Dean of the College of Engineering: Michele Marcolongo, PhD.
March 26, 2020
Dear Members of the Villanova Community,
Today, I am happy to be reaching out to share some good news. After a national search with participation by faculty, students, administrators and alumni, Provost Maggitti and I are pleased to announce that Michele Marcolongo, PhD. has been named the Drosdick Endowed Dean of the College of Engineering, effective July 31.
As the Drosdick Endowed Dean of the College of Engineering, Dr. Marcolongo will serve as the chief administrator of the College, providing vision and leadership for its long-term strategic and academic planning, faculty research and teaching innovation; strengthening the student experience; promoting community outreach and partnerships; providing financial oversight; and overseeing fundraising and alumni relations.
Dr. Marcolongo comes to Villanova with more than three decades of experience as an academician, researcher, administrator, inventor and entrepreneur. A faculty member at Drexel University for more than 20 years, Dr. Marcolongo is currently department head and professor of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering. She also hasheld numerous leadership positions at the university and college level, including associate vice provost for research, senior associate vice provost for translational research, associate dean for intellectual property development and co-chair of Drexel’s strategic plan.
Dr. Marcolongo is a teacher-scholar, well known for her expertise and research work focused on biomaterials and engineered biomedical solutions to treat disease. She was named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and her research has been funded by such federal agencies as the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense and the Department of Education.
While pursuing her research, Dr. Marcolongo also advised or mentored more than 200 graduate and undergraduate Drexel students. She was an integral part of the team that developed Drexel’s innovative first-year undergraduate engineering curriculum and received the Drexel College of Engineering’s Teaching Award in 2003. She also is a longtime advocate for inclusivity in engineering education, supporting and mentoring STEM female faculty, graduate and undergraduate students.
In addition to her work in academia, Dr. Marcolongo is also a successful entrepreneur who has co-founded three biomedical technology startup companies and is a co-holder of 15 patents/patent applications. Inspired by her professional experiences, she authored a book, Academic Entrepreneurship: How to Bring Your Scientific Product to a Commercial Discovery, that serves as a how-to guide for academic faculty, graduate students and post-doctoral students for translating research from the lab to commercialization.
Dr. Marcolongo earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware; a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University; and a Master of Science and PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Provost Maggitti and I also would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to Randy Weinstein, PhD, who served as interim dean for the past two years. Dr. Weinstein’s leadership was invaluable during that time and his dedication to the students, faculty and staff is undeniable. I am very appreciative for everything he has done for the College and the University. Lastly, I would like to thank the entire search committee—faculty, students, administrators and alumni—for their efforts to identify the right candidate to lead the College of Engineering.
When things have settled and we are able to gather again, I hope you will join me and Provost Maggitti for a reception to congratulate Dr. Marcolongo and welcome her to the Villanova community.
Sincerely,