Villanova University College of Engineering: 2020-2025 In Review

Dear Friends,

It is with great pride and gratitude that I reflect on the remarkable progress the College of Engineering has made since I assumed the role of Drosdick Endowed Dean in 2020. Over the past five years, we have pursued excellence in education, research and service learning, guided by Villanova’s core values of Veritas, Unitas, Caritas.

Our faculty and students have embraced research and innovation, with the College securing over $36 million in external research funding since 2020; notably, this funding has grown 20% annually since 2022. We are pioneering groundbreaking work in urban water infrastructure, novel and affordable medical technologies, advanced security and communications, and more as we create new opportunities for growth and discovery. Engineering faculty members are earning prestigious grants, national awards and patents that extend knowledge in the field. We have expanded our PhD student enrollment by 45% since Fall 2020 and embarked on new interdisciplinary master’s programs in Biomedical, Aerospace, and Sports and Performance Engineering, while ensuring that every Villanova Engineer is equipped to address current and future global challenges.

The opening of our new home, Drosdick Hall, marked a transformative milestone in our College’s history. This stateof-the-art facility has redefined the academic and research experience, fostering collaboration and innovation across disciplines. It stands as a testament to our vision for the future, made possible by the generosity of our entire community. Beyond the classroom, we have enhanced engineering education by emphasizing learning by doing. Our students and faculty are making an impact worldwide through our service-learning opportunities, which have expanded into five additional countries in five years. The continued excellence of our award-winning Career Compass professional development program has contributed to the stellar success of our graduates, with more than 96% of the Class of 2024 securing opportunities in employment, graduate school and other ventures. An active startup community powered by Engineering Entrepreneurship is helping students take business concepts from paper to venture pitch, while more than two dozen exciting clubs and organizations foster community and support students’ goals.

Our efforts are guided by our 2023-2033 Strategic Plan, which lays out a bold vision for the future—one that prioritizes world-class education, research excellence and lifelong learning while strengthening the culture and climate of our community. These achievements are only the beginning. With the support of our students, faculty, alumni and external partners, we will continue to chart a bold course for the College of Engineering—one that builds upon our legacy of excellence and shapes the future of engineering for the common good.

Thank you for your continued dedication and belief in the College’s mission. I invite you to explore this brochure and celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of our Villanova Engineering community.

Very best,

Michele Marcolongo, PhD, PE

Drosdick Endowed Dean, College of Engineering Professor of Mechanical Engineering Villanova University

STUDENT FACTS

Undergraduate Data

1,083 total students

43 states represented

13 foreign countries represented

84% four-year graduation rate*

* compared with national average of less than 45%

93.5% 2024 retention rate (first year to sophomore year)

Class of 2028

280 students

1400-1498 average SAT (25%-75%)*

33-35 average ACT (25%-75%)*

* of those who submitted scores

Graduate Data

205 master’s students

138 PhD students

Undergraduate Class of 2024 Outcomes

$77,835 average starting salary

96.5% of students successfully secured opportunities in employment, graduate school and other ventures

83.1% of students completed an internship*

* compared with national average of 65%

43.1% of students received a job offer through an internship

36.8% of students participated in a research experience

21.7% of students participated in an international experience

Undergraduate Top Employers, 2022-2024

Air Products

Bohler

Estée Lauder

GE Renewable Energy

GSK

IBM

L3Harris Technologies

Linde

Lockheed Martin

Jacobs

Johnson Matthey

Merck and Co.

Northrop Grumman Corp.

P&G

Skanska

Suffolk Construction

Turner Construction Co.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

With passion, curiosity, engagement and vision, Villanova Engineers become society’s future innovators and technical leaders, committed to serving the greater good and solving complex global challenges by following habits of the heart and mind. By delivering a rigorous engineering education that teaches students to solve problems, think creatively and work collaboratively, the College of Engineering prepares students to be successful in any career.

MISSION

Villanova University’s College of Engineering is committed to an educational program that emphasizes technical excellence and a liberal arts education within the framework of the University’s Augustinian Catholic tradition.

As a community of scholars, we seek to educate students to pursue both knowledge and wisdom, and to aspire to ethical and moral leadership within their chosen careers, their community and the world. We value a spirit of community among all members of the College that respects academic freedom and inquiry, the discovery and cultivation of new knowledge, and continued innovation in all that we do.

AUGUSTINIAN VALUES

St. Augustine believed in “life in common,” and the commitment to and nurturing of community defines the Villanova University experience. St. Augustine called us to journey together in search of truth, to live and learn in community, and to love with care for the common good. These values of truth, unity and love—Veritas, Unitas, Caritas—inform all we do as a College and University. As an Augustinian Catholic community, we see the worth and dignity of all people, of all faiths and backgrounds, and we find unity not in uniformity, but in mutual respect and care—knowing that we learn best from and with each other.

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS

The College of Engineering’s four departments and one academic program are home to five undergraduate degrees, 12 master’s degrees and a PhD offered in 12 areas of study.

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Chair: Chris Kitchens, PhD

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Chair: Eric Musselman, PhD

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Chair: Xiaofang “Maggie” Wang, PhD

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science

Chemical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Computer Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Master of Science

Aerospace Engineering

Biochemical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Chair: Qianhong Wu, PhD

Sustainable Engineering

Director: Bridget Wadzuk, PhD

Civil Engineering

Computer Engineering

Cybersecurity

Electrical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Performance Engineering

Sustainable Engineering

Water Resources and Environmental Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy

12 Areas of Study

FACULTY AND STAFF

83 full-time faculty

61 tenured/tenure-track faculty

47 full-time staff

NEW PROGRAMS

The College of Engineering is continually updating its curriculum and program offerings to meet the demands of today’s engineer.

In Fall 2024, the College launched its Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (MSBME). This interdisciplinary program combines coursework from Chemical and Biological, Electrical and Computer, and Mechanical Engineering to address challenges in medicine and health care for societal needs. The MSBME program offers three specializations—Cell and Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics and Biomaterials, and Biomedical Signals, Sensors and Imaging—with each track offering thesis and nonthesis options for degree completion. The College will add a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering in Fall 2026.

A Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering program is launching in Fall 2025, featuring eightweek courses designed to appeal to working professionals. The program, which will be housed in the Mechanical Engineering Department, will prepare students to develop technologies for use in aviation, spacecraft and defense systems.

The College is also launching a Master of Science in Sports and Performance Engineering. This unique program—the first of its kind in the country—will focus on engineering that enhances human performance, addressing challenges faced by athletes on the field, as well as by individuals with muscular, neurological or behavioral limitations.

DROSDICK HALL

Following the completion of a 150,000-square-foot expansion, Drosdick Hall officially opened at the start of the 2024-2025 academic year. Developed through a collaborative process with input from faculty and students, the project more than doubled the size of the College of Engineering’s primary academic building, creating a new home for the entire Engineering community, both undergraduate and graduate, and serving as a catalyst for cross-disciplinary discovery and innovation.

Every aspect of the expansion—from the placement of faculty offices and lab configurations to meeting spaces—was designed to foster connections and facilitate collaboration. Drosdick Hall is a learning and innovation hub for engineers, and it ushers in a new era of engineering education at Villanova.

A CROSSROADS OF INNOVATION

The modern interior within Drosdick Hall elevates the academic and student experience with improved and expanded research facilities focused on innovative instruction space for hands-on, problemoriented and team-based learning.

At the heart of Drosdick Hall is the sprawling Jones Family Learning Commons, a soaring threestory, light-filled atrium community space for all Villanovans to gather, study and learn. Three green roofs, including the Kinsley Living Laboratory and Rooftop Terrace, not only manage the building’s stormwater runoff, but are also instrumented with smart systems to collect and monitor climate and soil moisture data, serving as cutting-edge teaching and research resources. New multifunctional classrooms can adapt to the changing needs of the College, including small discussion and larger lecture formats, while dedicated and centrally located office spaces and lounges for master’s and doctoral students enhance their experience as members of the Villanova Engineering community.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY LABS

More than 20 new state-of-the-art laboratory spaces were created in Drosdick Hall, marking a 63% increase in Engineering lab space. These innovative labs were designed to facilitate multidisciplinary creativity around topical areas of research.

The two-story Drosdick Innovation Laboratory is the building’s marquee maker space, housing 3D printers, high-tech workstations and other tools for the design-build-test process of engineering. Viewable to the public and open to the entire campus, the lab puts students’ innovative and collaborative projects on full display.

The Giunco Family Hydraulic and Sediment Dynamics Laboratory is the new home base for Villanova’s internationally recognized stormwater management researchers. Equipped with a 50-foot hydrology flume—the largest in the region—as well as a 20-foot flume, the lab allows Civil and Environmental Engineering faculty and student researchers to perform the next level of stormwater research.

In the L3Harris Technologies Heterogeneous Autonomous Vehicle Laboratory, researchers develop, implement and test autonomous vehicles. Using innovative robots and drones, small-scale unmanned air, underwater, surface, ground and amphibious vehicles, students and faculty can create and test algorithms for cooperative missions between intelligent vehicles operating in different mediums.

Researchers from the departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Mechanical Engineering work side-by-side in the Dicciani Biomaterials and Polymers Laboratory. The lab boasts instruments typically found in medical lab spaces, including biomaterials synthesis and advanced characterization equipment and cell culture facilities.

BY THE NUMBERS

245,742

ENGINEERING FOR THE COMMON GOOD

To be a Villanova Engineer is to pursue solutions to help others. So how might we leverage engineering technology to enable people to live their best lives? Through service learning opportunities and cutting-edge research, our students and faculty members are strengthening the College’s commitment to igniting change for the good of society.

VILLANOVA ENGINEERING SERVICE LEARNING (VESL)

VESL is committed to supporting engineering projects worldwide that are rooted in ethical engagement with partners. Fundamental to this is the belief that empowering local communities is essential to creating sustainable solutions. The College has established strong relationships and ongoing projects in 12 international countries, and in 2021 VESL began its first domestic initiative with partners from the Four Corners region of the Navajo Nation.

UGANDA CAPSTONE PROJECT

A group of nine students and three faculty members from Civil and Environmental Engineering traveled to Uganda in 2024 to work on senior capstone projects addressing critical water and sanitation concerns. During the seven-day trip, the group met with residents and visited project sites in pursuit of developing a solar-powered well pump system to expand residents’ water access and designing safer latrines for students at a local school.

NOVAMED

Based on a firm belief that income should not determine who has access to lifesaving care, Villanova in 2020 established NOVAMED: The Villanova Laboratory for Affordable Medical Technologies. Engineering researchers in the lab were awarded a patent in 2023 for the development of a novel type of mechanical ventilator. Initially manufactured as an emergency alternative during the COVID-19 pandemic, this machine, called NovaVent, will now serve as a highefficiency, low-cost device suitable for mitigating the global need for medical equipment.

SPORTS AND PERFORMANCE ENGINEERING

Launched by the College in 2022, this forwardthinking initiative aims to use engineering principles to solve problems in sports and performance, creating new opportunities for teams and individuals, athletes and nonathletes alike. Through the program, our researchers are developing novel devices to augment brain health; partnering with Villanova Athletics to predict and address injuries on the field; and engineering solutions for neurodiverse individuals to better navigate the world. The goal is to enhance human performance—from the playing field to the classroom and beyond.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

Engineering students at Villanova engage in a dynamic academic environment that fosters innovation, research and entrepreneurship. Through prestigious programs like Grand Challenges Scholars and hands-on experiences such as faculty-led research, our students develop the skills and perspectives needed to tackle real-world engineering challenges.

CAREER COMPASS

The College’s award-winning professional development curriculum equips Engineering students with the direction they need to achieve their goals post-graduation. Through online modules, inperson sessions and one-on-one alumni mentorship, students develop their skills in ethics, project management and other key professional areas. Career Compass serves as a national model for student professional development programs and was recognized with the 2021 Innovation Award by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

GRAND CHALLENGES SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Villanova Engineering offers all undergraduate students the option to participate in the multiyear National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges Scholars Program, an education supplement that is designed to prepare Engineering students to solve the grand challenges facing the 21st century. Students are challenged to think in international terms and develop the perspectives and skills needed to find solutions to real and urgent problems—offering a clear view to future jobs and opportunities in engineering. Since 2021, eight Villanova Engineering students have completed the rigorous program and graduated with the nationally prestigious Grand Challenges Scholar designation.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH WITH FACULTY

Throughout their time at Villanova, Engineering students have opportunities to work directly with faculty on impactful research projects that serve the common good. During their four undergraduate years, on average, about 37% of students participate in faculty-mentored research experiences in the College’s specialty research areas of Water, Energy and Food Security; Engineering Better Medicine and Health Care; Materials for a Sustainable Future; and Smart and Resilient Infrastructure Systems.

ENGINEERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Employers value engineers with entrepreneurship skills, so training in this area is incorporated into many aspects of the Villanova Engineering experience. For students interested in taking a deeper dive, the Engineering Entrepreneurship minor focuses on entrepreneurial competencies like leadership, persistence, innovation and creativity. Additionally, the Engineering Entrepreneurship Summer Institute (E2SI) minor blends entrepreneurial spirit with product innovation principles, fostering collaboration across disciplines. Since 2024, E2SI has also included a study abroad component in Panama, where students learn the tenets, tools and frameworks for global innovation and entrepreneurship.

STUDENT GROUPS

The College of Engineering is home to more than two dozen student organizations covering a range of opportunities and interests, including:

• Honor societies

• Professional societies

• Student council

• Engineering support groups

• Clubs and teams

• STEM outreach

NOVARACING

NovaRacing, Villanova’s popular Formula SAE team, draws dozens of students to design and construct a race car from scratch each year. After achieving a second-place finish overall at the international Formula SAE Competition in Michigan in 2022, the team received a disappointing DNF (did not finish) in 2023 when their car’s battery failed. Undeterred, the 2024 team committed to generating innovative, creative solutions, recognizing that failure is part of the engineering process. Their lighter, faster vehicle secured an impressive ninth-place finish out of 120 international teams. Moving forward, NovaRacing has its sights set on additional top-five finishes, as well as plans to build an electric race car.

FACULTY AND RESEARCH

At Villanova Engineering, exciting research opportunities exist for students and faculty at all levels to address some of the Earth’s greatest challenges. Home to a dozen specialty research clusters and more than 20 new state-of-the-art laboratory spaces in Drosdick Hall, the College is more prepared than ever to support cutting-edge research and innovation that cuts across disciplines.

ENDOWED CHAIRS

A prestigious honor awarded to accomplished academic professors, endowed chairs are premier scholars, leaders and models for other faculty. Villanova Engineering’s six endowed chairs have demonstrated excellence in teaching, research and service.

• Drosdick Endowed Dean, College of Engineering

Michele Marcolongo, PhD, PE Professor of Mechanical Engineering

• James R. Birle Endowed Chair in Energy Technology

Alfonso Ortega, PhD Professor, Mechanical Engineering Director, Center for Energy-Smart Electronic Systems

• William M. Brown ’84, ’87 Endowed Chair in Mechanical Engineering

Sylvie Lorente, PhD Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Senior Associate Dean, Research and Innovation

• Edward A. Daylor Endowed Chair in Civil Engineering

Bridget Wadzuk, PhD

Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Director, Sustainable Engineering

• Nance K. Dicciani PhD ’69 Endowed Professor in Chemical Engineering

Jacob Elmer, PhD

Associate Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Assistant Chair, Graduate Studies

• Moritz Endowed Chair in Systems Engineering

C. Nataraj, PhD

Professor, Mechanical Engineering Director, Villanova Center for Analytics of Dynamic Systems

• Endowed Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering

To be named

THE COLLEGE’S NEWEST ENDOWED CHAIR

In 2024, William “Bill” M. Brown ’84 ME, ’87 MSME, CEO of 3M, made a $2.5 million gift to the College for the establishment of an endowed chair in Mechanical Engineering. Sylvie Lorente, PhD, was selected as the inaugural chairholder. Dr. Lorente pioneered the field of flow architectures of heat, mass and fluid that morph toward better efficiency. Her group works to uncover the underlying engineered and biological hierarchical flow pathways that endow complex systems with efficient properties and behaviors. Dr. Lorente’s primary domain is thermal engineering with applications in thermal management and energy storage. More recently, she has applied flow architectures to the medical sciences, helping transplant surgeons by developing models that predict blood flow through the liver.

ENGINEERING SCHOLARS ON THE RISE

Villanova Engineering celebrates dedicated teacher-scholars who are early in their careers and have been recognized with prestigious awards for their contributions and innovation in their fields.

In 2022, Kristin Sample-Lord, PhD, associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, received a five-year, $510,000 National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award for her project, “Coupled Phenomena Resilience and Dynamics in Bentonite Barriers.”

Mojtaba Vaezi, PhD, associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was a recipient of a five-year, $600,000 CAREER award in 2023 for his project, “Harnessing Interference with Deep Learning: Algorithms and Large-Scale Experiments.”

David Cereceda, PhD, associate professor of Mechanical Engineering, was the first-ever Villanova faculty member to receive the Early Career Award from the US Department of Energy in 2022. The award included a five-year, $750,000 grant for his project on fusion energy, “Unraveling Transmutation Effects in Tungsten-Based Plasma Facing Materials: A Computational Approach That Integrates Nuclear Transmutation, First-Principles, Calculations and Machine Learning.”

Virginia Smith, PhD, associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, led a research team in securing a three-year, $1.4 million Major Research Instrumentation grant from the National Science Foundation for the installation and upkeep of a unidirectional sediment-feed tilting flume.

GRANTS, EXPENDITURES, PATENTS

Over the past five years, every aspect of the College’s academic experience has been impacted through an expanded research enterprise. Villanova Engineering is committed to driving innovation and growth through increased research output.

8 patents granted since FY2020

152 grants received since FY2020

$37.8 million in grant money awarded since FY2020

All data through May 2025.

Federal: 69%

Industry: 12%

State/City: 12%

GRANT SPONSORS, FY2025

Foundation: 5%

Other Nonprofit: 6%

GRADUATE RESEARCH

Villanova Engineering graduate students drive innovation, push the boundaries of knowledge and contribute to solving complex societal challenges—while helping to position Villanova as a leader in cutting-edge engineering advancements.

PhD ENROLLMENT

Increased research opportunities, new, modern facilities and top faculty have attracted more PhD students to Villanova Engineering. Since Fall 2020, the College has seen a 45% increase in the total number of Engineering doctoral students.

RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS

Graduate students in the College of Engineering work directly alongside our faculty members on impactful research that advances innovation in the field. One recent standout includes Turki Haj Mohamad ’21 PhD, who received a US patent for a fault detection and diagnostics system, working in partnership with C. Nataraj, PhD, the Moritz Endowed Professor of Engineered Systems. Additionally, Liang Zhao ’25 PhD was co-first author on a paper about nanomaterials published in Nature Communications, a collaboration with Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Bo Li, PhD.

THREE-MINUTE THESIS (3MT)

Participants in this graduate-level competition showcase their communication skills with succinct oral summaries of their research, using language appropriate for a non-specialist audience. At the past two events, students from Villanova Engineering have received the People’s Choice award, presented by 3MT audience members.

Yen Leng Chong, a master’s student in Sustainable Engineering, was recognized in 2024 for her presentation, “Building a Circular Economy System for Universities through the Green Office Program.” Meanwhile, Valerie Lallo, a PhD student in Chemical and Biological Engineering, was honored in 2025 for “Creating a Drug Delivery System for Reducing Inflammation in Kidney Transplants.”

FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Over the past five years, the College has created multiple new programs aimed at both junior and mid-career faculty members looking to further their research and grow as leaders—both on campus and in their field.

Assistant Tenure-Track Faculty Career Development Award

Presented annually since January 2022, this award is intended to help tenure-track faculty members facilitate relationships with mentors and collaborators at other institutions who can aid in accelerating research development. Recipients of this elite honor have secured more than $2.8 million in research funding as their projects’ principal investigator, and all faculty members receiving this award have been successful in achieving tenure.

Associate Professor Research Fellowship

This fellowship was established to provide research support to associate professors who aspire to expand their portfolios, offering professional development, funding, mentorship and coaching. Launched in June 2022, the program aims to help faculty become more active within the research community while broadening their professional network and developing more competitive proposals.

Dean’s Fellows

Created in 2023 as an avenue to develop the next generation of College leaders, these yearlong fellowships offer faculty members a unique opportunity to engage in academic administration, where they gain valuable experience and insight into leadership roles within the institution. Participants collaborate on strategic initiatives, develop administrative skills and contribute to shaping the future of the College’s academic programs and policies.

CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

In Villanova’s College of Engineering, we consider it our mission as engineers to serve the common good, encompassing humanity and the natural world.

With eight highly regarded centers of excellence and several specialty research areas, the work of our faculty, students, postdocs and visiting scholars is focused on:

• Water, Energy and Food Security

• Engineering Better Medicine and Health Care

• Materials for a Sustainable Future

• Smart and Resilient Infrastructure Systems

Research in the College of Engineering is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Naval Research and Army Research Lab, as well as by local and regional industry partners, governmental agencies and foundations.

Center for Energy-Smart Electronic Systems

CENTER FOR HUMANITARIAN ENGINEERING AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Director: Jordan Ermilio, PhD

Engages students in unique learning opportunities reinforcing engineering fundamentals and commitment to lifelong learning and service to society

CENTER FOR ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS

Director: Moeness Amin, PhD

Advances wireless communications, satellite navigations, acoustic and ultrasound sensing and radar imaging for human health and security

VILLANOVA CENTER FOR ANALYTICS OF DYNAMIC SYSTEMS

Director: C. Nataraj, PhD

Makes use of “big data” to uncover the underlying dynamics for analysis, diagnostics, prognostics and health management

CENTER FOR ENERGY-SMART ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS (ES2)

Director: Alfonso Ortega, PhD

Develops methodologies, tools and systems to maximize energy efficiency and productivity in the operation of data centers, creating a greener industry

CENTER FOR CELLULAR ENGINEERING (NOVACELL)

Director: William Kelly, PhD

Leads efforts to improve the life-changing potential of cell and gene therapy products and the bioprocesses used to make them

CENTER FOR NONLINEAR DYNAMICS AND CONTROL

Director: Garrett Clayton, PhD

Works on real-world applications—including security, mobility and health care—of nonlinear dynamic systems and control theory

VILLANOVA CENTER FOR RESILIENT WATER SYSTEMS

Director: Bridget Wadzuk, PhD

Creates resilient engineered solutions for global water challenges, including climate change, population growth, aging infrastructure and more

CENTER FOR HUMAN-ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

Director: Wenqing Xu, PhD

Founded in 2022, the Center for Human-Environmental Systems (CHES) integrates and advances interdisciplinary research and scholarship at the nexus of people and planet. Reaching across disciplines to include faculty insights from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Charles Widger School of Law, in addition to the College of Engineering, CHES advances technologies and solutions that mimic natural processes and promote restorative impacts upon the Earth’s interconnected systems.

CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIPS

The best way to train future engineers is to engage them in real-world projects, and we are grateful to our corporate and philanthropic partners for helping us bridge classroom theory with real-world application. From education to research to service, these engagements with external partners and stakeholders enable students and faculty to make an impact on the world.

New Millennium — Research

Building upon a 25-year partnership with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Millennium, a Steel Dynamics company, awarded a $2 million grant to the College in 2024 to study the design and performance of structural steel components used in commercial buildings. One hallmark of this five-year research program is the involvement of Engineering students at all levels, from undergraduates through PhD candidates.

L3Harris Technologies — Drosdick Hall Expansion

Over the past decade, L3Harris has become one of the College’s most significant corporate partners. The company is a top employment destination for our graduates, supports a range of professional development programs, and endowed INNOVATE: The L3Harris Summer Program, where student teams build original prototypes of their own design. In 2022, L3Harris provided a generous gift of $1 million in support of Drosdick Hall, which was recognized through the naming of the L3Harris Technologies HAVLab.

Boeing — Sustainability and Design Education

A long-standing strategic partner of the College, Boeing provides annual philanthropy in support of undergraduate Engineering programs. Over the past two years, Boeing has provided supplemental funds to the College to implement an “engineering design spine” for undergraduates. In addition, Boeing is a leading partner of the Sustainable Engineering graduate program, helping to pilot and launch its customized executive education program.

OTHER PARTNERSHIPS

GSK and Bristol Myers Squibb: The pharmaceutical companies have supported research projects investigating cryopreservation techniques for cancer-targeting cell therapies and the molecular profiling of CAR-T products, respectively.

Hearst Foundations: In 2024, the foundations made a grant of $150,000 in support of Drosdick Hall, recognizing the College’s longstanding commitment to excellence in engineering education.

Linde PLC: Established in 2020, the Linde Endowment for Climate Change Research supports promising student research in this space, in recognition of the contributions of Linde Executive Vice President Anne Roby, PhD, ’86 ChE.

Northrop Grumman: Since 2021, the company has provided nearly $200,000 in support of a communitydriven, sustainable agricultural program in the Four Corners region of Navajo Nation.

Pennsylvania Manufacturing Innovation Program: Since 2020, the College has secured 15 grants through this program, which pairs faculty and graduate students with Pennsylvania-based industries to pilot new advances in manufacturing.

United Engineering Foundation: A grant from the foundation enabled the College to disseminate its professional development program, Career Compass, among other engineering schools.

ADVISORY BOARDS

The College of Engineering receives guidance from multiple advisory boards composed of dedicated alumni and experts in their fields. These board members help shape the College’s departments and programs, while serving as examples to students of where an Engineering degree can lead.

Current Boards

Engineering Advisory Board

E15 Young Alumni Board*

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering*

Engineering Entrepreneurship

Humanitarian Engineering

Professional Development (Career Compass)

Sports and Performance Engineering*

* New since 2020

Advisory Board Makeup

About the E15

Established in Fall 2021, the Villanova University College of Engineering Young Alumni Board (E15) aims to increase engagement of recent graduates through initiatives that bridge the gap between students and alumni, foster a culture of philanthropy and support the College’s strategic priorities, while promoting and strengthening our reputation for excellent engineering education.

Boards in Development

Sustainable Engineering

Villanova Engineering, Science and Technology

Enrichment and Development (VESTED)

NovaEdge

The College strives to maintain advisory boards that are reflective of our graduates and society as a whole. Our advisers represent a wide variety of industries, including those outside traditional engineering fields.

Engineering Construction / Manufacturing: 22% (40)

Defense / Space: 13% (23)

Tech / Electrical: 11% (19)

Education: 8% (15)

Biotech / Chemical: 8% (14)

Energy: 7% (13)

INDUSTRY BREAKDOWN

Health Care: 6% (10)

Finance / Banking: 4% (7)

Management Consulting: 4% (7)

Entertainment / Sports: 3% (5)

Government Agencies: 2% (4)

Military: 2% (4)

Other / Villanova Staff: 10% (18)

FUNDRAISING ACHIEVEMENTS

The College of Engineering is grateful for the financial support of our entire community. The generosity of our donors enabled the College to surpass its fundraising goal for the Drosdick Hall project and establish an endowment to support building maintenance and the updating of research and teaching equipment. With the public launch of Espritus Nova: The Campaign for Villanova University in Fall 2024, the College is poised to achieve even greater fundraising heights, benefiting faculty research, student scholarships, professional development and other initiatives.

Drosdick Hall fundraising:

$60 million College’s goal

$73.5 million total amount raised

Espiritus Nova fundraising:

$125 million College’s goal

$103.8 million total amount raised*

*From June 1, 2018, through Sept. 15, 2025

A bronze medallion near the entrance to Drosdick Hall features St. Patrick, the patron saint of engineers, surrounded by images representing seven engineering disciplines at Villanova: Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Civil and Environmental, Sustainable, Biological and Computer Engineering.