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College of Engineering

Engineering Alumni Travel to Panama to Explore VESL Projects

Back row: Jim Rutenbar ’91 MBA; Bob Pizzano ’70 CE; Tom Portland ’69 ChE, ’72 MSChE; John McFadden ’65 ME; Calisto Bertin ’77 CE; Fr. Walter Kasuboski (Fr. Wally); Frank “Joe” Feyder ’74 CE, ’77 MSCE; Director of Professional Development and Experiential Education Frank Falcone ’70 CE, ’73 MSEC; Major Gift Officer Joelle DePietro; Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering James O’Brien ’71 CE, ’79 MSCE Front row: Senior Director of Development Cindy Rutenbar ’88 MBA, Director of Villanova Engineering Service Learning Jordan Ermilio, PhD, ’98 ME, ’06 MSWREE
Back row: Jim Rutenbar ’91 MBA; Bob Pizzano ’70 CE; Tom Portland ’69 ChE, ’72 MSChE; John McFadden ’65 ME; Calisto Bertin ’77 CE; Fr. Walter Kasuboski (Fr. Wally); Frank “Joe” Feyder ’74 CE, ’77 MSCE; Director of Professional Development and Experiential Education Frank Falcone ’70 CE, ’73 MSEC; Major Gift Officer Joelle DePietro; Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering James O’Brien ’71 CE, ’79 MSCE Front row: Senior Director of Development Cindy Rutenbar ’88 MBA, Director of Villanova Engineering Service Learning Jordan Ermilio, PhD, ’98 ME, ’06 MSWREE

During spring break 2019, teams of undergraduates, graduate students and faculty traveled to five countries to volunteer with humanitarian organizations as a part of the Villanova Engineering Service Learning program. One of the highlights of the week was a University Advancement alumni trip to visit a project site in the Alto Bayano region of Panama. Engineering alumni Calisto Bertin ’77 CE; Frank “Joe” Feyder ’74 CE, ’77 MSCE; John McFadden ’65 ME; Bob Pizzano ’70 CE; and Tom Portland ’69 ChE, ’72 MSChE, along with spouses, faculty and staff, traveled in parallel to one of the student teams in that region. They spent the week networking with Panama’s Villanova alumni, working with students at the project site and learning about the extensive partnerships that have been established in-country over the past five years.

In Panama City, the group visited the Panama Canal Authority where they were hosted by project engineer Luis Ferreira who provided an exclusive tour of the new canal locks. They also took in a screening of a documentary about the extraordinary effort to improve the sustainability of the water supply infrastructure in the region of Wacuco. Additionally, the visit included a networking event, which introduced alumni to Panamanian Vice President Isabel St. Malo de Alvarado—whose daughter is a current freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences—as well as other influential Panamanian alumni.

A highlight of the week was a visit to Wacuco, where Fr. Walter Kasuboski OFM—whom Pizzano describes as “a living reminder of the power of one person to change the world”—has worked for the past 25 years to bring potable water to more than 8,000 Panamanians living in rural areas. There, alumni joined the student teams on several different projects, including bridge construction, water tank rehabilitation and expanded water distribution. After work-filled days, the evenings included hours’ long conversations, which became emotional displays of humility and passion for helping others. McFadden describes the trip as “a great spiritual retreat” that led to “waves of gratitude.” Portland adds, “I have a much better appreciation and understanding of all the great VESL programs and was most impressed by our Villanova students. The College and University are doing a great job turning out such high-quality young people.”

Jordan Ermilio, PhD, ’98 ME, ’06 MSWREE, director of the VESL program, appreciates the contributions of the trip’s alumni participants. “These alumni have generously sponsored projects over the last several years, and VESL would like to engage others, with a goal to raise a $2 million endowment.” In addition to enabling more Villanova Engineering students to travel abroad on VESL trips, this endowment will support research on sustainable development and provide financial resources to program partners who are immersed in these challenges in low-income communities.

“We provide students with invaluable and life changing experiences working on projects that improve the lives of people living in developing communities,” says Dr. Ermilio. “In the process, they forge friendships that will last a lifetime.”