FACULTY MENTORS
Faculty mentors have a wealth of knowledge to share about their discipline. All four years, students are encouraged to engage in ongoing conversations with faculty mentors about declaring a major/minor in a specific field; finding opportunities and career paths within the discipline; and choosing elective courses, secondary majors, minors and graduate schools.
ACCOUNTING FACULTY MENTORS
James Borden, PhD
james.borden@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4327
Room 3016
I have been a member of the Accounting faculty at Villanova for over 30 years, and over that time, I have developed good relationships with many of the firms that recruit our students. As such, I have acquired a sense of what these firms are looking for in terms of potential employees. I can then share that info with students, early in their academic career, so that they have a better sense of what is expected of them and how they can meet those expectations. I also believe strongly in helping students to develop holistically, emphasizing the importance of not only academic success, but their communications skills, professional development, health and wellness, and community involvement.
Steve Liedtka, PhD
stephen.liedtka@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4318
Room 3088
Professor Stephen Liedtka is a CPA and has experience in Financial Statement Auditing, Tax and Consulting (particularly in the areas of performance measurement and decision making).
Stasia Morlino
stasia.morlino@villanova.edu
(610) 519 – 8087
Room 3055E
Stasia Morlino PhD, CPA graduated from LaSalle University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy. Professor Morlino began working full-time for KPMG LLP in the Audit Practice after completing a spring audit internship with KPMG LLP in the spring of the previous year. During her career with KPMG, professor Morlino performed audits primarily in the manufacturing and retail industries. After three years, Professor Morlino left public accounting and joined Temple University Health System where she was Director of Finance. After six years in that role, Professor Morlino left industry to pursue a PhD in Accounting from The University of Scranton. She shares her professional experience with her students, helping to prepare them for success as they begin their careers.
Jennifer Altamuro, PhD
jennifer.altamuro@villanova.edu
(610) 519-3299
Room 3049
I serve as the Director of the MAC Program. I received my PhD in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Penn State. I have also served on the Accounting Faculty at MIT, Ohio State, and Wharton, which are all schools which grant PhD’s in various business disciplines. Throughout my career, I have worked with Masters and Doctoral students on a variety of research projects, and served on Doctoral committees for two students who are currently faculty members in Accounting at the University of Toronto and SUNY Binghamton.
James Bierstaker, PhD
(610) 519-6101
Room 2052
I taught in the KMAC program and currently teach in the MAC program. I also taught three MBA classes while I was at UMass-Boston, and I have done some teaching for PwC and KPMG. Students have come to me for advice from time to time on PhD programs, and I chaired the committee to start an Accounting Scholars Seminar at VSB. Two of my former students are now professors, including our own Denise Downey!
Luke Watson, PhD
(610) 519-4352
Room 3045
Professor Luke Watson, PhD, CPA teaches undergraduate and graduate tax courses in the Villanova School of Business. Professor Watson conducts research on corporate taxation, particularly on tax haven incorporation and the interplay between ESG and tax strategy. His research has also examined how creditors perceive corporate tax avoidance and how CEO overconfidence is connected to corporate tax avoidance.
Professor Watson earned his PhD in accounting from Penn State University. He has worked on multijurisdictional tax planning in Ernst & Young’s Tax Consulting practice. Professor Watson earned his BBA in Accountancy and his MS in Accountancy with a concentration in Tax Services from the University of Notre Dame where he was an 8-time NCAA All-American in cross country and track. Professor Watson is a tax instructor for Ernst & Young and a CPA review instructor for Gleim Publications.
Denise Hanes Downey, PhD
denise.downey@villanova.edu
Denise Hanes Downey, PhD, CPA is a Villanova alum, receiving both her bachelors and masters degrees from the university in accounting. As a student Professor Downey completed a co-op with Johnson & Johnson as well as an internship with Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Outside the classroom Professor Downey was a student athlete as well as a member of Blue Key and campus ministry. Following graduation Professor Downey worked several years in PwC’s Philadelphia assurance practice. Professor Downey left practice in 2009 to pursue a PhD in Accounting from Bentley University. In 2017 Professor Downey took a leave of absence from the University to work as a Senior Economic Research Fellow in the PCAOB’s Office of Economic and Risk Analysis.
Professor Downey teaches auditing and her research interests focus on auditor judgment and decision making, with a particular emphasis on arrangements where auditors are geographically dispersed. She is an expert on multi-location audits and offshoring and has examined pertinent challenges encountered by auditors domestically and internationally on such engagements.
Laura Iacona
laura.iacona@villanova.edu
Professor Laura L. Iacona graduated from Villanova in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy. Professor Iacona began working full-time for Grant Thornton LLP in the Summer of 1996 in the Audit practice after completing the Spring Accounting Internship program with Grant Thornton in the Spring of the previous year. During her career with Grant Thornton, Professor Iacona performed and managed audits across a variety of industries such as: manufacturing and distribution, services, hospitality, real estate and financial services. Clients within these industry groups ranged in size and complexity from mid-sized privately held corporations to multi-billion dollar publicly traded corporations. In addition to performing financial statement audit services, Professor Iacona also worked on several initial public offerings, merger and acquisition transactions, major restatements and other SEC related matters. In 2007, Professor Iacona became a Partner with the firm and, in 2011, she became the Audit Practice Leader for the Philadelphia office of Grant Thornton. She served in that role for three years, managing the daily activities of the third largest audit practice for the firm as well as continuing to service a full client load. In 2014, Professor Iacona decided to change careers and retired from Grant Thornton and began a new career as a professor. She reconnected with her alma mater and now serves as an Assistant Professor of Practice at Villanova teaching Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting I and II, and Audit.
Danielle R. Lombardi, PhD
danielle.lombardi@villanova.edu
Danielle R. Lombardi, PhD, graduated from The College of New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and minor in Criminology and Justice Studies. After her undergraduate work, Dr. Lombardi began her professional career as an auditor at PwC and later at CohnReznick (formerly J.H. Cohn). She earned her doctorate from Rutgers University, where she was the recipient of the Strategic Emerging Technologies Section’s Outstanding Dissertation Award. Some of her current research projects include examining the behavioral impact, benefits, and challenges of big data, emerging technologies, and artificial intelligence on audit judgment and decision making. Dr. Lombardi has taught Intermediate Accounting I and II and Auditing in the undergraduate program and is looking forward to developing and teaching Accounting Analytics in Master of Accounting program.
Robert McParland
(610) 519-5837
Room 1004
Bob has been a Business Fellow at VSB since 2001. During this time he has taught Advanced Accounting, Cost Accounting and Entrepreneurial Finance classes while also working with students regarding career management and continuing his business career. Bob’s career has comprised a wide range of financial and accounting roles including 11 years at Price Waterhouse where he was a senior manager and 25 years working for several different funds in the private equity/venture capital industries, including Susquehanna Growth Equity Partners, TL Ventures, Health Enterprise Partners, Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. and others. Bob has performed a wide variety of functions including financial and operational due diligence on new investments and acquisitions, sales of portfolio companies, portfolio company senior management roles, initial public offerings, fund raising and other matters. Bob has expertise in career paths in both public and private accounting along with the private equity and venture capital industries.
Jennifer Altamuro, PhD
jennifer.altamuro@villanova.edu
(610) 519-3299
Room 3049
I serve as the Director of the MAC Program and teach a course in Valuation Issues, which brings together accounting information and issues in corporate finance, such as determining the value of a firm and pricing for Mergers and Acquisitions, as well as other structured transactions. Prior to entering Academia, I worked for PwC in their Assurance practice, focusing primarily on Pharmaceutical and Chemical clients, where I was involved in several due diligence and merger-related projects.
Patricia Dorris Crenny
patricia.crenny@villanova.edu
(610) 519-6657
Room 3067
Patricia Dorris Crenny, CPA had a career in both big 4 public accounting and in private industry before entering academia. She is qualified to mentor students on career choices, course selection and double major/minor considerations. In addition, Professor Crenny advises students regarding preparation for licensing as a certified public accountant.
Stasia Morlino
stasia.morlino@villanova.edu
(610) 519 – 8087
Room 3055E
Stasia Morlino PhD, CPA graduated from LaSalle University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy. Professor Morlino began working full-time for KPMG LLP in the Audit Practice after completing a spring audit internship with KPMG LLP in the spring of the previous year. During her career with KPMG, professor Morlino performed audits primarily in the manufacturing and retail industries. After three years, Professor Morlino left public accounting and joined Temple University Health System where she was Director of Finance. After six years in that role, Professor Morlino left industry to pursue a PhD in Accounting from The University of Scranton. She shares her professional experience with her students, helping to prepare them for success as they begin their careers.
James Borden, PhD
james.borden@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4327
Room 3016
"I have been a member of the Accounting faculty at Villanova for over 30 years, and over that time, I have developed good relationships with many of the firms that recruit our students. As such, I have acquired a sense of what these firms are looking for in terms of potential employees. I can then share that info with students, early in their academic career, so that they have a better sense of what is expected of them and how they can meet those expectations. I also believe strongly in helping students to develop holistically, emphasizing the importance of not only academic success, but their communications skills, professional development, health and wellness, and community involvement."
Patricia Dorris Crenny
patricia.crenny@villanova.edu
(610) 519-6657
Room 3067
Patricia Dorris Crenny, CPA had a career in both big 4 public accounting and in private industry before entering academia. She is qualified to mentor students on career choices, course selection and double major/minor considerations. In addition, Professor Crenny advises students regarding preparation for licensing as a certified public accountant.
Edward A. Liva
Ed is a Professor of Practice at Villanova School of Business. Previously, Ed was the Director of the Villanova Graduate Tax Program from 2015 through 2018.
Prior to joining Villanova, Ed was a partner at KPMG and retired in 2015 following a 38-year career in the industry. Ed began his career with Arthur Andersen in Chicago and joined KPMG in 2002. Ed served as KPMG’s National Real Estate Tax Industry Leader from 2003 through 2015.
Ed earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from John Carroll University, a JD from DePaul University College of Law and an LLM in Taxation from Temple Law School.
Luke Watson, PhD
(610) 519-4352
Room 3045
Professor Luke Watson, PhD, CPA teaches undergraduate and graduate tax courses in the Villanova School of Business. Professor Watson conducts research on corporate taxation, particularly on tax haven incorporation and the interplay between ESG and tax strategy. His research has also examined how creditors perceive corporate tax avoidance and how CEO overconfidence is connected to corporate tax avoidance.
Professor Watson earned his PhD in accounting from Penn State University. He has worked on multijurisdictional tax planning in Ernst & Young’s Tax Consulting practice. Professor Watson earned his BBA in Accountancy and his MS in Accountancy with a concentration in Tax Services from the University of Notre Dame where he was an 8-time NCAA All-American in cross country and track. Professor Watson is a tax instructor for Ernst & Young and a CPA review instructor for Gleim Publications.
BUSINESS ANALYTICS FACULTY MENTORS
Katie Iacocca, PhD
kathleen.iacocca@villanova.edu
(610) 519-7330
Room 3043
Dr. Iacocca specializations in Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management with a particular interest in the healthcare industry. She has taught courses including Introduction to Business Analytics, Supply Chain Management, Analytical Techniques, Operations Management, and Management Science. Topics of coverage include data mining, optimization, simulation, forecasting, and inventory management. Her research includes applications of these topics in the healthcare industry and optimization across the supply chain. Dr. Iacocca also collaborates with companies to help them manage their supply chain through analytical techniques. Such companies include Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and Lehigh Valley Hospital.
Wenhong Luo, PhD
wenhong.luo@villanova.edu
(610) 519-5592
Room 3002
Dr. Wenhong Luo teaches Business Intelligence and Performance Management (MIS3060) and Database Management (MIS2030) at VSB. His current research focuses on how business analytics are used to support fact-based decision making in organizations. He has consulted in the area of business analytics for companies in pharmaceutical, financial and other industries. He has also an interest in sports analytics.
Bret Myers, PhD
bret.myers@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4069
Room 2092
Dr. Myers’involvement in the field of Sports Analytics is three-fold through teaching, research, and consulting. Beginning in 2011, he created a course in Sports Analytics in the MBA program and also developed a module within an advanced applications course for the MS program in Analytics. On the research side, Bret has published related articles in peer-reviewed academic journals and have also received mentions in the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, and Sports Illustrated. Additionally, Dr. Myers has served continually as an Analytics Consultant to professional soccer teams since 2013, advising these organizations how to build an analytics department, formulate strategic objectives, and also partake in special projects for key decision-makers. One of his biggest joys is to share these experiences with students and help mentor them to find opportunities in the field.
Robert Nydick, PhD
robert.nydick@villanova.edu
Room 3077
“Dr. Bob” Nydick has taught most of the Analytics courses within VSB. Most recently, he is focused on teaching Data Mining. He has an interest in helping students understand the importance of Analytics in the business world today and how that knowledge can help improve their professional development. He has supervised analytics-based student projects to help Karolina Kurkova, a former Victoria Secret model, create a strategic plan that she used to determine future business opportunities. He also oversaw a student project using social media analytics to help the Villanova Men’s Basketball team to increase the effectiveness of their Twitter and Instagram posts.
ECONOMICS FACULTY MENTORS
Sarah Burke, PhD
sarah.burke@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4385
Room 3081
Sarah Burke is an Assistant Professor of Economics. Her research interests focus on equity issues in public education both within and across districts. More recent writings concentrate on teaching undergraduate economics. Dr. Burke is available to consult with students who are interested in economics based careers or are considering attending graduate school after graduation.
Mary Kelly, PhD
mary.kelly@villanova.edu
(610) 519-6445
Room 2016
Dr. Kelly is the Associate Chair of Villanova University’s Economics Department and teaching professor of economics where she develops and teaches undergraduate courses in economics for both in classroom and online delivery. In 2013, she received the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Outstanding Teaching and in 2018 was the recipient of the VSB Dougherty Award for Excellence in Teaching
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Kelly conducts applied research in the areas of industrial organization and labor, guides undergraduate research projects, and mentors economics majors and student leaders of business organizations. She regularly provides commentary and analysis of telecom and cable topics on her blog and other media outlets.
Prior to joining the Villanova faculty full-time in 2002, Dr. Kelly worked for Verizon Corporation for nearly fourteen years. During her time at Verizon, she held numerous management positions in product development and marketing, information services, and regulation.
Dr. Kelly earned a PhD in Economics from the University of Delaware, a MBA from Drexel University, and a BS in Economics from Villanova University (VSB ’83, summa cum laude)
Dr. Kelly resides in Saint Davids, PA with her husband, Rob (VSB’82). They have three adult children.
Paul Suckow
paul.suckow@villanova.edu
(610) 519-5949
Room 2057
Mr. Suckow's individual qualifications include his financial literacy evidenced by his position as an adjunct professor of finance and economics and his many years of service in the financial and insurance services industries. In addition, Mr. Suckow has served on the advisory boards of many corporations and is an "audit committee financial expert" within the meaning of SEC rules.
Sutirtha Bagchi, PhD
sutirtha.bagchi@villanova.edu
(610) 519-7799
Room 2065
Sutirtha Bagchi is an Associate Professor of Economics at VSB. He has broad interests in public finance, political economy, labor economics, and regulation. His work has analyzed the political economy of public-sector pension plans. In a recently co-authored paper in The Journal of Industrial Economics, he finds that as a result of reforms that made it easier for firms to enter the cable TV market, there were significant reductions in the price of the “Basic” tier of service with little to no change in prices of the “Expanded Basic” tier. His research into the taxicab market shows that with the advent of companies such as Uber and Lyft, taxicab medallion prices have dropped by roughly 50% in New York City and 80% in Chicago from their peak in 2013/2014 to the present day. Dr. Bagchi’s work has been discussed in such media outlets as Forbes, Huffington Post, and the Washington Post. His paper examining the political economy of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was profiled by Journalist’s Resource, a collaboration of the Harvard Kennedy School and the Carnegie-Knight Initiative. He has also written op-eds on the topic of public pensions in outlets like Pensions & Investments and PennLive.
Erasmus Kersting, PhD
erasmus.kersting@villanova.edu
Room 2014
Erasmus Kersting is Professor of Economics and has been serving as department chair since 2021. He received his PhD in Economics from Texas A&M University in 2009. His research is in the fields of macroeconomics, international economics, and development economics. He has published 16 articles, 13 of which in peer-reviewed academic journals, while three are internal publications of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. His current research explores the influence of China on World Bank lending as well as the impact of World Bank loans on recipient country stock markets.
Maira Reimao, PhD
maira.reimao@villanova.edu
Sutirtha Bagchi, PhD
sutirtha.bagchi@villanova.edu
(610) 519-7799
Room 2065
Sutirtha Bagchi is an Associate Professor of Economics at VSB. He has broad interests in public finance, political economy, labor economics, and regulation. His work has analyzed the political economy of public-sector pension plans. In a recent co-authored paper in The Journal of Industrial Economics, he finds that as a result of reforms that made it easier for firms to enter the cable TV market, there were significant reductions in the price of the “Basic” tier of service with little to no change in prices of the “Expanded Basic” tier. His research into the taxicab market shows that with the advent of companies such as Uber and Lyft, taxicab medallion prices have dropped by roughly 50% in New York City and 80% in Chicago from their peak in 2013/2014 to the present day. Dr. Bagchi’s work has been discussed in such media outlets as Forbes, Huffington Post, and the Washington Post. His paper examining the political economy of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was profiled by Journalist’s Resource, a collaboration of the Harvard Kennedy School and the Carnegie-Knight Initiative. He has also written op-eds on the topic of public pensions in outlets like Pensions & Investments and PennLive.
Peter Zaleski, PhD
peter.zaleski@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4378
Room 3090
Dr. Zaleski is a Professor of Economics. In addition to his research on structure, Dr. Zaleski has published research on the rankings of Economics Departments worldwide. He has served on a curriculum committee for the National Association for Business Economics.
Christopher Jeffords, PhD
christopher.jeffords@villanova.edu
Christopher Kilby, PhD
christopher.kilby@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4324
Room 2006
Christopher Kilby, Professor of Economics, joined the VSB faculty in 2008. His general area is development economics, with a specific focus on empirical studies of foreign aid. Dr. Kilby’s teaching includes Econometrics, Micro Theory, Macro Theory, Research Methods, and an upper level course on the Political Economy of Foreign Aid. His research exploring how the U.S. allocates its bilateral aid to developing countries, the politics and effectiveness of international financial institutions, and the economic impact of aid. Much of Dr. Kilby’s recent work has focused on U.S. influence over international financial institutions. He has published 20 articles in academic economics journals, including the Journal of Development Economics, the European Economic Review, and the Review of International Organizations. Most of Dr. Kilby’s research uses econometric methods to statistically test hypotheses about the allocation of foreign aid and the behavior of international organizations. He is one of the organizers of an annual international conference titled “The Political Economy of International Organizations,” and he is the Book Review Editor for the journal The Review of International Organizations. Dr. Kilby’s joint work with students most recently includes a chapter in the Handbook on the Economics of Foreign Aid (with Elizabeth Bland) and an article in the Review of International organizations (with Carolyn McWhirter).
Maira Reimao, PhD
maira.reimao@villanova.edu
Christopher Jeffords, PhD
christopher.jeffords@villanova.edu
Scott Dressler, PhD
scott.dressler@villanova.edu
(610) 519-5934
Room 2003
Dressler received his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin with a primary specialization in Monetary Economics. His research has focused on various aspects of financial intermediation (i.e., banking), monetary policy, and the interaction between the Federal Reserve and the macroeconomy using both quantitative and theoretical analyses. Dr. Dressler’s current research is examining the impact of unconventional monetary policy and other recent operational changes by the Federal Reserve on the transmission of monetary policy and the stability of financial intermediation. While in graduate school, Dr. Dressler held internship positions at both the Federal Reserve Banks of Cleveland and Dallas.
Erasmus Kersting, PhD
erasmus.kersting@villanova.edu
Room 2014
Erasmus Kersting is Professor of Economics and received his PhD in Economics from Texas A&M University in 2009. His research includes the fields of macroeconomics and monetary economics, and during his graduate studies he has spent five summers working at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (in Dallas as well as at the Houston branch) or the International Monetary Fund. He has co-authored three Federal Reserve publications and presented to the board of directors of the Dallas Fed branch in Houston, TX.
FINANCE FACULTY MENTORS
Caitlin Dannhauser, PhD
caitlin.dannhauser@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4348
Room 2005
Dr. Caitlin Dannhauser is an assistant professor in the finance department at VSB. Caitlin teaches Equity Markets and Valuation and conducts research on investments, which has been published in top finance journals. She received her Ph.D. in 2015 from Boston College and her B.S. from Villanova Business School in 2005. As a VSB undergrad, Caitlin was a presidential scholar and graduated summa cum laude with a double major in finance and international business. Following college, Caitlin work in the equity division of Credit Suisse as an equity sales trader, multi-asset specialist, and Canadian sector strategist. While at Credit Suisse, she also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. Beyond her career and education, Caitlin and her husband, Jim, have two daughters, Cassidy (2013) and Margaret (2017).
Shelly Howton, PhD
shelly.howton@villanova.edu
(610) 519-6111
Room 3012
Shelly Howton got her PhD in Finance from Florida State University and came to Villanova in 1997. She taught classes in a number of different areas including Equity Markets, Fixed Income, Investment Banking, Financial Institutions, Portfolio Management, and Financial Modeling and Valuation at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She also served as a faculty advisor for VSB’s Financial Management Association and Business Honor Society. She welcomes students looking for general finance career information or those trying to find an area in finance in which to focus, such as Consulting/Valuation, to come in and speak with her.
Benjamin Scheick, PhD
benjamin.scheick@villanova.edu
(610) 519-7794
Room 2040
Dr. Benjamin Scheick is the Kenneth ’84 and Pamela Roessler Assistant Professor of Finance at VSB. Professor Scheick is an alumnus of Villanova University, having graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Business Administration (Finance), a BS in Economics, and a Minor in Mathematics. Upon graduation, Ben accepted a position to work within the Financial Services Division of Navigant Consulting. During his time at Navigant, Ben worked on projects involving the private wealth management division of a prominent investment bank, a pre-audit of the investment divisions within a major insurance company, and the acquisition of a small hedge fund administrator by a large investment management firm. After spending several years in consulting, Ben went on to earn his Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Florida. Prior to his time at VSB, Dr. Scheick was an Assistant Professor of Real Estate at the University of Georgia. While at VSB, Professor Scheick has taught Fixed Income Markets at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as an upper-level undergraduate course in Real Estate Capital Markets. Dr. Scheick’s academic research focuses on equity REITs, private commercial real estate, capital markets, and investor sentiment. His research has been featured in leading academic journals including Real Estate Economics and the Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking.
Mi (Meg) Luo, PhD
mi.luo@villanova.edu
(610) 519-7469
Room 2007
Dr. Luo got her PhD degree in Finance from University of Utah. Her research interests are in corporate finance and corporate restructuring. She has published in top-tier finance journals such as Journal of Financial Economics and Journal of Corporate Finance. She is a regular contributor to USNews’ “The Smarter Investor” column. Dr. Luo has taught corporate finance and corporate restructuring both at the undergraduate and MBA level. She also serves as the Faculty Advisor for Merger& Acquisition Society.
Rabih Moussawi, PhD
rabih.moussawi@villanova.edu
(610) 519-8544
Room 1003
Rabih Moussawi: I am an Assistant Professor of Finance at Villanova University. My research interests are institutional investors, ETFs, hedge funds, and corporate governance. I have worked extensively on hedge funds and ETFs and my research has been published in multiple journals including the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, and Review of Financial Studies, and featured in mainstream publications such as the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. I received my PhD in Finance from the University of Texas at Dallas, and my MBA and BA in Economics, with distinction, from the American University of Beirut. At Villanova, I teach FIN 2323 Equity Markets and Valuation core finance class for junior students, the financial sentiment analysis module in the MSA 8310 Advanced Business Applications class, and a segment in FIN 2121 Finance Research Associate class. I also coordinate the finance seminar series for research papers presented at our department. Before Villanova, I was a research director at Wharton Research Data Services of the Wharton School, and before that, I was a quantitative researcher at the hedge fund unit of Barclays Global Investors (now BlackRock). In my experience at Wharton and Blackrock, I worked actively in the field institutional research and quantitative trading strategies, and I would be happy to share my experience with our students who are interested in a buy side career or in equity research.
Michael Pagano, PhD
michael.pagano@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4389
Room 2041
Prof. Pagano holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation and has over 10 years of experience both in commercial lending / private banking activities at Citibank and in investment valuation analysis at a financial consulting firm, International Capital Markets Corp. He has also served as an analytics specialist and general manager at Reuters America. In addition, Prof. Pagano is involved with various professional organizations such as FINRA’s Market Regulation committee, Citadel FCU’s board of directors, and Alpha Architect’s ETF board of trustees. Beyond the CFA designation, he holds a Ph.D. in Finance, MBA, and BS in Finance / Business Economics.
John Sedunov, PhD
john.sedunov@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4374
Room 2042
My experience with financial institutions is that I conduct a research program centered around banking and financial crises. This work focuses on understanding how banks work, how to effectively manage banks, and how regulation is interlinked with banks. Through my research, I have had substantial interaction with people who work at the Federal Reserve and FDIC. Moreover, I teach courses on the Risk Management of Financial Institutions and on Alternative Investments, both topics are linked to the financial system and the management of financial institutions.
Stephen Padovano
stephen.padovano@villanova.edu
(610) 519-3924
Mr. Padovano is an Executive in Residence and Director of Applied Quantitative Finance at Villanova School of Business. A 1989 graduate of Villanova University with a B.S. in Finance, he spent 22 years on Wall Street before retiring in 2011. Most recently, he was a Managing Director and head of Structured Credit Proprietary Trading at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a group which was an internal quantitatively driven hedge fund that invested in and traded credit derivatives, structured credit, subprime debt, mortgages, collateralized debt obligations and index arbitrage. He was employed by Merrill Lynch since 1990 and prior to starting the proprietary trading effort in 2003, Mr. Padovano held various senior management roles including Global Head of Structured Credit (structured debt, CDOs and CLOs), Global Head of High Grade Credit Trading (credit default swaps, index swaps, corporate bonds, preferred stock, money markets, commercial paper and structured securities) and Global Head of Credit Derivatives (credit default swaps, CDOs, CLOs and structured debt). As one of the pioneers in the credit derivative business, Mr. Padovano helped merge cash credit trading with credit derivative trading as well as being one of the original members of the team that created the standardized credit default swap contract for the International Swaps and Derivatives Association. Prior to his senior management roles, Mr. Padovano traded asset swaps, repackaged credit products, credit default swaps and was an analyst on the interest rate derivative desk.
Shelly Howton, PhD
shelly.howton@villanova.edu
(610) 519-6111
Room 3012
Shelly Howton got her PhD in Finance from Florida State University and came to Villanova in 1997. She taught classes in a number of different areas including Equity Markets, Fixed Income, Investment Banking, Financial Institutions, Portfolio Management, and Financial Modeling and Valuation at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She also served as a faculty advisor for VSB’s Financial Management Association and Business Honor Society. She welcomes students looking for general finance career information or those trying to find an area in finance in which to focus, such as Consulting/Valuation, to come in and speak with her.
Rabih Moussawi, PhD
rabih.moussawi@villanova.edu
(610) 519-8544
Room 1003
I am an Assistant Professor of Finance at Villanova University. My research interests are institutional investors, ETFs, hedge funds, and corporate governance. I have worked extensively on hedge funds and ETFs and my research has been published in multiple journals including the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, and Review of Financial Studies, and featured in mainstream publications such as the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. I received my PhD in Finance from the University of Texas at Dallas, and my MBA and BA in Economics, with distinction, from the American University of Beirut. At Villanova, I teach FIN 2323 Equity Markets and Valuation core finance class for junior students, the financial sentiment analysis module in the MSA 8310 Advanced Business Applications class, and a segment in FIN 2121 Finance Research Associate class. I also coordinate the finance seminar series for research papers presented at our department. Before Villanova, I was a research director at Wharton Research Data Services of the Wharton School, and before that, I was a quantitative researcher at the hedge fund unit of Barclays Global Investors (now BlackRock). In my experience at Wharton and Blackrock, I worked actively in the field institutional research and quantitative trading strategies, and I would be happy to share my experience with our students who are interested in a buy side career or in equity research.
Stephen Padovano
stephen.padovano@villanova.edu
(610) 519-3924
Mr. Padovano is an Executive in Residence and Director of Applied Quantitative Finance at Villanova School of Business. A 1989 graduate of Villanova University with a B.S. in Finance, he spent 22 years on Wall Street before retiring in 2011. Most recently, he was a Managing Director and head of Structured Credit Proprietary Trading at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a group which was an internal quantitatively driven hedge fund that invested in and traded credit derivatives, structured credit, subprime debt, mortgages, collateralized debt obligations and index arbitrage. He was employed by Merrill Lynch since 1990 and prior to starting the proprietary trading effort in 2003, Mr. Padovano held various senior management roles including Global Head of Structured Credit (structured debt, CDOs and CLOs), Global Head of High Grade Credit Trading (credit default swaps, index swaps, corporate bonds, preferred stock, money markets, commercial paper and structured securities) and Global Head of Credit Derivatives (credit default swaps, CDOs, CLOs and structured debt). As one of the pioneers in the credit derivative business, Mr. Padovano helped merge cash credit trading with credit derivative trading as well as being one of the original members of the team that created the standardized credit default swap contract for the International Swaps and Derivatives Association. Prior to his senior management roles, Mr. Padovano traded asset swaps, repackaged credit products, credit default swaps and was an analyst on the interest rate derivative desk.
David Shaffer, PhD
david.shaffer@villanova.edu
(610) 519-5637
Room 2017
David Shaffer: David Shaffer is an associate professor of finance at the Villanova School of Business and the Chair of the Department of Finance. He teaches in the undergraduate MBA, MSF, and EMBA programs as well as the Executive Education programs. He regularly teaches courses in Corporate Finance, Derivatives, and International Finance. David is the Director of the Villanova Rome Program. His published research is in the area of Derivatives and risk management, especially with respect to the use of futures contract hedging strategies to mitigate financial risk.
David received his undergraduate degree in Mathematics from the Ohio State University and his PhD in Finance from the University of Kansas. Prior to getting his PhD, he worked on Wall Street for Prudential Securities and in the Property Casualty Insurance industry with Chubb.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FACULTY MENTORS
Peggy E. Chaudhry, PhD
peggy.chaudhry@villanova.edu
(610) 519-6442
Room 2039
Peggy E. Chaudhry, PhD is an Associate Professor at the Villanova School of Business, Villanova, Pennsylvania. She began her career at VSB in 1991. She received her Ph.D. in International Business with minors in International Economics and Marketing at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is considered an expert in intellectual property and illicit trade issues (particularly, counterfeit and gray markets). Her publications include managerial tactics to curb counterfeit trade, consumer complicity with counterfeit goods, and gray markets, including impacts for the pharmaceutical and tobacco industries. She has published her pragmatic work in Advertising Age, Brand Protection Professional and The Wall Street Journal. She has supervised the study abroad program with the London School of Economics and Political Science [LSE] for several years. She has also worked as a Visiting Professor at DSI [Copenhagen, Denmark], the European Business School [Oestrich-Winkel, Germany], Sapienza University [Rome, Italy], and Temple University in Japan [Tokyo]. She has also led MBA study abroad programs for graduate students to learn from company visits and cultural immersion in various country destinations that include: Abu Dhabi; Capetown, South Africa; Dubai; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Hong Kong; Johannesburg, South Africa; Lisbon, Portugal; and Casablanca, Morocco. In addition, she has worked as a mentor to counsel VSB students on various study abroad options. She has extensive international travel experience and living abroad experiences and would welcome the opportunity to speak with students about both the challenges and opportunities of working overseas.
Jonathan Doh, PhD
jonathan.doh@villanova.edu
(610) 519-7798
Room 2079
Dr. Doh currently serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Research, Faculty Advancement, and Global Engagement, Rammrath Chair in International Business and Professor of Management at VSB. His practical experience is in trade negotiation and promotion, including roles as Director of NAFTA Affairs for the U.S. Department of Commerce in the early and mid 1990s, and in international strategy, especially in the energy sector as a consultant with Deloitte Touche where he worked with the Global Energy Resource Group. Dr. Doh’s teaching includes courses on international business, emerging markets, corporate sustainability, and the global pharmaceutical industry. At VSB, Jonathan helps to advance and promote the international strategy of Villanova and support students interested in studying and doing internships abroad. Dr. Doh is eager to share his experience and advice around international careers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and internships and careers in corporate sustainability. He has a Ph.D. is in strategic and international management from George Washington University.
MANAGEMENT FACULTY MENTORS
Ward Utter
ward.utter@villanova.edu
(610) 519-5733
Room 2075
Professor Utter teaches management classes for undergraduate and graduate students. Prior to teaching, he worked in a variety of industries and functions. He began his career at Strategic Planning Associates as a management consultant. He went on to hold management and marketing positions at Chef America (Hot Pockets), Mrs. Fields Cookies, and an internet start-up company. His experience includes work in the food, utilities, housewares, and textiles industries.
Sohail Chaudhry, PhD
sohail.chaudhry@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4369
Room 3076
Dr. Chaudhry received his Ph.D. in industrial engineering and operations research from Columbia University. In addition, he has a B.Sc. in mechanical engineering from Mosul University, Iraq and a M.S. in industrial and management engineering from Columbia University. He has published more than sixty refereed journal articles which have focused on many different aspects of the supply chain management in enterprises. His teaching interests are in the areas of operations and supply chain management. During his career, Professor Chaudhry has taught several different courses including operations management, business statistics, management and control of quality, and engineering economy. In addition, he has taught at a number of universities in the USA as well as internationally in Beijing, China; Copenhagen, Denmark; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Oestrich-Winkel, Germany; Seoul, Korea; Sousse, Tunisia; and Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Chaudhry is available as a resource for students who are interested in seeking academic guidance in the fields of operations and supply chain management and quality management as well as graduate school opportunities and general career advice. In addition, based on his extensive international academic assignments and personal global engagements with overseas institutions of higher education, Dr. Chaudhry can offer counsel associated with study abroad options.
Narda Quigley, PhD
narda.quigley@villanova.edu
(610) 519-8069
Room 2081
Narda Quigley is an associate professor of Management and Chair of the Department of Management and Operations here at VSB. After graduating with an undergraduate degree in economics and international relations from the University of Pennsylvania, she attained her Ph.D. in organizational behavior from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland, College Park. She began teaching at Villanova in 2004. Narda is happy to talk with students as they explore their own career possibilities and can share the details of her own academic journey. She can also provide more specific information about what academic careers are like, the doctoral program search and application process, and what it is like to transition from being an undergraduate to a doctoral student (from academic, social, and financial perspectives). She is also happy to talk about issues of work-life-family balance across different kinds of careers.
Narda Quigley, PhD
narda.quigley@villanova.edu
(610) 519-8069
Room 2081
Narda Quigley is an associate professor of Management and Chair of the Department of Management and Operations here at VSB. After graduating with an undergraduate degree in economics and international relations from the University of Pennsylvania, she attained her Ph.D. in organizational behavior from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland, College Park. She began teaching at Villanova in 2004. Narda is happy to talk with students as they explore their own career possibilities and can share the details of her own academic journey. She can also provide more specific information about what academic careers are like, the doctoral program search and application process, and what it is like to transition from being an undergraduate to a doctoral student (from academic, social, and financial perspectives). She is also happy to talk about issues of work-life-family balance across different kinds of careers.
Holly Slay Ferraro, Ph.D.
holly.ferraro@villanova.edu
Ward Utter
ward.utter@villanova.edu
(610) 519-5733
Room 2075
Professor Utter teaches management classes for undergraduate and graduate students. Prior to teaching, he worked in a variety of industries and functions. He began his career at Strategic Planning Associates as a management consultant. He went on to hold management and marketing positions at Chef America (Hot Pockets), Mrs. Fields Cookies, and an internet start-up company. His experience includes work in the food, utilities, housewares, and textiles industries.
Bret Myers, PhD
bret.myers@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4069
Room 2092
Dr. Myers’involvement in the field of Sports Analytics is three-fold through teaching, research, and consulting. Beginning in 2011, he created a course in Sports Analytics in the MBA program and also developed a module within an advanced applications course for the MS program in Analytics. On the research side, Bret has published related articles in peer-reviewed academic journals and have also received mentions in the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, and Sports Illustrated. Additionally, Dr. Myers has served continually as an Analytics Consultant to professional soccer teams since 2013, advising these organizations how to build an analytics department, formulate strategic objectives, and also partake in special projects for key decision-makers. One of his biggest joys is to share these experiences with students and help mentor them to find opportunities in the field.
Sohail Chaudhry, PhD
sohail.chaudhry@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4369
Room 3076
Dr. Chaudhry received his Ph.D. in industrial engineering and operations research from Columbia University. In addition, he has a B.Sc. in mechanical engineering from Mosul University, Iraq and a M.S. in industrial and management engineering from Columbia University. He has published more than sixty refereed journal articles which have focused on many different aspects of the supply chain management in enterprises. His teaching interests are in the areas of operations and supply chain management. During his career, Professor Chaudhry has taught several different courses including operations management, business statistics, management and control of quality, and engineering economy. In addition, he has taught at a number of universities in the USA as well as internationally in Beijing, China; Copenhagen, Denmark; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Oestrich-Winkel, Germany; Seoul, Korea; Sousse, Tunisia; and Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Chaudhry is available as a resource for students who are interested in seeking academic guidance in the fields of operations and supply chain management and quality management as well as graduate school opportunities and general career advice. In addition, based on his extensive international academic assignments and personal global engagements with overseas institutions of higher education, Dr. Chaudhry can offer counsel associated with study abroad options.
Katie Iacocca, PhD
kathleen.iacocca@villanova.edu
(610) 519-7330
Room 3043
Dr. Iacocca specializations in Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management with a particular interest in the healthcare industry. She has taught courses including Introduction to Business Analytics, Supply Chain Management, Analytical Techniques, Operations Management, and Management Science. Topics of coverage include data mining, optimization, simulation, forecasting, and inventory management. Her research includes applications of these topics in the healthcare industry and optimization across the supply chain. Dr. Iacocca also collaborates with companies to help them manage their supply chain through analytical techniques. Such companies include Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and Lehigh Valley Hospital.
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Sue Metzger
sue.metzger@villanova.edu
(610) 519-8064
Room 2047
Sue McFarland Metzger is an Instructor of Management Information Systems at Villanova University. Prior to Villanova, she was a Director of Global Support for SAP America, managing teams and processes that provided large scale, global support to critical customer situations. She received her MS in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and undergraduate degree from Bucknell University. At Villanova’s School of Business, she teaches courses ranging from strategic information technology to CRM and ERP, mobile application development and engineering entrepreneurship. Sue has recently spearheaded the VU Women in Tech initiative that hosts events for students, faculty, staff and alumni to share experiences leading with technology, highlight opportunities for women to innovate with technology, and motivate those who hesitate. Because of Sue’s industry experiences, she provides career counseling to students interested in technology-based careers. In addition to teaching at VSB, Sue also teaches some for Engineering Entrepreneurship as well as Computing Sciences. Therefore, if you are looking for a Computer Science minor or perhaps are an engineer at VSB for a minor, Sue may be a good resource for you.
Bill Wagner, PhD
william.wagner@villanova.edu
(610) 519-6446
Room 3075
Dr. Wagner has been a professor of Information Systems at Villanova University since 1991. He received his Ph.D. in MIS from the University of Kentucky in 1992. While at Villanova he has developed over 30 new MIS courses, including “Enterprise Systems”, “Mobile Application Development” and “IT for Church Management.” He has co-authored three books and over 35 journal articles in IT-related fields. In 2004 he was identified as an “industry thought leader” by SAP. Recently (2015), he was the recipient of the Meyer award for Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship and was a co-winner of the 2011 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers’ award for Excellence. He is the coordinator for the SAP University Alliance and has helped many students get started in IT consulting careers. He has been involved in several startups and was CTO of a mobile application development firm. He has supervised dozens of graduate and undergraduate independent studies, and many of his students have successfully pursued advanced graduate degrees.
Steve Andriole, PhD
stephen.andriole@villanova.edu
(610) 519-5913
Room 3055
Thomas G. Labrecque Professor Business Technology Business Technology Management, Consulting, Innovation & Entrepreneurialism I have experience in the corporate and academic worlds through senior positions in several companies and as a full professor at three universities. I have founded several companies and research centers. I have participated in the Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) of eleven companies. I have consulted for Fortune 100 companies and numerous start-ups. I sit on boards of directors. I am an active angel investor. I have published thirty-five books on technology, technology management, consulting, innovation, analytical methodology and technology due diligence. I am available to discuss career opportunities in specific vertical industries (especially technology, insurance, financial services and healthcare), technology, consulting and education.
Timothy Ay
timothy.ay@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4412
Timothy Ay is a veteran IT executive with deep experience in higher education and non-profit organizations. He has demonstrated expertise in analyzing, designing, developing, and integrating, new technologies to meet established business needs and strategic initiatives. In his current role, as the Director of Higher Ed Solutions for roundCorner, he leads a team that assists organizations (predominately non-profit/Higher Ed) migrating legacy applications to the Salesforce platform by providing strategy, guidance, and expertise with respect to business process, data migration, real time integration, and data analytics. In his former role as the CTO of Villanova University, he specialized in aligning technology with business strategy, enterprise architecture, disaster recovery, security, and network and communications systems. His responsibilities included deploying cloud technologies within the University's infrastructure, development of enterprise IT disaster recovery plans, and the design and implementation of the campus wide network. He is experienced in smart card technologies and access systems, VOIP, and converged network architecture and technologies. As a technologist and a faculty member, Mr. Ay is experienced in a wide variety of educational technologies including eTextbooks, learning management platforms, collaboration tools, and teaching/content delivery technologies.
Q Chung, PhD
q.chung@villanova.edu
(610) 519-7858
Room 3089
Originally from Korea, Dr. Chung is an MIS professor teaching VSB 2006 (Strategic Information Technology), MIS 2030 (Database Management), and other advanced graduate courses. He provides academic advice with regard to majors and minors, curriculum overview, course selection, and study abroad. Students can also meet with Dr. Chung to discuss post-college career, long-term career planning, and of course to talk about life.
Keith Wright
keith.wright@villanova.edu
(610) 519-8535
Room 3055
Keith Wright is an accomplished academic and senior executive, adept communicator, and proven consensus builder. After ten years teaching Computer Science, Keith moved into the Corporate world, specifically Enterprise Software sales and professional services. Keith became known for his extensive experience and success in global fortune 500 Software sales and implementation experience. During 15 years in the Software industry, Keith had the opportunity to get involved in the launch of several Tech start-ups and continues launching new ventures to the present day, while teaching IT full time at Villanova. Keith is currently teaching MIS classes, specifically IT strategy at the Graduate and Undergraduate levels. His latest start-up ventures include “Eat Like A Woman” plant based bars, shakes and Happy Cookies as well as “Aerotrax LLC,” a Blockchain based Portal for the sourcing and sale of used Aircraft parts. Keith continues to write for CNBC and TechCrunch on Tech trends including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Algorithms.
Janice Sipior, PhD
janice.sipior@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4347
Room 3047
Janice C. Sipior, Ph.D., Professor of MIS, has undertaken extensive research addressing ethical and legal considerations associated with information systems and managing risks. She has published on topics such as bring your own device (BYOD); internet jurisdiction for e-commerce and cloud computing; benefits and risks of social business; privacy concerns associated with smartphone use, email, and online presence; e-discovery; and e-commerce sales and use tax. She served on the Association for Computing Machinery’s (ACM) Code of Ethics Update Task Force.
Sue Metzger
sue.metzger@villanova.edu
(610) 519-8064
Room 2047
Sue McFarland Metzger is an Instructor of Management Information Systems at Villanova University. Prior to Villanova, she was a Director of Global Support for SAP America, managing teams and processes that provided large scale, global support to critical customer situations. She received her MS in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and undergraduate degree from Bucknell University. At Villanova’s School of Business, she teaches courses ranging from strategic information technology to CRM and ERP, mobile application development and engineering entrepreneurship. Sue has recently spearheaded the VU Women in Tech initiative that hosts events for students, faculty, staff and alumni to share experiences leading with technology, highlight opportunities for women to innovate with technology, and motivate those who hesitate. Because of Sue’s industry experiences, she provides career counseling to students interested in technology-based careers. In addition to teaching at VSB, Sue also teaches some for Engineering Entrepreneurship as well as Computing Sciences. Therefore, if you are looking for a Computer Science minor or perhaps are an engineer at VSB for a minor, Sue may be a good resource for you.
William Wagner, PhD
william.wagner@villanova.edu
(610) 519-6446
Room 3075
Dr. Wagner has been a professor of Information Systems at Villanova University since 1991. He received his Ph.D. in MIS from the University of Kentucky in 1992. While at Villanova he has developed over 30 new MIS courses, including “Enterprise Systems”, “Mobile Application Development” and “IT for Church Management.” He has co-authored three books and over 35 journal articles in IT-related fields. In 2004 he was identified as an “industry thought leader” by SAP. Recently (2015), he was the recipient of the Meyer award for Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship and was a co-winner of the 2011 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers’ award for Excellence. He is the coordinator for the SAP University Alliance and has helped many students get started in IT consulting careers. He has been involved in several startups and was CTO of a mobile application development firm. He has supervised dozens of graduate and undergraduate independent studies, and many of his students have successfully pursued advanced graduate degrees.
MARKETING & BUSINESS LAW FACULTY MENTORS
Julie Pirsch, PhD
julie.pirsch@villanova.edu
(610) 519-5967
Room 3063
Julie Pirsch can provide assistance in connecting with opportunities in entry level marketing positions, fashion marketing, and marketing analytics. Her business experience is in consumer facing products in new product introduction and general marketing. She teaches Marketing Analytics at VSB, and through this work has learned about and made connections in this fast-evolving area. Through market u and other industry events, she has also gathered information on entry-level marketing positions in the fashion world.
Matthew Sarkees, PhD
matthew.sarkees@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4459
Dr. Sarkees earned a BS in Accounting from Seton Hall University, his MBA from VSB in 1998 and his PhD in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Professionally, he has served in multiple positions including Assistant Professor, Marketing at the College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University, and Associate Professor, Marketing & Interim Chair for St. Joseph's University’s Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing Department. Prior to his career in academia, Dr. Sarkees worked in management and marketing roles, including consulting positions at EY and IBM Global Services. He is currently a Professor and Department Chair in Marketing & Business Law. Students are always welcome to stop by and talk about marketing, careers, or anything else that is on their minds.
Matthew Sarkees, PhD
matthew.sarkees@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4459
Dr. Sarkees earned a BS in Accounting from Seton Hall University, his MBA from VSB in 1998 and his PhD in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Professionally, he has served in multiple positions including Assistant Professor, Marketing at the College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University, and Associate Professor, Marketing & Interim Chair for St. Joseph's University’s Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing Department. Prior to his career in academia, Dr. Sarkees worked in management and marketing roles, including consulting positions at EY and IBM Global Services. He is currently a Professor and Department Chair in Marketing & Business Law. Students are always welcome to stop by and talk about marketing, careers, or anything else that is on their minds.
Beth Vallen, PhD
beth.vallen@villanova.edu
(610) 519-8545
Room 3023
Beth Vallen is an Associate Professor of Marketing. Prior to completing her Ph.D. she worked as a consultant in the financial services industry. At Villanova, she has taught Competitive Effectiveness, Buyer Behavior, and Integrated Marketing Campaigns. Dr. Vallen’s research explores consumer decision making, with a focus on choices that impact health and wellness. Her work has been published in the Journal of Consumer Research, the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, and Appetite.
Tyler Milfield
Charles R. Taylor, PhD
raymond.taylor@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4386
Room 2053
My main research areas of interest are international marketing and advertising. I’ve taught and do research in these areas. I also have served as the President of the American Academy of Advertising and done consulting for several firms. I have taught courses in South Korea, Germany, China, and Austria and given guest lectures in several other countries.
Timothy McCulloch
timothy.mcculloch@villanova.edu
After graduating from Clemson University with a BA ('06) in Political Science, Tim McCulloch worked for IKON Office Solutions in Charlotte, North Carolina where he rapidly secured new clients in a customer-facing sales position. After significantly growing his territory and valuing IKON's comprehensive sales training program (#1 ranking by Sales Training Magazine) McCulloch moved into sports marketing where he managed and sold Corporate Partnerships for ISP Sports (IMG) and Comcast SportsNet (NBC Sports). He enrolled in Villanova's part-time MBA program in August of 2012. While completing his MBA ('14, Marketing), McCulloch launched his marketing consultancy which he still operates today, Corporate Partnership Strategies, LLC. Formed in 2013, McCulloch consults select clients to take control their brand marketing, develop strategic marketing partnerships and enhance revenues through sales training.
In January 2018, McCulloch began teaching Professional Selling in the Villanova School of Business with a curriculum based on real-world sales experiences. Today he is a Business Fellow & Visiting Instructor in the Marketing & Business Law Department.
Please contact Professor McCulloch to discuss careers in business development, sales, marketing, interviewing strategies, team sales competitions and to learn more about VSB's Business Development Concentration.
Matthew Sarkees, PhD
matthew.sarkees@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4459
Dr. Sarkees earned a BS in Accounting from Seton Hall University, his MBA from VSB in 1998 and his PhD in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Professionally, he has served in multiple positions including Assistant Professor, Marketing at the College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University, and Associate Professor, Marketing & Interim Chair for St. Joseph's University’s Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing Department. Prior to his career in academia, Dr. Sarkees worked in management and marketing roles, including consulting positions at EY and IBM Global Services. He is currently a Professor and Department Chair in Marketing & Business Law. Students are always welcome to stop by and talk about marketing, careers, or anything else that is on their minds.
Matthew Sarkees, PhD
matthew.sarkees@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4459
Dr. Sarkees earned a BS in Accounting from Seton Hall University, his MBA from VSB in 1998 and his PhD in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Professionally, he has served in multiple positions including Assistant Professor, Marketing at the College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University, and Associate Professor, Marketing & Interim Chair for St. Joseph's University’s Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing Department. Prior to his career in academia, Dr. Sarkees worked in management and marketing roles, including consulting positions at EY and IBM Global Services. He is currently a Professor and Department Chair in Marketing & Business Law. Students are always welcome to stop by and talk about marketing, careers, or anything else that is on their minds.
Rishtee Batra, PhD
rishtee.batra@villanova.edu
Dr. Batra was based in Asia-Pacific for 6 years, where she built up and expertise in international marketing, with a focus on brand management and market entry into emerging markets.
During her time in the Asia-Pacific region, Dr. Batra engaged in a variety of consulting projects, ranging from distribution of medical devices to marketing of fashion brands. Her research largely focuses on issues related to cross-cultural marketing, including cross-national differences in CSR practices and cultural differences in conspicuous consumption.
Shelly Rathee, PhD
shelly.rathee@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4167
Shelly Rathee earned a doctoral degree in Business Administration from the University of Utah after graduating from the Delhi University (India) with a MS in Business (Masters in Commerce or M. Com). A large part of her research focuses on understanding customer perceptions, meaning how individual interprets the surroundings, and how this interpretation affects consumer behavior. Methodologically, she uses large scale field studies, randomized trials, and marketing analytical tools (text analysis, penalized regression) to test marketing phenomenon and theories. Professionally, she has served as a Lecturer, Marketing at the Times Business School in New Delhi (India) and as a Teaching Associate, Marketing at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad (IIMA, India). Prior to her career in academia, Shelly spent nearly three years in retail and merchandising roles, including positions at Target Sourcing Services (for Target Stores) and Planet Retail Group (for Debenhams Store). She joins VSB’s faculty as the Marketing & Business Law Assistant Professor.
Rishtee Batra, PhD
rishtee.batra@villanova.edu
Dr. Batra was based in Asia-Pacific for 6 years, where she built up and expertise in international marketing, with a focus on brand management and market entry into emerging markets.
During her time in the Asia-Pacific region, Dr. Batra engaged in a variety of consulting projects, ranging from distribution of medical devices to marketing of fashion brands. Her research largely focuses on issues related to cross-cultural marketing, including cross-national differences in CSR practices and cultural differences in conspicuous consumption.
Charles R. Taylor, PhD
raymond.taylor@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4386
Room 2053
My main research areas of interest are international marketing and advertising. I’ve taught and do research in these areas. I also have served as the President of the American Academy of Advertising and done consulting for several firms. I have taught courses in South Korea, Germany, China, and Austria and given guest lectures in several other countries.
Shelly Rathee, PhD
shelly.rathee@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4167
Shelly Rathee earned a doctoral degree in Business Administration from the University of Utah after graduating from the Delhi University (India) with a MS in Business (Masters in Commerce or M. Com). A large part of her research focuses on understanding customer perceptions, meaning how individual interprets the surroundings, and how this interpretation affects consumer behavior. Methodologically, she uses large scale field studies, randomized trials, and marketing analytical tools (text analysis, penalized regression) to test marketing phenomenon and theories. Professionally, she has served as a Lecturer, Marketing at the Times Business School in New Delhi (India) and as a Teaching Associate, Marketing at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad (IIMA, India). Prior to her career in academia, Shelly spent nearly three years in retail and merchandising roles, including positions at Target Sourcing Services (for Target Stores) and Planet Retail Group (for Debenhams Store). She joins VSB’s faculty as the Marketing & Business Law Assistant Professor.
Matthew Sarkees, PhD
matthew.sarkees@villanova.edu
(610) 519-4459
Dr. Sarkees earned a BS in Accounting from Seton Hall University, his MBA from VSB in 1998 and his PhD in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Professionally, he has served in multiple positions including Assistant Professor, Marketing at the College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University, and Associate Professor, Marketing & Interim Chair for St. Joseph's University’s Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing Department. Prior to his career in academia, Dr. Sarkees worked in management and marketing roles, including consulting positions at EY and IBM Global Services. He is currently a Professor and Department Chair in Marketing & Business Law. Students are always welcome to stop by and talk about marketing, careers, or anything else that is on their minds.
Aronté Bennett, PhD
aronte.bennett@villanova.edu
(610) 519-6432
Room 3007
Dr. Aronté Bennett is an Associate Professor of Marketing. Prior to completing her Ph.D. she worked in the marketing research departments of advertising and consumer package good firms. On campus, she offers courses in market research and consumer behavior at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Dr. Bennett is also an active researcher. The content of her courses is informed by her research endeavors and vice versa. Her research focuses on marketplace access, brand image and corporate social responsibility. Her work has been published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing and the International Marketing Review.
Full Bio
Tyler Milfield
Jeremy Kees, PhD
jeremy.kees@villanova.edu
(610) 519-6145
Room 3006
Dr. Kees is a former Division I athlete and has a passion for sports and sports marketing. He currently serves as Villanova's Faculty Athletics Representative and works closely with the Villanova sports marketing team. In addition, Dr. Kees can help students connect with Villanova alumni working in sports marketing.
Julie Pirsch, PhD
julie.pirsch@villanova.edu
(610) 519-5967
Room 3063
Julie Pirsch can provide assistance in connecting with opportunities in entry level marketing positions, fashion marketing, and marketing analytics. Her business experience is in consumer facing products in new product introduction and general marketing. She teaches Marketing Analytics at VSB, and through this work has learned about and made connections in this fast-evolving area. Through market u and other industry events, she has also gathered information on entry-level marketing positions in the fashion world.
Jeanne Liedtka
jeanne.liedtka@villanova.edu
(610) 519-6067
Room 3057
I have been teaching and advising undergraduate business students on law schools and legal careers since 2001. My legal experience includes cases involving contracts, civil rights, insurance, class actions, constitutional law, tax and administrative agency regulation.
REAL ESTATE FACULTY MENTORS
Charles Davidson
charles.davidson@villanova.edu
(610) 519-5911
Room 3004
Charles Davidson comes to Villanova with a diverse commercial real estate background: 27 years as a real estate professional in investment management, consulting and brokerage, 14 years in public service serving on the Lower Merion Township planning commission and zoning hearing board and 7 years teaching commercial real estate investment courses at Villanova University. He is especially interested in working with his students to help them clarify their career objectives as they consider a path in commercial real estate.
Shawn Howton, PhD
shawn.howton@villanova.edu
(610) 519-5638
Room 3011
Dr. Howton received his BS and MBA at Southern Illinois University and his PhD at Florida State University. His dissertation was on how and why firms use derivate securities. He began his career at Drexel University in 1997 and moved to Villanova School of Business in the fall of 1999. Dr. Howton has taught and designed courses at the undergraduate, MBA and MSF level. Courses designed include fixed income markets, derivatives, structured products, and real estate investment, development, and capital markets. His research interests include financing decisions of Real Estate Investment Trusts, corporate governance, derivative securities, and structured products. Dr. Howton has published 28 articles in refereed journals including Real Estate Economics, Journal of Management, Business Ethics Quarterly, Financial Management, Journal of Financial Research, Financial Review, Journal of Derivatives, Real Estate Portfolio Management, and Briefings in Real Estate Finance. Dr. Howton serves as an ad hoc reviewer for more than a dozen journals including the Journal of Real Estate Research, Journal of Real Estate Economics and Finance and the Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management