Welcome to the Spring Semester!

Welcome to the Spring 2025 semester! This year presents new opportunities for growth, collaboration and continued impact within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. I’m confident that together—as students, faculty, staff and alumni—we will achieve even greater milestones and continue fostering a supportive, dynamic learning environment for our graduate community no matter what challenges may arise.

Whether you’re returning to campus or joining us as a new community member, I’m personally thrilled to have you as part of graduate studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The energy and enthusiasm you bring to this vibrant academic environment is truly inspiring, and I look forward to working with each of you in the months ahead.

As we begin this semester, I’d like to take a moment to highlight the importance of the graduate student voice in shaping the future of our graduate programs. While each of us plays a vital role in supporting and advancing our graduate programs to provide the best possible graduate experience, student feedback is essential to ensuring that we continue to meet and exceed graduate student needs. That’s why I encourage all graduate students—if you haven’t already done so—to take a few minutes to fill out the Graduate Student Satisfaction Survey, which has been sent to your email inboxes.

The survey is completely anonymous, and the data will be collected and analyzed by Villanova’s Office of Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness (OSPIE). We truly value the graduate student perspective, and feedback will help us better understand what we’re doing well, where we can improve, and directly contribute to enhancing the graduate student experience here at Villanova. The survey will remain open until February 3, and you will receive a reminder email on January 22. Please take the time to participate or encourage your students to do so!

This spring, we’re excited to continue fostering a collaborative and innovative environment that supports our mutual growth. I’m confident that, by working together, we will build on our shared commitment to excellence throughout a productive and fulfilling semester.

Warm regards,

Emory H. Woodard IV, PhD

Dean of Graduate Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Influenced by his son’s undergraduate journey at Villanova University and his own experiences as a graduate student, Reza Taleghani ’97 JD/MBA, P’27 directed $500,000 of a $1 million gift to name the Graduate Lounge in Vasey Hall the Taleghani Family Lounge. As the first gift of its size to the Center for Graduate Research and Education, the fund will allow the Grad Center to further its mission of enhancing the graduate and law student experience at Villanova. Taleghani has long championed Villanova University’s commitment to fostering academic excellence and community among both graduate and law students. READ MORE

The Modern Language Association awarded Alexandra Edwards '12 MA honorable mention for its Prize for Contingent Faculty and Independent Scholars. Edwards was recognized for her book, Before Fanfiction: Recovering the Literary History of American Media Fandom. The book "investigates the overlapping cultures of fandom and American literature from the late 1800s to the mid-1940s, exploding the oft-repeated myth that fandom has its origins in the male-dominated letter columns of science fiction pulp magazines in the 1930s." The MLA prize committee said the book "makes an ambitious intervention and speaks across genres and disciplines. Alexandra Edwards’s study will become required reading in the growing genre of fanfiction studies." READ MORE

Tyra Johnson ’25 MS, who is in the Human Resources Development graduate program, recently presented her project, “Exploring the Dynamics of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Practices: Insights from DEI Practitioners,” at the fall Graduate Research Symposium. Looking ahead, Tyra would like to share her research at the Society of Human Resource Management Inclusion Conference and integrate these insights into her own HR career to improve organizational practices. For more about Tyra, READ MORE on Instagram.

Apply to Graduate – May 2025

All students must apply to graduate in the term in which they plan to complete their degree requirements. The deadline to apply and avoid the late fee is January 31. Apply using the Prospective Graduate Form in myNova. If you are completing a certificate only, please reach out for the alternate application form. Visit this page for more information.

Graduate Student Resource Fair

All new and returning grad students are invited to come to the Grad Lounge in Vasey Hall on Friday, January 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. to speak with representatives from across the University and learn more about how they support graduate students. Offices such as Campus Ministry, Learning Support Services, the Counseling Center, and more will be available! No registration required.

MLK Day of Service and Commemorative Events: January 18-23

Villanova celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. King with a series of events and programs designed to highlight continuing injustices, while also celebrating those individuals and organizations that challenge and overcome them. Find more information about the day of service and other events and register here.

Summer Research Fellowship Application is Open for 2025

Graduate students in CLAS are encouraged to apply for a summer fellowship to support their research. Awards are made on a competitive basis in the amount of $4,000 for master's students and $5,000 for doctoral students for work in June, July and August. For details regarding eligibility requirements, criteria, how to apply, deadline for proposals and review process, faculty evaluation of the project, and award recipients, please visit the Graduate Summer Research Fellowship page.

VU Women in Tech Poster Session

Celebrate a decade of VU Women in Tech on Saturday, January 25, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Inn at Villanova. Inspired by their 10th year anniversary, the conference will address content that builds on the past to empower today and shape the future. Help continue the tradition for women to learn, engage and network across schools, disciplines and generations. Registration is free for all graduate students, which includes breakfast and lunch. Register here.

CONCEPT Call for Papers 

The journal is now accepting article submissions. The author of the best article in the 2025 issue will receive the Graduate Student Research Prize. The deadline for submission is Saturday, February 1, 2025. Submissions should be based on material that has been researched as part of graduate work at Villanova. Authors should register on the CONCEPT website and follow the instructions there for posting their submission. An author may submit no more than one (1) article for consideration. Any questions should be directed to the Faculty Managing Editor, Dr. John Kurtz.

Introducing iGrad, a New Online Financial Wellness Tool

Villanova is proud to offer iGrad, a secure, interactive, online personal finance platform, vetted and financed by the University. iGrad is open to all students, alumni, faculty and staff. iGrad assesses your finances and spending habits and recommends tools, content and courses to help you reach your financial goals. iGrad provides the Villanova community access to a money personality analysis, budget tools, loan repayment and investing strategies, and much more to move you toward your financial goals. Create your account today. LEARN MORE

NOVA Alert

Have you signed up for NOVA Alert? This system is the University’s mass notification system used for a major crisis or emergency, as well as weather-related closings and delays. NOVA Alert is your personal connection to real-time updates—instructions on where to go, what to do or what not to do, who to contact and other critical information. It is important that you check your NOVA Alert settings, or if you are not signed up, you can do so by following these simple steps:

• Go to MyNova and log in.
• Enter Nova Alert in the search box.
• Enter your information. 
• Your Villanova email and cell phone information will be entered into the NOVA Alert system.