COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

Therese DeVries Narzikul, MBA, MSN, CRNP joined Villanova's College of Professional Studies (CPS) as Professor of the Practice, adding to the growing group of full-time faculty within CPS. Narzikul brings a passion for education and teaching that was forged early in her career, which started not in the classroom, but in hospitals. She began her career as a nurse, but as her career continued, Narzikul began to notice changes in the healthcare industry and sought to better understand her field, leading her to Villanova and the executive MBA program. Within that program, she took an interest in systems thinking and leadership strategy. With her rich history in both healthcare and higher education, Therese is poised to make an impact at CPS. MORE...

For Marv Meissner, becoming an expert in Lean Six Sigma and process improvement flowed naturally from his career in engineering and business. It eventually led to his current position as a professor at Villanova University, a recognized leader in Lean Six Sigma education and certification, most notably the online Lean Six Sigma program. Meissner said he started working with the methodology in the 1980s, when the predecessor to Six Sigma methodology was known as Total Quality Management.“I became involved with quality and continuous process improvement relatively early in my career and developed a lifelong passion for it,” Meissner said. MORE...

Since joining the College of Professional Studies in 2015, Professor Agustiady has shared her knowledge and expertise with thousands of professionals in a wide range of industries. She has seen her students use Lean Six Sigma to drive significant business impact—from major manufacturing corporations and financial-service firms to the US government and nationally recognized health care facilities.“The applications are endless,” says Professor Agustiady. “It starts with knowledge transfer and building a leadership culture that empowers and encourages people to identify areas for improvement. Then you can implement the methodologies and tools to put systems in place that can transform the way you do business.” MORE...

Michael Palladino has established a global reputation over the last three decades as a thought leader in Agile methodology and an authority on project management. An adjunct professor with Villanova’s College of Professional Studies and sought-after keynote speaker who has presented for audiences in more than three dozen countries, Professor Palladino has taught thousands of business leaders and decision-makers strategies to strengthen teamwork, increase production and optimize efficiency in projects.“Agile principles enable high-performing teams to accelerate decision-making and increase transparency, accountability and engagement while improving employee retention,” he explains. “It boils down to breaking work into smaller pieces, bringing teams together to function better and eliminating wasteful steps that don’t add value.” MORE...

Faculty in Villanova University's College of Professional Studies are as varied as our student population. Comprised of three full-time faculty and over 150 adjunct faculty of industry practitioners, these experts bring years of real-world experience to the classroom.They develop programs, majors and courses that align with the needs of our adult learners, infused with and grounded by the Villanova values of Veritas, Unitas, Caritas - Truth, Unity and Love. MORE...