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Office of the President

A Message from the President: August 2023

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August 23, 2023

Dear Members of the Villanova Community,

I always look forward to the start of each academic year as it brings new faces, new stories and new experiences to the Villanova community. So, it is with great pleasure that I welcome our new and returning students, faculty and staff.

Once again, our picturesque campus is full of energy and enthusiasm as we welcome our returning students and the Class of 2027, joining us from 46 states and 24 countries. The Orientation and Move-In process was extremely well-organized and emotive, so I offer my sincere appreciation to the countless members of our community who played a part in welcoming our new and returning students.

As we look forward to the fall semester, I am happy to provide the following updates and announcements:

Opening Address to the Villanova Community – Thursday, August 31
Please join me for my annual Opening Address to the Villanova community, on Thursday, Aug. 31, at 3 p.m. in the Villanova Room of the Connelly Center. This event is a wonderful way for our entire community—students, faculty and staff—to mark the beginning of the academic year, hear campus and Strategic Plan updates and discuss upcoming initiatives for 2023-24. I also plan to address questions related to our agreement with Cabrini, which I announced at the end of June.

Chief Sustainability Officer

I am pleased to share that the Rev. John Abubakar, OSA, PhD, has been named Chief Sustainability Officer at Villanova, effective immediately. In this role, Fr. John will serve as the chair of the Sustainability Leadership Council (SLC), the campus group overseeing Villanova’s sustainability initiatives, and endeavor to establish an ethos of sustainability in our University community by advancing Villanova’s sustainability plan. He will also promote sustainability engagement through educational opportunities and provide expertise and guidance for sustainability planning, design and operations. Fr. John joins us from the Nigerian Augustinian Province, where he was ordained in 2004.

Transformation of Campus

Each summer, the Office of Facilities Management undertakes numerous projects to ensure that every inch of campus, from landscaping and hardscaping to small renovations and new construction, is looking its best. On behalf of everyone at Villanova, thank you to the staff in Facilities Management for their remarkable efforts over the summer.

The following is a sampling of the work in preparation for the 2023-24 academic year.

  • Progress continues at the Center for Engineering Education and Research (CEER). There is a new paver walkway and drive area between Tolentine Hall and CEER, where new windows are currently being installed. The CEER renovation is scheduled for completion in Spring 2024, with move-in planned for next summer.
  • Work is nearly complete on St. Rita’s Hall, Campus Ministry’s new home. Construction work is scheduled to be complete by the end of this month, with move-in planned for fall break.
  • Graduate Studies’ new home in Vasey Hall continues to move forward. Work is scheduled to be complete by mid-October, with move-in scheduled for the end of October/beginning of November.
  • With Kennedy Hall being torn down in May 2024 to make space for the new library, the bookstore will move this December to St. Mary’s Chapel, which was de-consecrated several years ago. Over the summer, Facilities staff worked to prepare the former chapel space for the bookstore by finding new homes for the religious relics in St. Mary’s.
  • Aesthetic upgrades were made to numerous residential spaces on South and West campuses.
  • The Carriage House at the Inn at Villanova, which can be reserved for campus events, is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month.
  • Aldwyn One and Riley Hall were painted, and new pedestrian, Gothic-style lighting was installed along the sidewalks surrounding those buildings.
  • Work on the interior of Aldwyn One continued over the summer, with the second and third floors being renovated to become the new home for UNIT, and the garden level will become the new home for the Mail Room, VSB print center and Graphic Services.

There was additional work completed in preparation for upcoming campus projects, including the new library, the Health Sciences Building garage, the new Boathouse in Conshohocken, and more. I look forward to sharing updates on these projects and the Campus Master Plan, in the near future.

1842 Day
Villanova’s seventh annual 1842 Day is Tuesday, Sept. 19, with popular favorites including a music and food festival at the Riley Ellipse and the Cat Cabs trivia game. On this day, Villanovans on campus and around the globe will be able to support a myriad of areas and programs across the University. I encourage everyone to follow @VillanovaU and @VillanovaAlumni social channels and participate in what will be a fun and inspiring day.

President's Office Hours for Students
I set aside time on my schedule each semester to meet with students who would like to share ideas, raise concerns or ask questions. Dates and times for the Fall 2023 semester have been posted and can be accessed online. I want to encourage all students to take advantage of this opportunity.

I am delighted to have everyone back on campus, and I am looking forward to a wonderful fall semester.

Sincerely,

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Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA
President