GRADUATE STUDENT ORIENTATION
The Fall 2024 Graduate Student Orientation was held on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 6 p.m.. This live, virtual event was hosted by the Villanova University Center for Graduate Research and Education (Grad Center) and the graduate deans in the College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Nursing and Villanova School of Business. The event featured presentations from key University leaders who welcomed incoming graduate students and introduced important resources for graduate study at Villanova. All graduate students were cordially invited to our university-wide Graduate Student Community Kick-Off Picnic on Friday, September 6, 2024, from 4-7 p.m.
For incoming students in the Spring 2025 semester, the Grad Center is pleased to offer robust orientation programming. A live, virtual orientation will take place on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 6 p.m. EST followed by an in-person Grad Student Open House on Friday, January 17, 2025 from 2-4 p.m., followed by a Grad Student Happy Hour. Additional details will be communicated to all incoming students by email.
Fully funded Graduate Assistants and all international graduate students are required to attend additional orientation programming. For details, see the box at the right, and please pay close attention to emails from the Center for Graduate Research and Education.
ORIENTATION PRESENTATIONS
UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP
Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 CLAS
University President
The President is elected by and responsible to the Board of Trustees of Villanova University. He serves as the executive head of the University and is responsible for the general direction of its affairs. The President is guided by the Mission Statement of the University and the By-Laws of the Board of Trustees. Learn more.
Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD
Provost
The Provost is the Chief Academic Officer and second-ranking officer of the University, overseeing all academic areas. The Provost fosters creative and innovative approaches to enhance Villanova’s educational offerings, research productivity and intellectual climate. Learn more.
Michael T. Westrate, PhD
Assistant Vice Provost, Graduate Research and Education
The Center for Graduate Research and Education (Grad Center) is committed to supporting the excellence of graduate education and our work is centered on enhancing the graduate student experience at Villanova. Learn more.
COMMUNITY AND MISSION
Rev. Arthur Purcaro, OSA
Assistant Vice President, Mission and Ministry
The Office for Mission & Ministry animates Villanova’s commitment to living out its mission in every facet of University life. Learn more.
Ariella Robbins
Interim Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity, equity and inclusion are integral components of the teaching and learning experience and an essential element of the ongoing intellectual, social and spiritual development of every member of the Villanova community. Learn more.
Ryan Rost
Title IX Coordinator
Villanova University complies with Title IX and has appointed Ms. Ryan Rost as its Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for overall Title IX compliance, including oversight of the University’s centralized review, investigation, and resolution process for matters arising under the University Sexual Misconduct Policy. Learn more.
RESEARCH
Amanda M. Grannas, PhD
Vice Provost for Research
The Associate Vice Provost for Research serves as an advocate for Villanova scholarship and supports the research and creative endeavors of our dedicated and distinguished faculty and our talented students. Learn more.
Catherine Stecyk
Director, Center for Research and Fellowships
The Center for Research and Fellowships (CRF) supports Villanovans to enhance their career trajectories through mentoring, student research funding and assistance in winning competitive awards. Learn more.
Jutta Siebert
Director of Research Services and Scholarly Engagement, Falvey Library
Falvey Library supports research, teaching and learning at Villanova while advancing global scholarship and the common good in collaboration with its community and partners. Learn more.
STUDENT SUPPORT
Mary E. McGonigle, MD
Director, Villanova University Health Center
The Student Health Center provides a safe, caring, respectful and confidential environment and advocates healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices. Learn more.
Nathalie Edmond, PsyD
Executive Director
Julia Stein, PhD Associate Director, University Counseling Center
The University Counseling Center provides services that help students function optimally with regard to emotional, academic, social and psychological issues. Learn more.
Nicole Subik
Director, Learning Support Services
Learning Support Services offers students a variety of academic support services that are designed to help all Villanova students maximize their academic success. Learn more.
Meredith Okenquist Director, Career Management, Villanova University Career Center
The Career Center provides high quality, comprehensive career services, empowering members of the Villanova University community to choose and attain personally rewarding careers. Learn more.
UNIVERSITY RESOURCES
The Office of Access and Disability Services assists students living with a disability and provides academic and physical accommodations for registered students. Students living with a disability should visit the office in the Connelly Center (second floor) and present documentation regarding their disability. A personal interview and accommodation plan will be discussed and implemented at the time of registration of the disability accommodation request. Other services are available around enhanced technology and employment searches and networking.
Contact: Greg Hannah, Director
The Office of Belonging and Inclusion (OBI) seeks to provide support to underrepresented students on campus through one-on-one support, events and workshops. The OBI provides spaces for students to explore their identities and discuss how they are impacted by the environment or culture. The OBI provides a structure to support and advertise Heritage month activities, (e.g. Hispanic Heritage Month and Black History Month). The Office is eager to support other heritage month celebrations. The OBI seeks to make Villanova University a more inclusive community through events and training and collaboration with other university offices. The OBI works with other university offices to address bias-related incidents that occur for students.
Contact: Eloise Berry, Director
The Career Center's Career Management team serves graduate students, alumni and students in the College of Professional Studies with career resources and programming tailored to the experienced professional. All graduate students have access to Villanova’s career management platform Handshake, which hosts all incoming job opportunities, career resources and employer events. Career coaching is available for all graduate students on an individual basis with a masters-level career counselor. Industry advisors are specialists who act as liaisons between employers and students and have the most up-to-date industry expertise in the Career Center.
The Nova Network is Villanova’s social and professional network and home to nearly 20,000 alumni, students, faculty and staff. Grad students may search the community by company, city or industry of interest and directly connect for a networking meeting. Nova Network houses on-demand workshops and checklists on best practices on resume writing, LinkedIn, interviewing, offer negotiation and more.
Contact: Meredith Okenquist, Director
Villanova's Center for Research and Fellowships (CRF) ignites curiosity, exploration and discovery through student research programs, the Presidential Scholars Program and nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships. Through tailored professional development and advising, we equip students to become change-makers and transformative leaders.
Our advisers support Villanovans as they pursue their boldest ambitions and create the futures about which they dream.
Contact: Catherine Stecyk, Director
Villanova University’s Counseling Center offers talk therapy, consulting psychiatry services, mental health consultation for students, families, faculty and staff as clinically indicated, and education and outreach to our University community. During the current pandemic we have been offering telehealth services through confidential video conferencing. Our services are free and confidential. We are located in suite 206, in the Health Services Building. We can assist with the process of finding private, off-campus treatment with a licensed professional for those students who would benefit from more intensive or longer-term treatment. To make an appointment, please call our Center’s main number and leave a message with your name and phone number. Someone will call you back to help you to find a convenient appointment.
Contact: Julia Stein, PhD, Staff Psychologist and Associate Director
The virtual library is open 24/7. Building hours are subject to change. Visit the Library website for daily building access and service hours.
Electronic collections including books, journals and streaming video are available anytime anywhere. Print books can be requested online and picked up safely on campus. Scans of book chapters and excerpts from the print collection can be requested with the interlibrary loan form.
Access the Library’s collections through its online catalog. Catalog records include authorized links to electronic resources and automated requests for contactless pick-up of print resources.
Ask a Librarian is the Library’s gateway to its research services. Chat with us, schedule a virtual consultation, email your questions. You can work directly with a Library Subject Experts in your area. Request books, book chapters and journal articles that are not available in the Library’s collections from other libraries with the interlibrary loan form.
Contact: Jutta Seibert, Director of Research Services & Scholarly Engagement
The Office of Financial Assistance is located on the second floor of Kennedy Hall. Students are required to file for financial aid each academic year. Students can use financial aid to assist with books, transportation, living expenses and miscellaneous personal expenses. Financial aid counselors are available for one-on-one appointments to discuss financing.
Contact: Nathan Walch, Associate Director
Villanova Fitness and Recreation offers a variety of programs such as aquatics, club sports, group fitness, intramurals and personal training. The University has five fitness centers across campus (Arch, Canon, Davis, Farley and Stanford). Each is free for graduate students. The main fitness center is located on the third floor of the Davis Center.
Contact: Gina Palermo, Director
The Office of Health Promotion offers one-on-one consultation services regarding nutrition, fitness, stress management, sleep management, tobacco cessation and BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students). The office offers monthly activities, events and initiatives related to health and well-being; free online courses on mental health and well-being and prescription drug abuse; and mobile resources, including the Campus Well app for health and well-being resources and information and the SAVUR (Sexual Assault Villanova University Resource) app for campus and community resources and information related to sexual violence.
Contact: Stacy Andes, Director
We are mindful of continued internet security risks, including ransomware and phishing scams. The University works to protect you from these security risks, however, please be mindful of your online social media posts, followed content, and interactions with those you don’t know. For suspected phishing emails, click on “Report Message” in your Outlook Inbox Toolbar. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to UNIT at 610-519-7777 or via support.villanova.edu.
The Villanova Institute for Research and Scholarship supports graduate students in a number of ways, including: peer accountability writing groups for PhD students; access to the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity; online professional development resources and webinars for academics; and support for external funding proposals upon reccomendation of department chair, supervisor and/or the Center for Research and Fellowships.
Contact: Janice Bially Mattern, Director
The Office of International Students and Scholars offers a myriad of services to international students, including: immigration rights and responsibilities; educational, social and personal counseling; cultural adjustment issues; and campus and community activities.
Contact: Hubert WhanTong, Assistant Director
The Mathematics Learning and Resource Center (MLRC) provides free math and statistics peer tutoring for students at every level of study. Appointments will be offered mostly online this fall, with some limited face-to-face tutoring if deemed safe to do so. Appointments can be booked online.
Contact: Melissa Ferreira, Director
Villanova offers a number of services for students living in local townships, including lease assistance, issues you may be experiencing in the community, information on public transportation and local attractions, etc.
The Public Safety Department is responsible for providing a safe, secure living and learning environment for the Villanova University community. Operating 24/7/365, the department is the university’s first responders to emergency situations, including police, medical and fire calls.
On the website, you can sign up for Nova Alert to receive Emergency Notifications including severe weather closures; view the Emergency Procedures including a guidebook for various emergencies; and learn more about public safety services, safety escorts, anonymous reporting and crime reporting.
Contact: Debra Patch, Deputy Chief and Associate Director
Depending on the nature of your research, it may be subject to oversight by one of Villanova's regulatory compliance committees. The Office of Research Protections (ORP) works with students, faculty members, University administration, regulators and inspectors to help everyone at Villanova perform ethical and compliant research. We all have a personal responsibility to ensure that Villanova research is conducted safely, ethically and with the rights and welfare of subjects in mind. ORP staff are knowledgeable regarding regulations and institutional policies. We are experts in compliance so that you don’t have to be! Feel free to reach out to us as you begin planning your study to determine if any regulatory committee review is necessary - we are here to help.
Villanova University offers a number of paid positions for graduate students. You can apply online to available positions at jobs.villanova.edu. If selected for hire, you will be contacted about onboarding requirements necessary to complete prior to beginning work. See FAQs about student employment and the Student's Guide to Employment on the Human Resources website.
Contact: student.empl@villanova.edu
UNIT's Technology Support Services team serves as the primary point of contact assisting in computing and technology related needs. UNIT's Technology Support Services is committed to providing high quality customer service and techncal support to the Villanova community.
Villanova's Wildcard community card system allows convenient, efficient, mobile and secure access to all card-related services. These services include personal identification, facilities access and access monitoring, debit transactions processing, meal plan administration, banking relationship management, student printing allowance, and web-based and mobile transaction processing. The Wildcard is universally accepted on campus and at selected off-campus locations. Photos can be submitted online.
Contact: Kathy Gallagher, Director
The Villanova Writing Center offers 60 trained tutors, including six professional tutors, to work with you at any stage of the writing process. We can brainstorm, sketch outlines, draw roadmaps, read rough drafts, and help you tighten and perfect those final drafts. We provide more than 5,500 tutorials each academic year, so we encourage you to book your appointment far in advance. You can also schedule a series of sessions with the same professional tutor to maintain consistency. We believe in the work we do with our students and pride ourselves on creating an open, honest, productive and fun experience.
Contact: Mary Beth Simmons, Director