News and Events

MPA Student Research Symposium: MPA 8199 Advanced Statistics - Thursday, December 13, 2018

Students in Dr. Arapis' Fall 2018 MPA 8199 Advanced Statistics course presented upon their research findings. Students presented upon Pennsylvania Charter Schools as well as International Fiscal Transparency

Pennsylvania Charter School Symposium: For more than two decades now charter schools have become an integral part of the American education system. In Pennsylvania alone, as of 2016, 181 charter schools serve 128,701 students. Using a panel of post-recession data (2013-2017) the following two studies assess the fiscal savings behavior of charter schools and their impact on school district fiscal condition.

Student Presenters Included:

• Sean Brandon & Kevin Magee – “Accumulation and Maintenance of Fiscal Savings in Pennsylvania: The Charter School Approach”
• Elizabeth Svenson & Aaron Walizer – “Fiscal Gain or Drain? Examining the Impact of Pennsylvania’s Charter Schools on School District Fiscal Condition”

International Fiscal Transparency Symposium: Since the early 2000s, global institutions, including the IMF and the OECD, have linked fiscal transparency to better governance and improved economic performance. Fiscal transparency guidelines, therefore, have been established but without considering a country’s unique environment. Simply put, what works in developed or democratic countries may not work in developing or autocratic countries. To shed some light on the aforementioned, the following two studies use panel data (2006-2015) that cover 59 countries from all around the world.

Student presenters included:

• Max Kroschwitz & Tolu Omadara – “Fiscal Transparency in Developed and Developing Countries: What Matters and What Doesn’t”
• Sydney Camisa & Ann Riddle – “Studying Cross-National Fiscal Transparency: Does Democracy Matter?”

Watch the recording of the event here!

PAA Webinar: Emerging Technologies and their Implications for Public Administrators - Wednesday, November 14, 2018

This virtual event featured Rich Knoezer, MPA '14, Manager of Technology & Management Consulting at RSM US LLP. Rich discussed emerging technologies, leading companies in the field, and ways for public administrators to engage in new technologies for more effective management practices and more secured data. 

Watch the recording of event here!

Career Chat: What Employers Want in the Public Sector - Friday, November 9, 2018

This virtual professional development event featured Christie Vuoto, Assistant Director of Industry Advising for the University Career Center. This webinar covers the top career readiness competencies employers seek such as critical thinking, communication skills, collaboration, and more. Additionally, the webinar helps you identify the competencies sought after in the public sector and how you can connect your skills and competencies to the mission of an organization. 

Watch the recording of the webinar here!

ICMA Chapter Event: A Conversation with Michael DiBerardinis,Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia - Monday, October 22, 2018

The ICMA Chapter welcomed Michael DiBerardinis to discuss his career as a public service and what it takes to manage one of America's largest, oldest cities at the historic Arlen Specter Center on the campus of Jefferson University in East Falls. Michael DiBerardinis has been with the City of Philadelphia for a combined 17 years, serving as Managing Director since January 2016.

Nonprofit Spotlight: Sara Woods, Executive Director of Philadelphia Futures - Thursday, October 11, 2018

Sara Woods, MPA '05, spoke to students and alumni about her call to public service, path to a career in nonprofit leadership, and her role at one of Philadelphia's largest nonprofit organizations, Philadelphia Futures. 

Watch a recording of the event here!

PAA Networking and Career Panel & MPA Open House- Thursday, September 27, 2018

The Fall 2018 PAA Spring Career and Networking Panel brought back two MPA alumni: Nick Tumolo MPA '14, Assistant Dean of Students, Villanova University and Karyn Baldini, '15, Lieutenant, Philadelphia Police Department. 

Watch a recording of the event here! 

Career Chat: Government Affairs and Public Policy featuring Jennifer Sweeney and Brian J. Flaherty - Friday, September 7, 2018

Undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, faculty, and friends were invited to participate in a lunch career chat featuring Jennifer Sweeney, Senior Manager, State and Government Affairs and Political Programs at the Campbell Soup Company and Brian J. Flaherty, Senior Vice President, Public Policy at the Connecticut Business and Industry Association. Our lunch career chat featured roundtable discussion of careers in public policy and government affairs, specifically within the private sector. 

New Student Orientation and MPA Kickoff Picnic: Sunday, August 19, 2018

18th Annual MPA Dinner: Saturday, April 28, 2018

Speaker: Adam Thiel, MPA, Fire Commissioner for the City of Philadelphia

On May 16, 2016, Mayor James Kenney appointed Adam Thiel to serve as the 20th Fire Commissioner for the City of Philadelphia. Commissioner Thiel is responsible for leading the Philadelphia Fire Department’s 2,800-plus uniformed and civilian members in every facet of protecting our Nation’s 5th-largest city from fires and emergencies arising from all hazards.

Commissioner Thiel previously served as a Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He has also served as the Governor of Virginia’s deputy Homeland Security Advisor (dHSA), deputy Chief Resilience Officer (dCRO), Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC), and FirstNet State Single Point of Contact (SPOC).   In addition, he was the fire chief for the City of Alexandria, Virginia from 2007-2014 and chaired the Northern Virginia Emergency Response System (NVERS) Steering Committee.

Commissioner Thiel’s 26 years’ experience spans five states (MD, NC, VA, AZ, and PA) as a chief fire officer, incident commander, company officer, fire and emergency services instructor, hazardous materials team leader, paramedic, technical rescuer, structural/wildland firefighter, swiftwater rescuer, and rescue SCUBA diver; he has directly participated in planning, response, and recovery efforts for multiple Presidentially-declared disasters and National Special Security Events (NSSEs), including the 9/11 tragedy, hurricanes, tropical storms, floods, an earthquake, major blizzards, international sporting competitions, and political events.

Commissioner Thiel completed doctoral coursework in Public Administration and Public Policy at Arizona State University (ABD) and George Mason University, respectively; earned his M.P.A. degree from George Mason University; received his B.S. in Fire Science from the University of Maryland University College; and earned his B.A. in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Watch a recording of Commissioner Thiel's address here!

ICMA Chapter Event - Macros Meet Metros: How Innovation and Technology are Shaping Local Government - Wednesday, February 21st

The ICMA Chapter event featured a lively panel discussion followed by a welcoming recpetion. The panel was moderated by ICMA Chapter President and MPA student, Nick Valla. Prof. Fran Burns also welcome participants and panelists to the event. The panel featured:

• Rosetta Carrington Lue: White House Exec Fellow and VA Senior Contact Center Advisor; Former City of Philadelphia Chief Customer Service Officer and Philly 311 Director
• Michael Daniel: President and CEO, Cyber Threat Alliance
• Jeff Friedman: Manager, Highland Consulting
• Rick Mellor: Township Manager, Whitemarsh Township
• Amanda Serock: Township Manager, Concord Township

Watch a recording of the event here!

Pi Alpha Alpha Service Event - Cradles to Crayons: Saturday, February 18th 

This service event was sponsored by the VU Chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha and attended by current and former members. Chapter members visited the Cradles to Crayons facilitiy in Conshohocken, PA to inspec, sort, and package donations for children living in low-income situations. Learn more about Cradles to Crayons here.   

Virtual Networking: Villanovans in Public Service: Tuesday, March 7, 2017

This event brought 7 featured MPA alumni together for one-on-one virtual networking with MPA students, alumni, and other members of the Villanova community. Using the Brazen platform, participants engaged in virtual chat rooms to gain professional advice, discuss best practices in leadership, and gain mentorship from leaders in the field. Alumni participants included: Michele Alfaro, Sarah Galbally, Ralph Gigliotti, Ph.D., Erin Kuchar, Fran Lynch, Sarah Mandes, and Ansa Yiadom. 

DC Regional Meet-Up: Villanova vs. Georgetown Men's Baskcball Game and Reception: Saturday, March 4, 2017

Alumni, students, and friends of the MPA program met up for a day in Washington, D.C. to catch the Villanova Men's Basketball team play Georgetown University and spent time socializing and networking with the DC Public Policy Society at a post-game reception.

Villanova ICMA Chapter Panel: Effective Management of an Environmental Crisis: Thursday, March 16, 2017

The Villanova ICMA Chapter invited a panelists Timothy Bergere, Special Environmental Counsel for Warrington and Warminster Municipal Authorities, Barry Luber, Township Manager of Warrington Township, Tim Hagey, General Manager of Warminster Municipal Authority and Tina O’Rourke, Business Manager of Horsham Water and Sewer Authority to discuss how intergovernmental cooperation and communicty mobilization resolved a water pollution emergency. The panel was moderated by ICMA Chapter President and MPA student, Christian Jones. Watch a recording of the event here. 

Pi Alpha Alpha Spring Career and Networking Panel: Thursday, March 30, 2017

The Spring 2017 PAA Spring Career and Networking Panel brought back three MPA alumni: E.J. Mentry '15 MPA, Township Manager for Nazareth Township, PA, Katie Moyer, '16 MPA, Program Specialist for the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, and Latesha Sims '14 MPA, Manager of Recruiting and Staffing for the Camden City School District, NJ. Watch a recording of the event here! 

Seventeenth Annual MPA Dinner: Saturday, April 29, 2017

Speaker: Susan Campbell, MPA, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House

Susan Campbell joined the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House as a volunteer in 2001 and became a Weekend Manager the following year. In 2004, she joined the staff full-time as the Director of Administration and was promoted to Associate Director in 2006. In 2007, Ms. Campbell became the Executive Director of the organization.

Ms. Campbell is responsible for the overall operations of the organization’s  six major programs including two Ronald McDonald Houses, two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms located at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on the Oncology and Cardiac Floors, the Hospitality Kiosk at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, and Ronald McDonald Camp. In addition, Ms. Campbell is responsible for strategic planning as well as managing the organization’s financial and development plans including an annual operating budget of more than $4 million dollars. She is also responsible for the current expansion project at the organization’s Chestnut Street House location and its related $50 million capital campaign.

Prior to joining the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, Ms. Campbell spent eight years at the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Office of General Counsel. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance and in Law and Public Policy and a master’s degree in Public Administration.

Pi Alpha Alpha Induction Ceremony: Thursday, May 18, 2017

MPA Graduation Brunch: Saturday, May 20, 2017

Pi Alpha Alpha Webinar Series - APA Style Webinar: Monday, March 14, 2016

This interactive webinar was sponsored by the VU Chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha and presented by our University librarians, Barbara Quintiliano and Merrill Stein. The webinar reviewed the mechanics of APA style guidlines, types of citation, as well as research resources that are available to MPA students. 

How to Start a Career in Public Service: Tuesday, March 15, 2016

This March 2016 event brought three Villanova MPA students together for a panel presentation to undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career path in public service. Dr. Lauren Miltenberger presented and moderated the discussion on topics such as finding jobs in the public, private, and nonprofit sector, resume and cover letter strategies, interviewing tips, as well as accessing internships in public service. 

Pi Alpha Alpha Spring Career and Networking Panel: Thursday, March 31, 2016

The Spring 2016 PAA Spring Career and Networking Panel brought back two MPA alumni: Dr. Alex Henderson '04 MPA, Assistant Professor of Healthcare and Public Administration at Long Island University, and Amanda Serock '04 MPA, Township and Sewer Authority Manager for Chadds Ford Township. The discussion was led by past PAA President, Kamira Evans '16 MPA. Watch a recording of the event here! 

Professional Development Webinar - Cover Letter and Resume Review: Friday, April 1, 2016

This interactive professional development webinar featured speakers, Sheila Doherty, Assistant Director of Student Services in the Villanova Career Center, Robert Carey '16 MPA, Program Analyst for the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, and the discussion was facilitated by Dr. Lauren Miltenberger. The webinar featured topics including the fundamentals of resume development, tailoring resumes and cover letters based on a job sector or organization, as well as indentifying competencies and transferrable skills. Watch the recorded webinar here! 

ICMA Chapter Event - Why Choose a Career in Local Government: Wednesday, April 20, 2016

The Villanova ICMA Student Chapter hosted an engaging panel discussion on career paths in local government. The panel featured honorary guest, Gloria Wolek, and Villanova Master of Public Administration (MPA) alumni: Drew Sharkey, Sandra Brookley Zadell, and Christopher Hoffman. Moderated by ICMA Chapter President, Brandon Ford, the guided conversation explored the reasons why these individuals chose a career in local government as well as recommendations for those interested in serving in the field of local government. Watch the recorded panel discussion here! 

Sixteenth Annual MPA Dinner: Saturday, April 30, 2016

Pi Alpha Alpha Induction Ceremony: Thursday, May 12, 2016

MPA Graduation Brunch: Saturday, May 14, 2016

Pi Alpha Alpha Spring Networking Event: March 12, 2015

The Spring 2015 "Finding Your Vocation in Public Service" panel featured MPA alumni: Don Delamater '09 MPA, Township Manager of East Norriton Township, PA, Sarah Galbally '13 MPA, Secretary of Policy and Planning for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Governor's Office, and Stephen Robishaw, '12 MPA, Proposal Development Manager at Rowan University. The interactive panel was facilitated by past PAA president, Bridget Boston '15 MPA. 

Fifteenth Annual MPA Dinner: April 25, 2015

Speaker: Elisa Basnight, JD, MPA

Elisa Basnight, JD, MPA currently serves as the Director of the Center for Women Veterans at the United States Department of Veteran Affairs.   Ms. Basnight has a distinguished career in public service as member of the U.S. Army, corporate commercial counsel at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney in Philadelphia, as well as founder of a nonprofit organization, the Girls Action Network, which is dedicated to creating opportunities for girls and young women, especially from underserved communities in the STEM fields.   She graduated from the U.S. Military Academy – West Point as the first African American woman graduate from the state of Wisconsin.  Ms. Basnight is also a graduate of Boston University-Brussels, Rutgers Law School – Newark, and Harvard University’s School of Government, earning a master’s degree at Harvard in public administration and selected as a Zuckerman Fellow from 2006-2007.

ICMA Spring Event - Recruiting the Next Generation of Local Government Managers: April 30, 2015

Pi Alpha Alpha Induction Ceremony: May 14, 2015

Pi Alpha Alpha Fall Colloquium- "The Vocation to Public Service": October 22, 2015

The Fall 2015 PAA colloquium welcomed Villanova Alumnus, Frank J. Larkin, United States Senate Sergeant at Arms and veteran of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Secret Service. Watch the recorded event here!

Nonprofit Meetup with Mo Manklang of Generocity: October 8, 2015

First Annual MPA Game Watch: February 22, 2014

Pi Alpha Alpha Spring Networking Event: March 20, 2014

ICMA Spring Event - Interlocal Cooperation to Deliver Municipal Services: April 10, 2014

Fourteenth Annual MPA Dinner: April 26, 2014

Speaker: Bonnie Svrcek, M.P.A.

Bonnie Svrcek is the Deputy City Manager for Lynchburg, Virginia.  She received her B.S. in Housing and Applied Design from the University of Maryland and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Southern California, Washington Public Affairs Center. She also attended the Senior Executive Institute in Charlottesville and in 2011 she attended the State and Local Government Excellence Executive Education at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.  In June 2011, Ms. Svrcek was selected President-Elect of ICMA - only the second woman in the organization’s history - and began serving a three-year term as President-Elect (2011-2012), President (2012-2013) and Past President (2013-2014).

Pi Alpha Alpha Induction Ceremony: May 15, 2014

New Student Orientation and Kickoff Picnic: August 23, 2014

Resume Review and Professional Skills Workshop: September 18, 2014

This professional development event featured a panel of experts with experience in HR, Career Services and Personnel Management.  Following the presentations, an interactive resume review session was held.  

PAA Fall Colloquium- "The Vocation to Public Service": October 9, 2014

This year's Fall 2014 colloquium welcomes MPA Alumnus, Marquies Coates '11 MPA, CEO and Founder of Tools For Success, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing mentorship and academic professional support for Philadelphia youth.

MPA Happy Hour in Washington, D.C.: October 11, 2014

Foggy Bottom Brew Pub located inside the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel

MPA Annual Football Tailgate - Villanova vs. Rhode Island: October 11, 2014

Find previous events here!