material Science & Engineering

Hometown: Upper Darby, PA

Work Experience: I am currently a Sr. Process Technology Engineering at Sartomer (Arkema). Previously, I worked at FMC / Livent as a Technical Development Engineer.

Favorite Philadelphia, Main Line or Villanova Activity: Growing up outside of Philadelphia, I loved walking around the city and exploring different restaurants. While I was at Drexel, my favorite thing to do was running along the Schuylkill Trail. Of course, my route needed to include the Rocky Steps, where you can get a great view of the city.

Why did you choose the Villanova MBA: As someone with an engineering background, I never had formal education on business concepts and I lacked some fundamental business knowledge, which I thought was crucial to being a well-rounded engineer. I chose Villanova because of its flexible Professional MBA program and its close vicinity to my home since I desired to experience an MBA program on campus.

Goals or plans for a career after graduation from Villanova: Upon graduating from Villanova’s Professional MBA program, I hope to continue learning about the business world through an engineer's point of view and apply the knowledge I learned to my future projects. Additionally, I hope to be in a position where I can pursue a managerial role and leverage the soft skill learnings from class.

Joyce A. Harden

Contact Joyce via Email or LinkedIn

MBA Modality: Hybrid

Specialization: Applied Artificial Intelligence and International Business

Undergraduate Institution and Major: Villanova University, Leadership with a minor in Japanese Language and Cultural Studies and a minor in Asian Studies

Hometown: I was raised in Savannah GA but have resided in Philadelphia PA most of my life.

 Work Experience: Currently, I am the Coordinator for Graduate Student Experience in the Grad Center at Villanova University. I use data analysis to make informed choices and improve processes of financial management and accounting principles for budgeting and resource allocation.

Favorite Philadelphia, Main Line or Villanova Activity: My favorite part of the city of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection Philadelphia is the Sports teams, museums, live music, festivals, and amazing food. 

Why did you choose Villanova:

I chose Villanova because it has been an integral part of my professional career and I was compelled to continue that stride. The Villanova School of Business is where I wanted to begin my academic journey by providing me with not only a strong educational foundation but invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth. One example: being a part of the National Black MBA Association has introduced me to networking opportunities within and beyond my field of study. 

Goals or plans for a career after graduation from Villanova: 

After graduation, I hope to use the tools I learned and use my platform to give back to our community by assisting others on their academic journeys and fostering a supportive environment through financial literacy and the value of international travel. I am deeply committed to promoting academic excellence, innovation, and ethical leadership. I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences I have gained at the Villanova School of Business. I believe that VSB plays a pivotal role in shaping the business leaders of tomorrow.

Jessica Kloss

Contact Jessica via Email or LinkedIn

MBA Modality: Cohort

Undergraduate Institution and Major: James Madison University, B.S. Health Services Administration

Hometown: Doylestown, PA

Work Experience: For the past 4 years, I have worked at Alliance HP, a boutique real estate investment company based in Bryn Mawr, PA. I am a leasing and marketing associate with a focus on industrial, office, and mixed-use assets. I am passionate about real estate and forming meaningful connections with others who work in real estate. 

Favorite Philadelphia, Main Line or Villanova Activity: Attending Eagles games!

Why did you choose Villanova: I chose Villanova because of its stellar reputation and highly ranked Professional MBA program. I did not receive a formal education in business and completing my MBA will positively impact my career growth. Villanova has felt welcoming and supportive since the beginning of the admissions process! 

Goals or plans for a career after graduation from Villanova: Following graduation from Villanova, I plan to continue working for a private equity firm or developer while taking on more responsibility in a leasing role and eventually moving to an acquisitions role.

Alejandro Escobar

Contact Alejandro via Email or LinkedIn

MBA Modality: Fast Track

Undergraduate Institution and Major: Villanova University with a Major in Finance and Minors in Economics and Psychology

Hometown: Managua, Nicaragua

Work Experience: For the past year I have been working as a Financial Consultant at Ernst & Young in Philadelphia.

Favorite Philadelphia, Main Line or Villanova Activity: MBA Networking Events

Goals or plans for a career after graduation from Villanova: After graduation I’ll be pursuing jobs in consulting, corporate finance, and data analytics.

Riley Homer

Contact Riley via Email or LinkendIn

MBA Modality: Flex Track

Specialization: Marketing & International Business

Undergraduate Institution and Major: Villanova University, Marketing

Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Work Experience: As a student-athlete at Villanova, I've had the privilege of serving as representative of Villanova Volleyball on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and was chosen by Villanova Athletics to represent the collective voice of over 600 student-athletes on the Athletics Advisory Committee.

Favorite Philadelphia, Main Line or Villanova Activity: I love attending the professional sports games here in Philly! I have gone to a game for each Philadelphia team.

Goals or plans for a career after graduation from Villanova:  Looking to start a career in marketing after completing my MBA.

Alex Fava

Contact Alex via Email or LinkendIn

MBA Modality: Hybrid    

Undergraduate Institution and Major: Texas Christian University – B.S. Engineering with Mechanical Focus

Hometown: Lutherville, MD

Work Experience: Villanova Student Athlete and MBA Fellow, CEA Technologies, Inc. in Hanover, MD

Favorite Philadelphia, Main Line or Villanova Activity: I really enjoy going on walks along the Schuylkill River Trail and exploring the various coffee shops and cafes throughout the city 

Goals or plans for a career after graduation from Villanova:  I hope to work for a defense company as an engineer. 

Mark Killmeyer

Contact Mark via Email or LinkedIn

MBA Modality: Hybrid

Specialization: International Business

Undergraduate Institution and Major: NC State University, Marketing and Political Science

Hometown: Cary, NC

Work Experience: Government Affairs Consulting, Non-Profit Consulting

Favorite Philadelphia, Main Line or Villanova Activity:  Villanova Basketball!  

Goals or plans for a career after graduation from Villanova:  Enter the political consulting space as an entrepreneur.

Tim Brown Jr.

Contact Tim via Email or LinkedIn

MBA Modality: Hybrid

Specialization: Marketing & Strategic Management

Undergraduate Institution and Major: Villanova University, Marketing Major with Business Analytics Minor

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Work Experience: I have enjoyed several marketing internships as a Villanova student.

Favorite Philadelphia, Main Line, or Villanova Activity: I like going to local sports games whether that be the Phillies, Sixers, or Eagles, and of course I love attending Villanova games!

Goals or plans for a career after graduation from Villanova: I am interested in exploring opportunities within a marketing agency or PR firm, as well as pursuing entrepreneurship.