Villanova University Appoints Roger Demareski as Executive Vice President of Administration and Operations

VILLANOVA, Pa.—Villanova University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, announced today the appointment of Roger Demareski ’91 VU, as Executive Vice President of Administration and Operations, effective Nov. 29. Demareski comes to Villanova with more than two decades of higher education leadership experience, having spent the last seven years at Lafayette College as Vice President for Finance and Administration. He succeeds Kenneth G. Valosky ’82 VU, who is retiring after 21 years at Villanova.

“Roger’s vast higher education experience and knowledge, coupled with his familiarity with Villanova’s mission and values, made him stand out among a very impressive group of national candidates,” said Father Donohue. “Roger will be an incredible asset to our senior leadership team, and I look forward to working closely with him in this role.”

As Villanova’s Executive Vice President, Demareski will oversee the University’s administrative functions and key operational areas, comprising Facilities Management, Human Resources, Information Technology, Auxiliary Services, Public Safety, Emergency Management, and Government Relations and External Affairs. Additionally, Demareski will serve as a member of Villanova’s Executive Council and President’s Cabinet, developing strategies to leverage institutional resources, ensuring alignment with academic priorities, and providing leadership for University-wide strategic planning in support of the institutional mission and priorities.

"I am honored and excited to be coming home to the place that was transformational in my life," Demareski said. "The opportunity to help Father Peter, his leadership team and the entire Villanova family elevate the University to even greater heights is one I happily embrace. I cannot wait to get started."

In his role as Vice President for Finance and Administration at Lafayette College, Demareski oversaw a 350-member administrative division and was responsible for auxiliary and business services, finance, facilities management, real estate development, sustainability, risk management, and safety and security. His numerous accomplishments include the creation of a 10-year campus stewardship plan with a focus on IT and utility infrastructure upgrades, the development of an updated campus space plan, revamped campus services to increase offerings and reduce spending, and improved campus safety and emergency preparedness planning.

Prior to Lafayette, Demareski held leadership roles at other institutions of higher education, including serving as Assistant Vice President for Facilities Operations at Princeton University and Assistant Vice President for Administration at Seton Hall University. He began his career as a senior project manager at the Turner Construction Company in New Jersey. He has served as a volunteer firefighter/EMT instructor for 28 years, as well as having been a member of numerous service organizations, including the Lehigh Valley Safety Alliance and the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges.

Demareski earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Villanova University and a Master of Business Administration from Seton Hall University.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.