VSB Spring 2026 Magazine

Leading with Purpose

The Ryan Family Augustinian Leadership Journey is part of VSB’s commitment to Augustinian Catholic values

INSIDE VSB / P12

Bringing Wall Street to Villanova

FACULTY / P16

A Human-Centered Approach to AI

INSIDE VSB / P18

Gen Z Now Taking the Field for the Sales Team

In Memoriam

Our VSB community was saddened by the passing of Villanova alumnus, longtime supporter and benefactor Herbert Rammrath ’57 VSB in August 2025. Rammrath’s generosity and vision had a profound and lasting impact on generations of VSB students. He championed global learning by funding scholarships that enabled students to study abroad and welcomed international students to experience VSB. His kindness and leadership will be greatly missed by our students, faculty and staff.

The Helen and William O’Toole Dean Wen Mao, PhD

Director, Marketing and Communication

Monica Mlynaryk Allen

Associate Director, Communication and Editor

Shannon M. Wilson

Contributors

Colleen Donnelly

Tim McCulloch

Amy Swift Meghan Winch ’15 MA

Principal Photography

Melissa Kelly Theresa Regan

Design and Production

Matthew Schmidt Design

1

Nitin Joglekar, PhD 20

Dr. Patti Ippoliti ’75 VSB

16

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Dean’s Update

With the elevation of Pope Leo XIV, the first Augustinian Pope and a Villanova graduate, it is fitting that the cover story of this issue of Villanova Business highlights two programs that showcase our Augustinian approach to business education. In fact, Pope Leo himself, then Cardinal Robert Prevost, OSA, ’77 CLAS, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, invited members of VSB’s Center for Church Management to Rome in 2024 to propose one of these programs: the “Church Management and the Diocesan Apostolate” conference hosted by VSB this past summer. I hope you enjoy reading about this special event, as well as the Augustinian Leadership Journey, a unique program that teaches Augustinian spirituality and leadership skill development.

As you read about our world-class faculty and staff who are conducting cutting-edge research and developing innovative programs, as well as our students and inspiring alumni who are living purpose-driven lives, it is clear that VSB’s values of truth, community, caring and leading through service are evident in all that we do.

Wen Mao, PhD

The Helen and William O’Toole Dean Professor of Economics

Villanova

School of Business

In Augustinian education, there is a saying: We search for truth together, and everyone has a contribution to make.

The Villanova School of Business develops business leaders for a better world through the Augustinian values of truth, community, caring and leading through service.

Leading with Purpose

The Augustinian Approach to Business Education

Two programs from the Center for Church Management (CCM) demonstrate how VSB delivers world-class business education within this Augustinian framework to undergraduate students as well as bishops at some of the highest levels of the Catholic Church.

Church Management Hosts New Bishops

This past July, CCM hosted several recently ordained bishops for a four-day immersive program: “Church Management and the Diocesan Apostolate.” Members of the Center proposed the conference in Rome in the fall of 2024, at the invitation of then-Cardinal Robert Prevost, OSA, ’77 CLAS, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, now Pope Leo XIV.

The goal of the program was to enhance the bishops’ knowledge of some of the most common church management challenges and solutions. With the bishops’ input, the conference focused on three key areas: people resources, financial management and pastoral strategic planning. Fifteen bishops from the United States and Canada attended the conference, which took place at the Inn at Villanova and on campus. Archbishop Nelson Perez of Philadelphia served as celebrant of the opening Mass.

The information we received was tailored to our specific needs and you could tell that every presenter exuded a desire to serve the Church. It was all done in a joyful, professional and prayerful way.”

–Bishop Christopher Cooke

Some of the most valuable learning occurred during our discussions, both during presentations and in informal settings like meals and one-on-one conversations.”

–Bishop Felipe Pulido

According to Matthew Manion, PhD, ’11 MSCM, the David Grenon Family Faculty Director of the Center for Church Management, not only did the conference provide timely, useful business education for the bishops, but it highlighted the Augustinian Catholic tradition that makes Villanova unique: “We wanted to emphasize the Augustinian charism of community throughout all aspects of the conference, providing ample opportunities for the bishops to engage with and learn from VSB faculty and one another.”

Bishop Christopher Cooke of Philadelphia says the conference gave the bishops relevant and actionable knowledge and tools to directly address the realities of their day-to-day roles. He noted how the interactive nature of the conference gave the bishops time to discuss topics with one another during breakout sessions and over meals. “We could apply our learnings to our collective lived experiences,” Bishop Cooke says. A “spirit of prayer” was carried throughout the entire conference: “From having access to a chapel on site to enjoying the beautiful Villanova choir and liturgies, it was clear that everything was done with an intentionality and thoughtfulness that truly enhanced the entire experience.”

Bishop Felipe Pulido of San Diego echoes these sentiments. “It was wonderful to be with my fellow bishops and learn about various aspects of church governance,” he says. “Understanding budgets and financial operations is essential for us as bishops, as it enables us to ask the right questions when presented with information.”

Ryan Family Augustinian Leadership Journey

The Ryan Family Augustinian Leadership Journey (ALJ) was created as a three-year pilot program in 2023 as part of VSB’s commitment to remain rooted in its Augustinian Catholic values and restless to ignite change. The goal of the program is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to exercise a uniquely Augustinian Catholic model of leadership on campus and in the world after graduation.

The two-year, non-credit program is offered to select undergraduate students during their third and fourth years. The annual cohort of 12 to 18 students is chosen from nominations submitted by Villanova faculty and staff. Students attend two retreat weekends and 10 learning sessions during junior year and a one-week immersion pilgrimage—or pellegrinaggio—in Italy during senior year.

ALJ has three core components:

Jesus as the ultimate model of leadership

Each gathering includes Gospel passages revealing the leadership qualities of Jesus, and the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist are offered on the retreats and during the pilgrimage.

Augustinian spirituality

Sessions include wisdom from St. Augustine and St. Monica among other Augustinian saints. In addition, Augustinian friars accompany students throughout the program, and students spend a week living with the Augustinians in Italy.

Leadership skill development

Students are exposed to some of the top leadership models in the world, drawing from both academia and the business world. Each session also includes personal application projects for students to practice leadership skills.

In 2025, ALJ students met with Pope Leo XIV. The Holy Father shared a reminder that ethics in business is essential, and that we have a responsibility to use our technology to change the systems that perpetuate the poor and hungry.

Through the intensive immersion experience, students learn how to transform the values of Veritas, Unitas, Caritas from a campus motto to a way of life.

Nicole Brower ’25 VSB says the program reshaped how she sees herself and what it means to be a leader as both a student and a professional. “It was an incredibly transformative experience. The program went beyond theoretical leadership concepts and genuinely shaped not only how I lead but how I live,” she explains. “For me, Veritas meant being honest with myself as a leader. Unitas came alive through the friendships I built in the cohort. And Caritas shaped the way I now view leadership as an act of service. True leadership requires both trust in others and a willingness to step back so others can shine.” Brower says one of the most meaningful aspects of the program was the integration of Augustinian spirituality with leadership development. “The presence of Father Bernie (Scianna, OSA) and Father Kevin (DePrinzio, OSA) deepened my understanding of leadership and grounded it in a greater purpose; one that prioritizes a service-oriented mindset and being able to navigate both successes and setbacks with grace.”

CCM Director Chesley Turner ’19 MSCM says the ALJ program allows participants to understand how personal values affect leadership through learning, experience and reflection. “They encounter the concepts of Veritas, Unitas, Caritas not as catchphrases, but as guides for good living. But what I like most of all about this program is that students and facilitators grow together, modeling for one another what it is to be Augustinian in this world.”

The ALJ pilot is funded by a generous grant from the Ryan Family Foundation. Due to the overwhelming success of the training for new bishops and the ALJ, both programs were recently approved to continue past the pilot phase thanks to the generosity of benefactors of VSB.

Faculty Achievements

VSB boasts world-class faculty members who are both nationally and internationally recognized experts in their fields, with 90% holding a PhD or the highest degree in their discipline. They excel across the board—in research, instruction and innovation.

Caitlin Dannhauser, PhD, ’05 VSB

Named Inaugural Vincent B. ’88 and Nicole DiDomenico Jr. Endowed Senior Research Fellow in Finance

Caitlin Dannhauser, PhD, ’05 VSB joined Villanova in 2015 as an assistant professor in Finance, returning to her alma mater where she majored in Finance and co-majored in International Business. She previously held the Michelle and Sean Traynor ’91 Assistant Professorship, ceding the position in 2023 when she received tenure and was promoted to associate professor. She currently serves as one of the department’s associate chairs.

Dr. Dannhauser received her PhD in Finance from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. Prior to pursuing her PhD, she worked in the Equity Sales and Trading department at Credit Suisse and earned her CFA® Charter.

Her research interests are in the areas of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), institutional investors and empirical asset pricing, and her current research focuses on the impact of ETFs on corporate bond microstructure, the role of price insensitive passive demand on corporate bond issuances, the impact of passive funds in the mutual fund family complex, and the flow-performance relationship across different investment vehicles.

She is the recipient of VSB’s Research to Practice Award (2021) and the Thomas J. Carmody Jr. Faculty Award (2024), which recognizes a faculty member’s efforts to promote the integration of teaching, theory and practice.

Dr. Dannhauser’s fellowship was made possible by a generous gift from Vincent B. ’88 VSB and Nicole DiDomenico Jr. P ’21, ’24, ’27. DiDomenico is the founder and managing member of Delta Equity Management, developers of commercial real estate in the New Jersey and New York Metropolitan area. He graduated from VSB with a degree in finance and later earned his MBA from the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University.

I am honored to be named the first Vincent B. ’88 and Nicole DiDomenico Jr. Endowed Senior Research Fellow in Finance. The DiDomenico family’s generosity and commitment to the future of the University, particularly its research initiatives, are truly inspiring. This support provides invaluable resources, enabling me—along with future recipients —to contribute meaningfully to the continued growth and success of the Finance department’s research reputation.”

–Caitlin Dannhauser, PhD, ’05 VSB

Jennifer Altamuro, PhD

Elected Chair of the Department of Accounting & Information Systems

Jennifer Altamuro, PhD will serve a three-year term. She succeeded Michael Peters, PhD.

Dr. Altamuro joined VSB in 2014 as an assistant professor in Accounting and previously held the Megan ’07 and Matthew ’06 Baldwin Assistant Professorship. She was promoted to full professor in 2024 and has served as the faculty director of the Master of Accounting with Data Analytics Program. She serves as a VSB faculty representative for Faculty Congress and the Academic Policy Committee and is also a member of the VISIBLE Steering Committee.

Her research has been published in top academic journals, including The Accounting Review, The Journal of Accounting and Economics, Contemporary Accounting Research, and The Review of Accounting Studies

Dr. Altamuro received her PhD from Penn State University and her BS in Accounting from St. Joseph’s University. She was previously a faculty member at The Ohio State University and a visiting professor at the Wharton School of Business and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Pankaj Patel, PhD

Ranks Fourth in the World for Publications in the Financial Times’ Top 50 Journals

Pankaj Patel, PhD, the Frank J. and Jane E. Ryan Endowed Chair and professor of Strategy and Innovation, secured the fourth spot globally for scholarship published in the Financial Times’ Top 50 (FT-50) journals from 2008 to 2022. Developed by the Financial Times with input from leading business schools, the FT-50 is a global benchmark for research excellence. This distinction highlights Dr. Patel’s outstanding research contributions to management and organization.

Dr. Patel joined VSB in 2015 as the newly created Frank J. and Jane E. Ryan Family Chair in Strategy and Innovation, as position that has allowed him to share his research and first-hand venture experience to inspire even more entrepreneurships within the VSB community.

He has won numerous awards for his research, which has been presented in media outlets such as Forbes, Fortune, NPR, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. Dr. Patel received his MA and PhD from University of Louisville and his BA from Spalding University.

Department Chair Re-elections

Each chair is serving another three-year term effective August 2025.

Kevin Clark, PhD

Re-elected chair of the Management & Operations department

Shelly Howton, PhD

Re-elected chair of the Finance & Real Estate department

P&Q

Two VSB Students Selected as Poets&Quants 2025 Best & Brightest Business Majors

Aidan Connolly ’25 VSB and Olivia Hansen ’25 VSB were selected among the 2025 Poets&Quants 100 Best & Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors. The list honors 100 senior business students from the Top 50 undergraduate business programs who made the biggest impact and personified the best of their cohorts.

Aidan Connolly ’25 VSB

From Chicago, Ill., Aidan Connolly was a standout honors student at VSB, where he earned a double major in Applied Quantitative Finance and International Business.

At Villanova, Connolly built a comprehensive record of leadership, academic excellence and service. He served as the co-president of the Villanova Mergers & Acquisitions Society, where he helped second-year students navigate the early stages of their professional career—just as current alumni helped him. In addition, he has served as a communication services associate for the Villanova Wildcat Fund, a VSB Student Ambassador, a financial literacy tutor, and a communications assistant in VSB’s Communications & Marketing Department.

Connolly earned many notable honors such as the Villanova University Augustinian Scholarship and the Bartley Medallion for Excellence in International Business. His achievements include induction into the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honors Society, first Place at the 2022 Global Accounting Firms Case Competition, and multiple Dean’s List recognitions.

After graduation, Connolly joined The Raine Group in New York City as an analyst, where he is leveraging his academic foundation and leadership experience to make a meaningful impact in the financial sector.

Olivia Hansen ’25 VSB

Olivia Hansen earned degrees in Management and International Business with a minor in Writing and Rhetoric. Throughout her undergraduate career, she explored her passion for learning and cross-cultural connections as a global key advisor in the Office of Education Abroad and as an office assistant in the department of Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Hansen participated in the 2022 Global Citizens Study Abroad Program in London, where she worked as an administrative intern at Pontone and Albemarle art galleries in Soho, London. Passionate about social justice, she was the co-director of No Man’s Land, a documentary created through the International Social Justice Documentary Course at Villanova. Her dedication to service was a cornerstone of her time at Villanova, shown through her involvement in Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, Special Olympics Pennsylvania Fall Festival and the St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service.

Hansen sought opportunities that reflect her drive to make a meaningful impact, including an internship in the White House’s Contract and Procurement Office for the federal government. “Being in the White House at the intersection of political and business decisions was an honor of a lifetime, and hopefully the beginning of a long career in improving the lives of others through business,” Hansen said.

Business

Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Co-Major

A Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence co-major is now available for students in the Class of 2029 and beyond. Previously offered as a minor only, the co-major and minor equip students with a deep understanding of business intelligence and advanced analytic tools that businesses need today.

Additionally, there are four new VSB concentrations and minors for students to select:

• International Concentration (Economics)

• Public Policy Concentration (Economics)

• Quantitative Business Concentration (Economics)

• Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation (minor)

Summer Business Institute Continues to Grow

The Summer Business Institute (SBI) continues to be highly successful, with 2025 boasting the largest cohort in the program’s 29-year history. SBI is a full-time, 16-credit online program that provides an opportunity for non-business majors at Villanova to earn a business minor or, for non-Villanova students, a business certificate.

10-WEEK PROGRAM

VSB Relaunches Inspiring Minds Podcast with

New Hosts

Explore VSB’s Inspiring Minds podcast and gain insights from our expert faculty on how business research is shaping industries, influencing leaders and driving positive societal impact. Senior associate dean Jonathan Doh, PhD, and Beth Vallen, PhD, professor, Marketing & Business Law will serve as alternating co-hosts.

Our latest episodes:

“Shattering Assumptions: Reexamining the ‘Glass Cliff’ through New Data About Women in Leadership”

Host: Jonathan Doh, PhD

Featuring:

Xiaoxiao Li, PhD Associate professor, Economics

Olivia Pfeiffer ’22 CLAS ESG program manager at FMC

“The Power and Pitfalls of Purpose Marketing: Understanding Consumer Reactions to Brand Activism”

Host: Beth Vallen, PhD

Featuring:

Tyler Milfeld, PhD

The Michelle and Sean Traynor ’91 Assistant Professor, Marketing & Business Law

“Closing the Gap: Using Data to Drive Pay Equity”

Host: Jonathan Doh, PhD

Featuring:

David Anderson, PhD Associate professor, Management & Operations

Find us on your favorite streaming platform by scanning the QR code.

Graduate Programs

The Villanova School of Business consistently strives to keep our programs relevant, responsive and forward-looking. Take a look at some exciting updates across our graduate offerings.

VSB Launches MSBAi

The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) has been redesigned as the Master of Science in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (MSBAi). The MSBAi will have an increased emphasis on the integration of AI technology into coursework, including AI-assisted programming, prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and multi-agent systems and advanced analytics.

The program changes better reflect the evolving demands of the job market as well as the actual employment outcomes achieved by graduates. The 30-credit MSBAi will continue to focus on real-world application, giving professionals the skills to interpret data and make informed, reliable and AI-powered decisions.

The updated curriculum for the MSBAi was developed with guidance from senior business executives and faculty members to address the skills that organizations most urgently need across the data science and analytics spectrum. The new MSBAi program will continue to be offered in an online format with the option to start in the fall or spring and can be completed in as few as four semesters.

Manuel Nuñez, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Executive Education; Professor of the Practice, Management & Operations oversees graduate programming.

MSF Program Enhancements

The most recent cohort of the Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program is the largest in the program’s 20-year history after four consecutive years of growth. The MSF curriculum has been updated to give students more options for electives and to keep the content relevant for the skills that are most in-demand in the industry.

Executive MBA Celebrates 25 Years

As it celebrates its 25th anniversary, the Villanova Executive MBA (EMBA) continues to shape purpose-driven leaders who create lasting impact in their organizations and communities.

The EMBA program was established in 2000 with an inaugural class of 23 executives. Since then, it has proudly educated over 600 leaders. The program draws professionals from diverse industries and backgrounds to engage in a dynamic learning environment and strengthen their business acumen, with a sharp focus on systems thinking. The EMBA experience goes beyond traditional coursework, combining team-based learning, real-world problem-solving, and personalized one-on-one coaching to deliver a truly transformative journey.

Rooted in Villanova’s values of Veritas, Unitas, Caritas, the program has propelled its values-driven graduates into new leadership roles, entrepreneurial ventures, nonprofit endeavors and other meaningful pursuits. EMBA alumni also remain deeply engaged with Villanova, supporting the program through fireside chats, networking events, philanthropic support and beyond.

91%

Executives say their EMBA experience has had a positive impact on their career.

Source: 2025 VSB Executive MBA Student Exit Survey

Bringing Wall Street to Villanova

Goldman Sachs executive John Waldron visits campus for a fireside chat with Dean Mao.

There wasn’t an empty seat in the room as nearly 200 Villanova students packed into Driscoll Hall to hear from one of the brightest minds in finance—John Waldron, president and chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs.

As the firm’s No. 2 executive, Waldron oversees day-to-day operations and helps shape the strategy for the 156-year-old financial giant. He came to campus in April for a fireside chat with Wen Mao, PhD, the Helen and William O’Toole Dean of the Villanova School of Business. The event was co-hosted by VSB and the Villanova University Career Center.

“Bringing global business leaders like John Waldron to campus inspires our students and deepens their understanding of what it means to lead with purpose in today’s business world,” Dean Mao said. “These conversations bring classroom lessons to life in powerful ways.”

After 25 years at Goldman Sachs, Waldron shared thoughtful insights on the recruitment process, the value of mentorship and keys to career success.

“Villanova students and alumni do exceptionally well at Goldman,” Waldron said—no doubt in part because teamwork and collaboration are so deeply rooted in both the firm’s “culture of ‘we’” and a Villanova education.

“We can teach you the language of finance,” Waldron said, explaining that Villanova provides a strong academic foundation as well as an emphasis on soft skills that are key to success: how to think, how to write, how to communicate, how to observe the dynamics in a meeting and how to develop strong emotional intelligence.

Did you know?

Now one of the most influential firms in global finance, Goldman Sachs began in a modest one-room basement office next to a coal chute at 30 Pine Street in Lower Manhattan.

It was founded in 1869 by German immigrant Marcus Goldman.

Waldron’s Advice for Career Success

During his hour-long fireside chat with Dean Mao, Waldron offered Villanova students something even more valuable than advice: his lived experience. He highlighted key leadership qualities and skills that have helped drive his success at the highest levels of business.

CURIOSITY

Be constantly curious. This is a time of extraordinary innovation—the curious mind wins in this world that you’re heading into. People who are not afraid of change will do well.

ACTIVE LISTENING

Spend more time listening than talking. Ask a lot of questions. It’s a good way to learn and absorb what’s really going on so you can explore constructive solutions to address the real issues.

DISCIPLINE

Be disciplined about how you spend your time. Ask yourself if you are working hard on the right things. If you have a weakness, what are you doing about it? Question the status quo.

CALCULATED RISK-TAKING

Making mistakes is a good thing, and you should not be afraid of it. Failure is part of the process of improving, and taking risks is what fuels innovation.

MENTORSHIP

Be a good mentee. You have to want it, invest in it and look for it. The best kind of mentorship happens organically.

LIFELONG LEARNING

If you have a superpower, keep working on it to make it even better—and use it to differentiate yourself. Keep challenging conventional wisdom and keep learning.

VSB is proud of the many students and alumni who have served our country in the military. A sense of duty and a commitment to serving others drive the personal and professional lives of these inspiring individuals.

In partnership with Villanova University’s Office of Veterans and Military Service Members, VSB is dedicated to assisting veterans and service members as they pursue their academic, personal and professional goals. Guiding them from admission to graduation and beyond, the Office meets student veterans where they are and provides holistic support to ensure that they are successful in the classroom and in the community.

US AIR FORCE US MARINES US NAVY

Duane Smith ’25 MBT

Duane Smith joined the Air Force because he was driven by a desire to branch out and explore the world, both geographically and personally. “The military offered an extraordinary opportunity to push my limits, immerse myself in new experiences and serve something larger than myself,” he says. “It was a way to contribute meaningfully while discovering more about the world and my place in it.”

He chose Villanova for his Master of Business Taxation with Data Analytics because Villanova’s commitment to service, integrity and community deeply resonated with him, especially given his military background. “There’s a clear alignment between the military’s ethos of service to others and Villanova’s mission-driven approach to education,” Smith says. “My military experience instilled in me a strong attention to detail, a respect for collaboration and an ability to thrive in team-based environments,” he says. “These skills transitioned seamlessly into both my academic life and professional career—whether it’s analyzing complex tax codes or working cross-functionally with colleagues, I find myself relying on those foundational competencies every day.”

Jeremy Fleming ’25 MBA

Jeremy Fleming was drawn to the Marine Corps because of the challenge that the infantry presented. “It’s rightfully labelled as a mentally and physically rigorous experience,” he says. “Even at age 17, I recognized the growth this kind of challenge could provide me.” He chose Villanova for his MBA because of the school’s reputation and individuals inside and outside of the military who have been instrumental in his career.

“Mike Brown [director, Office of Veterans and Military Service Members at Villanova] and the student veterans ensured that there is always support when needed, and kept me engaged in the Villanova community,” he says.

Jonathan Huang ’25 MSF

Jonathan Huang received his MS in Finance earlier this year. He says his military experience in the Marine Corps prepared him with a strong work ethic, discipline and resilience. “The problems I faced on deployment and during training exercises cultivated my ability to adapt quickly when solving complex problems and sharpened my communication skills.”

Huang also credits Villanova’s Office of Veterans and Military Service Members with supporting his professional growth during his time as a graduate student: “Mike Brown goes above and beyond making sure student veterans are utilizing every resource the school has to offer to ensure success in their desired field.”

Jacob Bashioum ’25 MBA

When Jacob Bashioum was in high school, he spent time at his local firehouse, where he was filled with a sense of service to others. “I knew then I was put on this planet to do my part to help others in any capacity that I could. I started to think about serving in the military, and with a love for the ocean, decided to join the Navy.”

Bashioum shares he was not the greatest student in high school and did not plan on pursuing higher education. “I thought I would return to firefighting after serving, but the Navy instilled in me a sense of duty to better myself in whatever ways I could and to apply myself 100% of the time. So, I took that mindset of giving it my all and applied it to education.”

Bashioum’s partner, Anastasia (Schweiger) Bashioum ’17 VSB, had attended VSB as an undergraduate student. “Through her, I saw the quality of education the school had to offer, so when I was entertaining the idea of getting my MBA (after earning a bachelor’s degree in Geography/Geographic Information Systems), she encouraged me to apply to Villanova.”

Bringing a Human-Centered Approach to AI

Nitin Joglekar, PhD, the John F. Connelly Endowed Chair in Management, and associate professor, Management & Operations

Dr. Joglekar joined VSB in the fall of 2024 after more than two decades at Boston University. An award-winning scholar, teacher and researcher in operations, analytics and management, Dr. Joglekar has industry experience founding software startups and working in digital technology firms. He also serves on the Global Futures Council for the World Economic Forum and as an expert for the U.S. National Science Foundation.

He was drawn to Villanova for its community-oriented culture. “Having worked at other institutions, I can say that Villanova is a different kind of school,” he says. “Most folks who choose to attend school here or work here share similar values around caring and community.”

Dr. Joglekar teaches undergraduate courses in operations and supply chain management as well as custom executive courses. His research focuses on two primary areas: human-centered AI aimed at enhancing platforms, products and service innovations, and agentic AI, examining coordination, governance and transparency risks as software agents make decisions in supply chains. He says the two areas are complementary, and he was drawn to research them because they allow human-centric, rather than technology-centric, development and oversight of AI and analytics capabilities.

Human-centered AI

According to Dr. Joglekar, human-centered AI is a rapidly evolving area that fits well within the business school because it can be the lens through which to use AI. He explains how with human-centered AI the focus is on the behavioral aspect and market understanding, rather than studying algorithms and how to crunch numbers faster. “The goal is do better with human beings rather than doing better with computers,” he says. “I am excited to teach and engage in developing a human-centric AI and analytics mindset into the VSB community.”

Agentic AI

In simple terms, Dr. Joglekar says AI agents are either pieces of software or bots that perform tasks for you on a routine basis. Along with human-centered AI, agentic AI is one of the fastest growing areas in business because “you are not changing the entire business disruptively. You are just taking one process, or a task, at a time and then aggregating changes gradually, using agents to gain efficiency. The allied challenges are to figure out how organizational changes and learning can be formalized.”

Ethical decision-making is a natural focus within the community and one of the qualities that truly differentiates VSB. The goal should extend beyond achieving greater efficiency to examining how systems and processes can be made more transparent and equitable.

Sustaining Impact Through Endowed Positions

Endowed positions like Dr. Joglekar’s are an integral part of VSB. Faculty who hold these positions enhance the scholarly profile for VSB through published research and industry collaborations. Perhaps more significantly, as Dr. Joglekar explains, “knowledge attracts knowledge,” and “empathy attracts empathy.” Endowed positions help VSB continue to attract high-caliber faculty and students, which, in turn, further enriches our community.

To learn more about how you can support an endowed position at VSB as part of Espiritus Nova: The Campaign for Villanova University, please contact Brendan Glackin at brendan.glackin@ villanova.edu.

The Role of AI in the Future

As AI technologies continue to evolve, Dr. Joglekar says students should “learn how to learn” about AI capabilities and limitations, and recognize that critical thinking and judgement, over and above AI-generated outcomes, will allow them to add value in all aspects of business and society.

If you are willing to enhance your job with AI, then you will be at an advantage to someone who isn’t willing to do so.”

–Nitin Joglekar, PhD

GEN Z

Now Taking the Field for the Sales Team

By Tim McCulloch, the James F. Kelly ’55 Endowed Professor of Practice in Professional Selling and associate chair of the Marketing & Business Law Department

The next generation of business school talent is tech-savvy, adept at interpersonal relations, ready to prove itself— and about to change the game.

Generation Z students are graduating from today’s college classrooms with a formidable set of advantages: a deep understanding of artificial intelligence; the interpersonal skills to connect with clients; and the appetite to prove to themselves, their families and their friends that they are the new Greatest Generation. They’re about to step up to the plate in the workforce and lead sales teams to game-winning performances that benefit not only their organizations, but society at large.

Members of Generation Z, which generally consists of people born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, currently make up the largest generation alive. Bloomberg predicted that by 2019, they would account for a third of the world’s population. And many of them are now finishing up their studies in today’s business school classrooms.

I’ve spent seven years teaching sales and strategic account management to hundreds of Gen Z students at VSB. During this time, I have found them to be incredible in the field of sales—talented, prepared and eager for their chance to prove themselves.

That claim might seem counterintuitive, because we have heard so many misconceptions about this generation. Critics say students in this generation are glued to their phones—that they only communicate through text and don’t want to work hard.

But other observers take a different view, seeing them as hard-working, ambitious and purpose-driven individuals deeply focused on their careers. And the traits they have and the skills they have mastered have given them the edge in the workforce. In fact, I can list three reasons that Gen Z graduates, particularly those in sales, will soon be running the team—and then the company.

Gen Zers are remaking a history-rich and beloved game in their way and on their terms. When it comes to sales, they are new and better players. Combine their technological savvy, their ability to communicate and their drive to succeed, and they become a dangerous team that I would never bet against. And this team is finally getting its first chance to play in the biggest games that matter most— their lives and their careers.

This article is courtesy of the August 2025 issue of AACSB Insights and has been adapted. Read the full article by scanning the QR code.

Gen Z students remind me of the Savannah Bananas, a performative baseball team based in Savannah, Georgia, who have taken the game of baseball and shredded the playbook, smiling the whole time. Confident and entertaining, the Savannah Bananas dress in yellow kilts, perform choreographed dances mid-inning and celebrate enthusiastically every time they score. They take the basic recipe for their particular fields and make it work better because of the tools available today. They do it their way, and they win every encounter.

Three reasons that Gen Z graduates, particularly those in sales, will soon be running the team— and then the company.

Gen Z has Embraced AI

Like it or not, artificial intelligence is the path forward for business and society. Gen Z students are sprinting from graduation with bachelor’s degrees in one hand and doctorates of AI technologies in the other. They’ve spent years working with AI—not just in sales programs, but in every class, whenever and wherever possible.

According to a recent survey from Intelligent.com, 94% of business leaders avoid hiring Gen Z grads, in large part because they feel these students lack preparedness. But that’s definitely not true when it comes to using AI.

In my Strategic Account Management class last spring, I assigned 24 students the task of securing a meeting with a real-world client. Each team hit a home run. Students came armed with convincing presentations that incorporated AI-developed images of target consumers, co-branded products and precise data. Here’s the best part: the student teams secured the orders and proved they can sell products, harness AI and lead their teams. And they are only 22 years old.

Gen Z has Great Communication Skills

Forget everything that’s been said about Gen Zers only knowing how to interact through their iPhones. Yes, they pull out their phones frequently—but in my classes, they only do so to make cold calls so they can set up in-person meetings with customers.

In my Professional Selling and Strategic Account Management classes, I train students to make calls whenever they’re setting up meetings with clients. And if clients say they’re busy, students learn to respond with, “Great, I am too, because my other customers trust me and need me. What’s your cell number? I’ll follow up by text to confirm our meeting or to let you know when the invoice is sitting in your mailbox.”

Gen Z was forced to retreat for two years during the pandemic. But like relief pitchers waiting to close out a baseball game, they were just warming up in the bullpen waiting for their chance to play. Now they are sprinting out onto the diamond, ready to use their fresh arms to close out the deal. Soon they’ll be unleashing their natural and honed skills in the field with real-world customers.

Gen Z is Eager to Prove Itself

Gen Z students are aware of the stereotype that says they expect to go from being seniors in college to being senior leaders on the management team. They’ve heard people say that—because they are positioned to inherit the greatest transfer of wealth in U.S. history— they aren’t career-driven, ambitious or hard-working. To which they respond, “Game on.”

For students in this generation, it’s also important that they take jobs that align with their values. A Deloitte survey notes that 86% of Gen Zers believe “having a sense of purpose is important to their overall job satisfaction and well-being.”

75% consider a company’s community engagement and societal impact before they accept an offer.

These graduates want to be able to do the right thing, the right way, at the right time. At Villanova, we expect 100% of our students to refuse to compromise their moral values. We teach them that the game of sales is worth playing only if it’s played the right way.

Dr. Patti Ippoliti ’75 VSB

Building the Next Generations of Leaders

After years of diligently chipping away at her student loan debt, Patti Ippoliti, PhD, ’75 VSB, was finally able to pay it off when she landed her first C-suite position at Reebok at age 38. Once she had achieved that level of financial success, Dr. Patti, as she is known to most, knew exactly what she wanted to do. “I always wanted to help women at Villanova who had the ambition and drive to succeed but did not have the financial resources,” she says. She established an investment account with the goal of funding scholarships, and last year the fund grew large enough to support several Villanovans.

After graduating from Villanova, she began her career in public accounting at Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC) and went on to earn an MBA and PhD from Temple University. Dr. Patti has held senior leadership positions in different companies, including building the HR Strategy Practice at Aon Consulting. She has also been teaching graduate business students for 25 years, most recently at Columbia University.

Dr. Patti credits her mother, the School of the Holy Child (her high school) and Villanova for helping her become the person she is today. When she began her studies at Villanova in 1971, she was one of only eight women among 400 first-year students in the College of Commerce and Finance. She was a four-year member of the women’s basketball team and an active member in the Blue Key Society, and she was recognized by “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges” in her class of 1975 at Villanova.

While working on her MBA at Temple University, Dr. Patti was awarded a graduate assistantship to create and build the MBA student chapter of the Small Business Administration. She was also recognized by “Who’s Who” in her MBA class of 1977 at Temple.

Her career has taken her all over the world, including Europe, China, Singapore, Australia and Brazil. She returned to Villanova’s campus in early 2025 for the first time in 50 years and was amazed at how much had changed—and yet “it still feels like home.”

Dr. Patti continues to give back by serving on the Dean’s Advisory Council, teaching in the MBA and Executive MBA programs, and mentoring students and faculty. “Supporting students who have talent and ambition, but not the financial resources, through scholarships has been my dream. I am excited to return to Villanova to continue to build the next generations of leaders,” she says.

Through her generous gift, the Dr. Patti Ippoliti Legacy Scholarship provides full tuition scholarships to academically talented undergraduate students with financial need who demonstrate academic accomplishment, professional ambition and personal commitment to make a difference in STEM.

The inaugural Dr. Patti Ippoliti Legacy Scholars for 2025–2026: Grace Rodenberg ’28 CLAS

Frances Waltz ’27 VSB

The Blue Key Society Established in 1952, it was originally known as the “Key Club.” The “Key” signified the key to Villanova by giving tours and hosting prospective students. There are currently 200 students in the Blue Key Society.

VSB Dean’s Advisory Council (DAC)

The DAC provides advice and guidance to Wen Mao, PhD, the Helen and William O’Toole Dean of VSB, on important strategic initiatives under consideration.

Alana Hoskin ’00 VSB; Chair

Vice President, Global Audit and Chief Risk Officer

Nike

Michael Giarrusso ’01 VSB; Vice Chair Partner, Financial Services Consulting EY

Susan E. Morano ’86 VSB; Vice Chair Director Boston Scientific

Anthony Abbatiello ’97 VSB Workforce Transformation Leader, Principal PwC

Jennifer Barbetta ’95 VSB COO & Managing Director TA Associates Management

Arthur Batson III ’98 VSB President & CEO Lucas Tree Expert

Brian Carolan ’93 VSB, P ’28 CFO

SailPoint

John Cashwell ’87 VSB, P ’19, ’23 Managing Director, Capital & Partner Solutions

Vista Equity Partners

Christopher Cereghino ’93 CLAS Managing Director The Carlyle Group

Anthony Chiarello ’77 CLAS, P ’08, ’26, ’28 Principal/Owner

Lighthouse Maritime Advisors

Brian Collie ’95 CLAS Managing Director and Senior Partner Boston Consulting Group

Thomas J. Colligan P ’92 Vice Dean of Executive Education (Retired)

The Wharton School

Steven DeCillis II ’95 VSB CFO and Partner AEA

Angela Deering ’00 VSB Managing Director

J.P. Morgan

Stephen Delaney ’91 VSB Partner, Audit and Assurance Services, Office Audit Leader–Philadelphia

Deloitte

Dante D’Egidio ’94 VSB Americas Vice Chair of Assurance EY

Thomas Donnelly ’98 VSB Principal KPMG

George Eberle ’87, P ’23, ’26 Partner

PJT Park Hill

Richard Furtek ’91 VSB, P ’18, ’20 Principal Furtek & Associates

Thomas E. Henry, Esq. ’81 VSB, ’92 LLM, P ’22 Retired PwC

Patti Ippoliti, PhD, ’75 VSB President PI Associates

Debbie Kolman P ’24 Retired Investment Banker Goldman Sachs

Steven Lewis ’90 VSB, P ’28 Managing Director

Willis Towers Watson

Scott Lowry ’89 VSB, P ’23 Partner (Retired)

Concord Health Partners

Greg Mancini ’95 VSB

Head Global Research and Portfolio Manager

Nuveen Investments

Mario R. Masrieh ’12 VSB

Managing Director

Trivest

Kate McCloskey Mead, CFA ’93 VSB Institutional Portfolio Manager

MFS Investment Management

Christine Moritz ’99 VSB Director of Operations

Eastern States Group

Keith R. O’Donnell ’94 VSB Managing Director Castle Crow & Company

Kathleen Purtill ’96 VSB, ’02 MBA Vice Chair Deloitte

Michael Russomano ’79 VSB, P MBA ’24, ’25, ’26

President and CEO, Global Business Head (Retired) Nestlé

Brian Scanlon ’94 VSB, P ’29

Managing Director Council Advisors

Scott M. Steel ’01 VSB

Managing Director & Global Head of Product and Corporate Development

Morgan Stanley Investment Management

Terence Sullivan ’95 VSB Global Head of Financial Institutions Group UBS

Terry Thompson ’94 VSB, P ’22 Managing Director and COO (Retired)

Berkshire Partners

Marc Tilker ’82 VSB, P ’24, ’27 President and CEO Marathon Group/BEI Hawaii

Peter Toolan ’93 VSB Founder & CEO Benebone

Timothy Zuber ’96 VSB, P ’19, ’20 Partner, Tax KPMG

Michael Zubey ’01 MBA

Senior Vice President, Platform Strategy IntegriChain

800 Lancaster Avenue Villanova, PA 19085-1678