Office of the Provost

Meet Our Team

Leadership and Administration

Kevin Grubb

Associate Vice Provost, Professional Development

Chief Career Officer

Focus Areas: Leadership and Strategy for University Career and Professional Development

610.519.4060

Maggie Songer

Executive Director, Career Center

Focus Areas: Leadership and Strategy of Career Development and Employer Relations

610.519.4061

Tracy Fry

Career & Professional Development Coordinator

Focus Areas: Special Projects, Executive Support

610.519.5467

Career Development

Beth Cahill

Director, Career Development

Focus Areas: Engineering, Nursing, Student-Athletes, International Career Experiences

610.519.6186

Megan Pongratz

Associate Director, Career Development

Focus Areas: First-Generation Students, CASA Programs, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives

610.519.4067

Alex Karlesses

Assistant Director, Career Development & Pre-Law Advising

Focus Areas: Pre-Law Advising, International Students

610.519.5421

alexandra.karlesses@villanova.edu

John McGranaghan

Assistant Director, Career Development & Pre-Health Advising

Focus Areas: Pre-Health Advising, Students with Disabilities, Student-Athletes

610.519.5792

Industry Advising

Christie Vuoto

Director, Industry Advising

Industry Advising Areas: Accounting and Financial Services; Communications, Marketing and Media; Consulting; Engineering; Non-Profit, Government, Social Impact

610.519.5775

Jeanette Paulsen

Associate Director, Industry Advising

Industry Advising Areas: Consulting; Engineering, Science, and Technology; Healthcare and Nursing; Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and Life Sciences

610.519.4084

jeanette.paulsen@villanova.edu

Bennett Nesley

Assistant Director, Industry Advising

Industry Advising Areas: Communications, Marketing, Media, CPG, Entertainment, Fashion, Sports; Non-Profit, Government, Social Impact, Education, Public Policy; Other

610.519.4527

Timaria Brach

Assistant Director, Industry Advising

Industry Advising Areas: Accounting and Financial Services; Real Estate; Insurance

610.519.4065

Vanessa Schmidt

Assistant Director, Industry Advising

Industry Advising Areas: Engineering, Science, Technology, Aerospace, Manufacturing; Healthcare and Nursing; Sustainability and Environmental Services

610.519.4066

vanessa.rutigliano@villanova.edu

Professional and Personal Development

Tyra Ford

Director, Professional & Personal Development

Focus Areas: Lead Development and Delivery of University-Wide Professional and Personal Development Initiatives and Programs for Students and Alumni

610.519.5958

Career Management

In Partnership with Alumni Relations

Meredith Okenquist

Director, Career Management

Focus Areas: Oversight of Strategy and Communication for Alumni, Graduate and Adult Students

610.519.7974

meredith.okenquist@villanova.edu

Casey Hilferty

Associate Director, Career Management

Focus Areas: Delivery of career and professional development support to alumni, graduate students, and degree-seeking students within the College of Professional Studies

610.519.7194

Nick Madden

Career Management Specialist

Focus Areas: Digital Engagement Including Nova Network, Networking and Mentor Program Support

610.519.7193

Deana Andrews

Assistant Director, Career Management

Focus Areas: Delivery of career and professional development support to the College of Professional Studies Professional Education students

610.519.7890

Operations

Andrew Mazar

Director, Operations & Assessment

Focus Areas: Leadership of Career Center Operations, Data and Analysis, Handshake

610.519.4063

Maura Jackman

Associate Director, Events & Operations

Focus Areas: Career Fairs, Employer Recruiting Events and Campus Experience

610.519.4432

Janine Riccardi

Events & Operations Specialist

Focus Areas: Interview Room Reservations, Campus Interviews, Employer Recruiting Events

610.519.7891

Laura Walker

Administrative Coordinator

Focus Areas: Office Operations, Wildcat Wardrobe, Credentials Processing, Office Assistants, Notary Services

610.519.7191

Piper Hartman

Assistant Director, Digital Media & Engagement

Focus Areas: Marketing, Communications, and Engagement

610.519.4093

About the Villanova University Career Center

Our mission is to provide high quality, comprehensive career services, empowering members of the Villanova University community to choose and attain personally rewarding careers. We serve that mission in a variety of ways:

Individualized Career Planning

Members of the Career Center team regularly meet with undergraduate students, graduate students and alumni to educate them about career decision-making, provide them with the tools to succeed and connect them with opportunities and people through our resources and events. Foundational to this work is our focus on helping Villanovans align their values with the work and organizations they seek. We encourage students and alumni to evaluate employers and employment by asking questions and thinking critically about what they see, hear and observe in action to ensure the opportunity aligns with their goals.

Partnership with Colleges

Within the colleges of the university, professional development teams and programs exist to integrate career services, education and experiences into the curriculum. The Career Center is a contributing partner to the creation, delivery and evaluation of these programs to ensure all students are provided with equitable access to career and professional development resources.

Events, Programs & Employer Connections

Throughout the year, the Career Center manages hundreds of events and programs in collaboration with employers, faculty, staff and alumni of the university, including on-campus interviews, career fairs, in-class career education sessions and academic immersion programs. Along with our career events, employers post thousands of job and internship opportunities in our career services management platform, Handshake.

Who We Serve

The Career Center’s services are available to all degree-seeking students of the university and all undergraduate and graduate alumni. Students in the Charles Widger School of Law should primarily seek the services of the Office of Career Strategy & Advancement.

Career Center Quick Links

Career Center Social Media

Icons on the Career Center website are by Icons8.

Our Diversity Statement

The Villanova University Career Center is committed to the university’s advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion and recognizes that these principles are integral to our work. It is necessary for Villanova students and alumni to develop intercultural understanding and inclusive communication practices in order to be a positive influence in the global workplace. We seek to create a welcoming environment in all that we do, ensuring that all identities, perspectives and experiences are heard, respected and valued in conversations about career and professional development. We develop programs and resources to support underrepresented and minoritized students and alumni in achieving personally rewarding careers. We will continue to listen, learn and serve as advocates for all members of the Villanova community as we support individuals on their personal and professional journeys.

Our Core Values

Inclusivity

We commit to ensuring that all identities, perspectives and experiences are heard, respected and valued.

Holistic Approach

We recognize the unique needs of each person, acknowledge the multitude of factors that influence decision-making and maintain an environment of trust, honesty and transparency.

Continuous Learning

We embrace a growth mindset and stay open to all opportunities to learn, innovate and educate.

Connectivity

We make meaningful connections between opportunities, people, resources and ideas.

Celebration

We take time to encourage each other and celebrate success in all its forms.