Leadership Symposium

Villanova University's College of Professional Studies Annual Leadership Symposium is a professional education course designed to bring together managers, team leaders, and change agents for an intensive, engaging, and interactive learning experience. There is a new topic each year and a dynamic lineup of speakers with related expertise.

The 2023 topic is Leading in a Digital Environment where participants will:

Explore and analyze the principles associated with effective leadership in a virtual environment.
Discuss core concepts and strategies for leading others in a mediated context.
Develop a strategy for incorporating the ideas introduced during the Symposium into one’s leadership practice.

SCHEDULE

Friday

5:00 - 6:30 pm: Cocktails, Dinner, and Professional Networking

6:30 - 8:00 pm: Fireside Chat with panelists

Saturday (Breakfast and lunch included)

9:00 - 9:30 am: Introductions

9:30 - 12:00 pm: Session I

12:00 - 1:30 pm: Lunch and Networking

1:30 - 3:30 pm: Session II

3:30 - 5:00 pm: Session III

Sunday (Breakfast and lunch included)

9:00 - 11:00 am: Application Exercises

11:00 - 12:00 pm: Closing Keynote

12:00 pm: Lunch and Networking

FACILITATORS

Ralph A. Gigliotti, PhD
Assistant Vice President for Strategic Programs in the Office of University Strategy and Director of the Center for Organizational Leadership at Rutgers University.

Ralph A. Gigliotti, Ph.D. is Assistant Vice President for Strategic Programs in the Office of University Strategy and Director of the Center for Organizational Leadership at Rutgers University, where he also teaches in the Department of Communication and Ph.D. Program in Higher Education. He also teaches part-time at Villanova University in both the College of Professional Studies and Department of Public Administration. Ralph’s research and consulting interests explore the intersection of organizational communication, leadership, crisis communication, and training and development within the context of higher education.

His research appears in numerous books and scholarly journals, and he has authored and co-authored several books, including the following:

Ralph is a National Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (National Institute of Standards and Technology, United States Department of Commerce). He is also actively involved in various professional associations, including the leadership team of the Training and Development Division for the National Communication Association and the Board of Directors for the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation in Higher Education.

FRIDAY SPOTLIGHT PANELISTS

Luke Olenski, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Main Line Health

Luke Olenoski joined Main Line Health as Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer in June 2020.

Luke has nearly 20 years of experience in Information Technology leadership. In his role as Chief Information Officer, he leads an organization responsible for the strategy, planning and implementation of Information Technology and Cybersecurity across the system. Main Line Health has been consistently named to CHIME HealthCare's Most Wired list since 2008.

Prior to joining Main Line Health, Luke was with the Vanguard Group where he served in executive leadership roles for the firm's IT and Audit organizations. He led multi-year global transformation programs in the areas of IT Operations and Cybersecurity. Throughout his career, he established a strong track record of marrying technology solutions to strategic business opportunities.

He received his bachelor's degree in computer science from Villanova University and an Executive M.B.A. from Villanova University, graduating Beta Gamma Sigma. Luke plays an active role in the greater Philadelphia area community, supporting youth sports programs and serving as an adjunct faculty member for Villanova's graduate programs.

Luke and his family reside in Phoenixville, PA.

Whitney Kellett, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Essential Utilities

Whitney Kellett is a veteran IT executive who specializes in strategic planning and execution. She has held technology positions in a variety of industries including financial services, global transportation, manufacturing, clinical research, commercial real estate, insurance, private equity, energy and utilities. Prior to joining Essential Utilities in 2016, Kellett was Chief Information Officer at Atlas Energy, LLC, a publicly traded, E&P energy company.

Kellett earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and is currently pursuing an executive MBA at Villanova University.

She serves on the Board of Trustees at The Woodlynde School and is a member of the Forum of Executive Women. She co-chaired Essential Utilities’ United Way campaigns in 2019 and 2020 as well as co-chaired a $10M capital campaign for St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA.

Kellett was a finalist in each of the last five years for Philadelphia CIO of the Year in the Large Enterprise category by the Philly CIO Leadership Association.

SUNDAY CLOSING SPEAKER

Kevin Grubb, MA, Associate Vice Provost, Career & Professional Development

Kevin Grubb is a nationally and internationally recognized expert on career services delivery in higher education. Currently, Kevin serves as Villanova University’s Associate Vice Provost for Career & Professional Development. In this role, he is responsible for the strategic direction of the university's career and professional development functions, leading cross-university task forces and spearheading institutional projects to enhance college-to-career success. Kevin’s expertise focuses on community-driven approaches to career education, a high-tech, high-touch approach, and prioritizes equitable access to career services, especially for those who have been historically excluded from higher education.

Kevin’s expertise has been acknowledged by several organizations whose mission is to provide innovative career services and education about college student engagement. He has been named the “Rising Star” twice in his career; first in 2014 by the American College Personnel Association and second in 2015 by the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE). That same year, LinkedIn invited Kevin to serve on its Product Advisory Council to provide insights and ideas for engaging college students and recruiting college talent on the platform. Additionally, Kevin has held several leadership positions for non-profit organizations such as NACE and the BIG EAST Conference Career Consortium.

In his consulting work, Kevin has delivered presentations and provided external reviews for career services leaders around the United States and abroad. His presentations have been featured at local, regional, and national conferences on career services for colleagues across the country. Through a partnership with USAID, Kevin was selected as part of a team to share best practices with career services practitioners in Morocco.

Kevin holds a BS in Psychology from St. Joseph's University, MA in Higher Education Administration from New York University, and is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach.