VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY NEWS
Rev. David Cregan, OSA, PhD, Appointed Dean of the College of Professional Studies
Villanova University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 CLAS, announced the appointment of the Rev. David Cregan, OSA, PhD, ’89 CLAS, as Dean of the College of Professional Studies (CPS), effective August 1. A member of Villanova’s faculty since 2004, Father Cregan has extensive experience in academic leadership roles and currently serves as associate dean of Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives for the College of Professional Studies.
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VILLANOVA IN THE NEWS
CNN
Astronomers Spot an Interstellar Object Zipping Through Our Solar System
July 3, 2025 - “Objects bound to the sun — denizens of our solar system — take paths around it that return to the same point,” said Teddy Kareta, an assistant professor at Villanova University. “The Earth’s orbit is mostly circular, Pluto’s orbit is a stretched oval, and many comets are very highly ‘eccentric’ — their orbits are very long and narrow ellipses. This object’s path through the solar system is very nearly a straight line.”
Women's Health
What is Water Weight, Anyway? Causes and How to Manage It
July 3, 2025 - In short, water weight gain is not dangerous or unhealthy. The body is made up of a large percentage of water, and our kidneys help to keep it in equilibrium, says Lisa Diewald, associate director of the MacDonald Center for Nutrition Education and Research at Villanova University. “There's a natural plus or minus factor that goes into play,” she says.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Philly Fans Say a WNBA Team is 'Very Long Overdue'
June 30, 2025 - The announcement that Philadelphia would be getting a WNBA franchise was as unexpected as it was welcomed for Terri Boyer, founder of the Anne Welsh McNulty Institute for Women’s Leadership at basketball powerhouse Villanova. “There’s been such a change in the way we engage with women and girls in sports,” she said. “You’re just seeing this explosion of interest.”
Miami Herald
With More Intense Hurricanes, Do We Also Have to Prepare for More Tornadoes in Florida?
June 29, 2025 - We know that the warming climate, driven largely by fossil fuel emissions, is intensifying hurricanes. But what about tornadoes? To answer our readers' questions on the links between climate change and tornadoes and how we can improve safety, the Herald spoke to hazards geographer Stephen Strader... He researches tornadoes at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where he's an associate professor of geography and the environment and geography program director.
Popular Mechanics
To Hide Top-Secret Weapons, the Pentagon Planted Myths About UFOs at Area 51—Then Things Spun Out of Control
June 27, 2025 - The U.S. government perpetuated myths about UFOs at Area 51, according to an exposé from The Wall Street Journal... So, why did these extraterrestrial myths spread so effectively among pedestrians and Air Force personnel? Perhaps it was human connection, explains Derek Arnold, an expert on conspiracy theory rhetoric and a professor at Villanova University. "We love a good story, and stories are such a big part of how conspiracy theories get transmitted."
Forbes
Five Below Solves AI Strategy With 4 Smart Steps
June 25, 2025 - "Too many see AI, at best, as an efficiency tool to fix today, rather than a transformative force to shape and ensure an enterprise's future. Impressively, trendy discount retailer Five Below exemplifies the latter as it chases its mission to be 'the cool store for kids, the yes store for parents'"... Noah Barsky is a professor in executive and graduate business programs at the Villanova University School of Business
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VILLANOVA MAGAZINE
Celebrating the launch of Espiritus Nova: The Campaign for Villanova University
What's the Big Deal About Microplastics
Villanova experts discuss the impact that small—and sometimes imperceptible—pieces of plastic are having on our planet