MPA Student Wins 2025 Villanova Three Minute Thesis Competition
Nika Kirillova took first place for her presentation “Leading Against the Odds: Women’s Leadership Challenges and Strategies in the Nonprofit Sector.”
Nika Kirillova (left) took first place at the 2025 Villanova 3MT Competition, and Valerie Lallo took second place and won the People's Choice award.
VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova University Master of Public Administration (MPA) student Nika Kirillova took first place in the University's Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition on February 21 in the Mullen Center for the Performing Arts for her presentation “Leading Against the Odds: Women’s Leadership Challenges and Strategies in the Nonprofit Sector.” Kirillova advances to the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools regional competition on Friday, April 25.
Villanova's 3MT Competition was hosted by the Center for Graduate Research and Education, and the 12 finalists represented graduate students from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering and the Charles Widger School of Law.
3MT is a competition for master’s and doctoral students to cultivate their academic, professional, presentation and research communication skills. To be successful, competitors must effectively explain their research in three minutes, in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
The Villanova competition highlighted the diverse research interests of its graduate community and the skill with which its students can articulate their study of complex topics.
“3MT showcases the high-level research being done by our graduate students and demonstrates their key contributions to the academic enterprise of the University," said Michael Westrate, PhD, Assistant Vice Provost for Graduate Research and Education and emcee for the event. "All of our contestants deserve kudos for putting in the time and effort to prepare for this competition. Well done, all of you. Thanks to our distinguished judges; thanks to the fabulous team in the Mullen Center; and thanks to the outstanding volunteers and folks from the Grad Center. This event could not happen without all of you. This is Villanova where we do things by community, and it makes great events like this.”
Valerie Lallo, a Chemical and Biological Engineering PhD student in the College of Engineering, took second place and won the People's Choice Award for her presentation, “Creating a Drug Delivery System for Reducing Inflammation in Kidney Transplants.”
Judges for the event included:
- Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, University President
- Amanda Grannas, PhD, Vice Provost for Research, Chief Research Officer
- Manuel Nunez, Associate Dean, Graduate Programs, Villanova School of Business
- Michael Risch, JD, Vice Dean, Charles Widger School of Law
- Mary Terhaar, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing
- Maggie Wang, PhD, Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
- Emory Woodard, PhD, Dean of Graduate Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
3MT Contestants
Nicholas Ashenfelter, MS in Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
“Breaking the Mold: Sexuality Without Sex”
Madison Battinelli, MS in Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
“Get Your Sleep and Shut Up About it: Perceptions of Status-striving Sleep Deprivation in the Workplace”
Md Samiul Islam Borno, PhD Engineering, College of Engineering
“Powering Connectivity: Revolutionizing RF Amplifiers for a Greener, Smarter, Telecom World”
Julianna Chen, MA in Education, Teacher Leadership, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
“Books as Mirrors for Multiracial Children? Exploring Multiracial Identity Development Through Representation in Children’s Literature”
Shaghayegh Fereidounfar, PhD in Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
“MC Simulation on Brain”
Joe Harmar, Juris Doctor, Charles Widger School of Law
“Get Your Act Together: The Alternative Fines Act in Federal Prosecutions of Corporate Environmental Crimes”
Jenna Hassebrock, MS in Environmental Science, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
“Impact of Land Management Practices on Long-term Nitrate Export in Exurban and Suburban Watersheds”
Tyra Johnson, MS in Human Resource Development, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
“Exploring The Dynamics of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Practices: Insights From DEI Practitioners”
Nika Kirillova, Master of Public Administration, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
“Leading Against the Odds: Women’s Leadership Challenges and Strategies in the Nonprofit Sector”
Valerie Lallo, PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering
“Creating a Drug Delivery System for Reducing Inflammation in Kidney Transplants”
Shashwat Maharjan, PhD in Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
“Designing Adhesive Interfaces for Superior Bond Strength: A Bioinspired Approach”
Ailie Posillico, PhD in Theology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
“Wonderful Lament: The Letter, the Saint and other Models of Personhood in Medieval Christianity”
Villanova 3MT Winner 2025
Master of Public Administration (MPA) student Nika Kirillova took first place in the Villanova's 2025 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition for her presentation “Leading Against the Odds: Women’s Leadership Challenges and Strategies in the Nonprofit Sector.” Learn more.
Villanova 3MT Winner 2024
Graduate biology student Claire Jones took first place in Villanova's Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition for their presentation, “How do chickadees communicate about the presence and absence of food?” Learn more.
Villanova 3MT Winner 2023
Graduate chemistry student Eliana Uriona took first place in Villanova's 2023 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition for her presentation, "Optimizing Biochar Conditions for Heavy Metal Immobilization in Contaminated Soils." Learn more.
Villanova 3MT Winner 2022
Graduate psychology student Sam Sinemus took first place in Villanova's 2022 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition for his presentation, "The Impact of Modeling Mental States on Goal-Directed Conversations."
Villanova 3MT Winner 2021
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