My OUS Story: Jess Marasco

Upon discovering the University, junior Jess Marasco from Narragansett, Rhode Island fell in love with Villanova immediately. “I liked where it was located, I thought the campus was gorgeous, I liked that it had such a strong arts program, and I loved the school spirit,” she says. “I came for Admitted Students’ Weekend, and that’s when I really fell in love. I knew that this was where I wanted to go and felt immediately like I had this sense of belonging. I had the greatest experience learning about service opportunities and access to the city, and just how friendly and nice everyone was when I was here. I had an amazing tour, and there were Blue Key members holding up signs, and one said ‘Welcome Home.’ That really resonated with me–this is my home!”

Jess is pursuing a double major in Sociology and Peace and Justice, as well as a minor in Public Administration. Additionally, through her involvement with RUIBAL, NOVAdance, the Service Learning Community (SLC), Peace and Justice Ambassadors, and several Philadelphia-based nonprofit organizations, service and social justice have been central to Jess’s Villanova career.

“I am a member of the Philadelphia Justice Project (PJP), which is a nonprofit started by Villanova professor Jill McCorkle, and NovaPJP mostly works with women who were incarcerated for an unjust amount of time or reason. We help women write commutation applications to ger an early release and file PCRAs (Post Conviction Risk Assessments) to appeal their conviction and/or sentence. I’ve been working on an appeals case, which has been awesome and eye-opening and frustrating and incredible, all at the same time,” she says.

“I also had an opportunity to work over the summer with BoysTown, which is a national nonprofit that works with the foster care system,” says Jess. “I worked on a campus of five group homes with children in foster care whose behavioral issues prevented them from being successful in traditional foster homes.”

“With SLC, I worked with Redeemed for a Cause, which is a nonprofit in Philly that works with victims of human trafficking to spread awareness and work with the police to put an end to it. It’s founded by Sakinah Love, who’s an incredible woman, and one of my favorite things about that was we got to interview different women who she worked with. I got to interview a woman who is just absolutely incredible, and was very open and honest about her relationship with sexual assault and the ways in which she has learned to recover and help other people. We also planned a panel to bring awareness to campus,” Jess adds. “I really think that being here [at Villanova] is such a privilege, and an opportunity that we should really use to serve the world around us.”

Now halfway through her junior year at Villanova, Jess is beginning to think of post-graduation plans, but is keeping an open mind. “I would love to do a service year after school, or to potentially either get my Master’s in social work or my law degree,” she says. “But I really think right now, what is most realistic is that I would do a year of service, and then go into some nonprofit work right after that. With my minor in Public Service and Administration, we’ve learned all about the ins and outs of nonprofits, and I’m very passionate about domestic violence work–hence my work with anti-human trafficking. Working in social justice is definitely what I want to do.”

Jess has undoubtedly made the most of her time at Villanova to build her experience with service and social justice, and would like to acknowledge a few people that have been especially influential in her experience thus far. “My professors have been incredibly influential, especially my professors in the Center for Peace and Justice Education. History of Homelessness with Stephanie Sena was one of the first real Peace and Justice courses I took. I took it in the spring semester of my freshman year, so right when the pandemic hit. She did such an amazing job–for once a week, she called each of her students for an hour, one-on-one, and that was our class. I had that to look forward to every week, just having a conversation and connection to Villanova, and she really inspired me to do this work. I aspire to be like her.”

“I also had Dr. Glenn Bracey, who was my sociology professor for Intro to Sociology and Social Movements. He was incredible, and we covered a racial timeline, which outlined a perspective on US history that I had never really been taught before. So while I felt passionate about racial justice and stuff, and I, and I knew that we weren’t where we’re supposed to be, I didn’t necessarily know why I didn’t have an understanding of the laws and the legality and the and the history to the extent that I do now. To be able to back up what I felt like deep down with all of these facts was just awesome,” Jess adds.

 “I also took a Discrimination Law course with Maura McDaid, which really focused on Supreme Court cases that dealt with different types of discrimination, and I also want to acknowledge Wesley Proctor who taught my Overview of the Nonprofit Sector class. Every week, he brought in someone who runs a different nonprofit to talk to us, and he just connected us with all these resources and helped us see all these ways people are making an impact,” she says. “I think my professors are awesome. I can’t speak highly enough about all of them.”

As she’s recently crossed the halfway mark, Jess reflects on what she’s learned from her time at Villanova so far. “What makes Villanova is the people there,” she says. “There’s something so motivating about being on campus and living with the next generation of leaders— knowing and working alongside them now, seeing all of the things they’ve already accomplished, and imagining all that they will become.”  

“Especially during the pandemic, I came to understand the resiliency and adaptability of people. It’s unbelievable, especially on campus–I love Community First and I love how many Villanovans really did a good job of making sure that we were doing what we needed to do to keep each other safe. I became closer with people during the pandemic, because we were sitting and talking in Tolentine versus in big group gatherings. In a way, it made us get more real with each other in the time we spent. I think about all my professors and how well they adapted, too. I really think that everyone here wants Villanova to be a home, and we’re always working to make it as good as it can be.”

“I met so many of these people, and they will always be with me, whether we’re close and in constant contact or just conversations I’ve had with people in passing. I have been given an abundance of information and knowledge on sociology and peace of justice in particular, but also, I know genetics now! And I’m sure I will be able to do a Punnett Square in the future. But I think the greater understanding of the people and the world around me, I will definitely take that with me. I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As the Story and Experience Intern for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, junior Graciela Petrelli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Senior Spotlight: Noble Shrestha

Senior Education major Noble Shrestha from Philadelphia, PA knew that Villanova was where he was supposed to be after transferring from another school. “I didn’t start at Villanova,” he says. “I thought I wanted to be a physical therapist, and I went into kinesiology. I tried it out, I even shadowed, but it just didn’t speak to me. A lot of people I know went to Villanova, or were going here, and I could just see myself here.”

“My aunt put me in connection with Villanova, and she was the one to say, ‘If you really want to do this, we’ll support you, and we’ll make this happen.’ So I put in all the work to transfer, and it wasn’t easy! I was so elated and excited when I got in—it was the best thing ever. And I was with my friends, too, who were here. I was welcomed with open arms, and the biggest thing I remember from my first day of orientation was the community here. And that’s stuck with me ever since.”

If you ask any Education major at Villanova what made them want to become a teacher, the majority of them would probably say that they were inspired by a favorite teacher they had when they were younger. With a concentration in mathematics, Noble says that it was his high school algebra teacher that inspired him to become an educator. “One of my teachers in high school graduated from Villanova and became a teacher himself,” says Noble. “He was one of the coolest, best teachers ever. I remember how receptive and relatable he was, and how he immediately established an environment that was so open and welcoming. He was so patient, but persistent, and always helpful when you needed him. And I know that takes a lot, but he made it seem so easy. That’s what I want to implement into my own teaching, because he was such a great teacher.”

As he prepares for student teaching in the spring, Noble has started observations this semester at Harriton High School in Bryn Mawr, where he’ll begin his student teaching during the Spring 2022 semester. With his cooperating teacher, Noble will be working with math classes with primarily ninth and tenth grade students. “I’m very familiar with this area because I went to high school in the neighboring district in Lower Merion. But going into it, I was definitely nervous,” he admits. “My goal is to create an environment that’s open, where you can make mistakes. I encourage failure, because I think that’s what teaches us the biggest lessons. I was definitely nervous at first, but now I feel really confident about it, because I’m not that much older than these students! It’s not something I can’t relate to—I can definitely understand what they’re going through.”

“And now, I’m getting to know who these students are,” Noble adds. “I can tell who the students are who are social and comfortable talking, and they’re the ones who could be the class clown, or when they speak, then it breaks the ice and everyone starts participating. But I’ve also come across students who want to say something, but can’t because they don’t like being put on the spot. I think it’s really important to communicate, and now that I have an idea of who these students are, I get to socialize with them and start to bring them out of their comfort zone. And if they get to know me, by the time I start student teaching, it’ll be so seamless—I’m just here with them to learn.”

Noble has also gained valuable teaching experience through his involvement with Rays of Sunshine, a volunteer organization on campus that tutors students in local schools. “We met once a week with a student to help them with homework, or just to talk about anything and build a connection,” he says. “I did it during the semester COVID hit, so we were all on Zoom, but I think what Rays of Sunshine does is great. It was such a great opportunity because I wanted to do more, given what we were going through at the time.” 

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As for post-graduation plans, Noble is currently a part of Villanova’s BA/MA Program to pursue his Master’s degree in Education. In the future, he plans to stay around Villanova and the greater Philadelphia area, but hopes to return to his high school to teach and give back to his community. “I definitely want to teach around this area, because it was the school districts in this area that got me where I am today,” says Noble. “I definitely want to go back to the high school that I went to, to give back to it and make it a full-time career. Now, I’m setting the groundwork, making connections, and hopefully it works out that I’m able to work there.

As he starts to take the next steps in his academic and teaching career, Noble would like to thank all of his professors within the Department of Education & Counseling, specifically Dr. Rachel Skrlac-Lo, Dr. Madora Soutter, Dr. Christa Bialka, and Father Stephen Baker. Noble would also like to thank his transfer orientation group and his classmates for building the sense of community he feels at Villanova. “Everyone is super supportive of one another, and everyone says the nicest things,” he says.

“One of the things I’ve learned at Villanova is how to be a good human being,” Noble says. “Building character, being nice to others, being selfless. I feel like I come out as a better person leaving Villanova. There’s always something new and thought provoking after every class that motivates me to become a better person, a better teacher, and to impart goodness into the world.”

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As the Story and Experience Intern for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, junior Graciela Petrelli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

My OUS Story: Joey Holland

For junior Joey Holland from Brick Township, New Jersey, Campus Ministry is where he feels most at home at Villanova. “I remember meeting one of the Graduate Residential Ministers (GRMs) in Caughlin freshman year,” Joey says. “He introduced me to some of the opportunities Campus Ministry had to offer, and that was it! It’s what I’m most involved in and where a lot of my friends are from.”

Within Campus Ministry, Joey has been involved in Peer Ministry, Service and Justice Experience (SJE) trips with Habitat for Humanity, and has both participated and led the annual Escape Retreat for first-year students. The Escape Retreat is held twice a year, once in October and once in March, and gives first-year students of all religious and spiritual backgrounds the opportunity to share their first-year experiences and make connections with their peers over a weekend getaway. “Normally we go away for the weekend and you just hang out in the woods for three days!” he says. “Each leader usually has a small group of freshmen to do activities with, and it’s a way for you to remove yourself from campus and meet new people, share your first year on campus, and talk about what you want to do with the rest of your time at Villanova.”

“Leading it last year was interesting because it was on campus instead, but it was really cool to get to meet first-year students,” Joey adds. “Because last year we were kind of isolated from each other, I didn’t really get to meet any new students other than occasionally in class, so it was really great to see them and connect with them over the retreat.”

Joey is currently pursuing a major in criminology with a triple minor in Spanish, history, and ethics with a concentration in law. Though graduation is still a ways away, he hopes to attend law school and eventually work for the United States Department of Justice after his time at Villanova.

Over the last two years of his Villanova career, Joey has taken advantage of professional development opportunities with both internship and research experiences. “Over the summer, I did an internship with a nonprofit in New Jersey called the New Jersey Reentry Corporation. They work with the state government and New Jersey State Board of Parole for the reentry of people who have been incarcerated for long periods of time back into society,” he explains.

“We help them with practical problems like reinstating their driver’s license, getting a job, and things like that. I had the opportunity to do some research for that too, looking at the budget of the New Jersey State Department of Corrections, and that led me to my current internship. I’m doing grant management for the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, figuring out how to best distribute their resources and funds for emergency management and homeland security. I’m also hoping this summer to do an internship for a federal law enforcement agency or the Department of Justice,” Joey adds.

Between his major and triple minor, Joey has noticed the interconnectedness of his courses within CLAS, which are designed to provide a multifaceted and worldly education that students can synthesize and use for their own personal and professional development. “In the liberal arts, the classes do all tie in together,” he says. “In one of my criminology classes, my teacher would reference something I learned in ACS, and something else that I learned in a medieval history class. Or in my Spanish literature class in my minor, I brought up a literary topic I had learned in an English class, and even though they’re two different languages, I was able to articulate that idea and connection. Had I not taken those classes that seemed like they weren’t related to my major or minor, I wouldn’t have known those things!”

Aside from valuable career experience and academics, Joey says that the biggest lesson he will take with him from Villanova is the ability to be introspective and form his own worldview. “I learned how to think for myself at Villanova—they talk about it a lot in your ACS classes, about different ways of thinking. I think it’s important, not just the deep philosophical things, but the small things you learn in class. I’ve learned things from my professors and classmates and on my own, and I learned how to take those things and form my own beliefs and ideas and opinions.”

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As the Story and Experience Intern for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, junior Graciela Petrelli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Senior Spotlight: Caroline Levine

Senior Caroline Levine from Hopewell Township, New Jersey has undoubtedly made the most of her Villanova career. Having served as Student Body Vice President during the 2020-2021 academic year and currently serving as Student Body President, Caroline has played an instrumental role in creating positive change and ensuring students have a happy, healthy, and safe experience on Villanova’s campus.

Prior to assuming her role as Student Body President this year, Caroline has been involved in SGA since her first year at Villanova. “I wasn’t part of student government in high school, and even coming here, I didn’t see myself taking on a leadership role in it. But I really just fell in love with the people in SGA, and what I love about the work is that it’s something different every day—there’s always new events coming up and issues to talk about,” she says.

“At the end of my sophomore year, I decided to take the next step and run for Vice President. This last year, it took me a long time to decide to run for President. I didn’t know if I was the best person for the job or if I had the energy to put into it, but I just decided to do it! The work during the pandemic reinforced for me that I really do love this, and I had the chance last year to build on so many relationships that I wanted to see through for another year.”

Caroline speaks to the realities of assuming a student leadership role during a global pandemic. “I don’t know what it’s like to be in this position not during a pandemic!” she says. “But Villanova really gave us an active voice. We got to be a part of planning for coming back in the fall, and they were always reaching out to us to get our feedback. There’s such a sense of teamwork across the whole University, and even now, we’re still living week by week and trying to figure out what’s best for students. It has been very challenging, but it is also really meaningful work. There’s a reason I stuck around and wanted to do it for another year!”

“There are a lot of different parts to being Student Body President, and there really is no typical day!” Caroline adds. “I represent the student body to administration, and I’m also in charge of Student Government, which is actually a group of about eighty students on campus. Within SGA, we have a lot of weekly meetings with different groups, and we have a general body meeting with everyone monthly. The most formal thing I do is the Board of Trustees, which meets four times a year. I also work a lot with athletics and doing the basketball lottery, and this past year I’ve worked a lot with the Title IX Office, and doing a lot of different things with COVID. A big part of that has been Community First meetings—we met once a week, and I probably have a conversation about COVID with someone at least once a day.”

SGA is here so that students can voice their ideas and create positive change on campus, and Caroline encourages her fellow Villanovans to take advantage of it. “There’s no question that’s too big or too small for SGA,” she says. “What’s beautiful about the size of Villanova is that it’s small enough here that students can have ideas that get turned into things, and we’ve seen that over the past year. No one knew if students would even be interested in food trucks, and now that’s a huge part of campus! This is a University that changes to meet the demands of its students. My experience at Villanova is not everyone’s experience at Villanova, and I want the ideas to come from students because they’re the ones living here day to day.”

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Though her role as Student Body President takes up the majority of her time, Caroline is also a member of sorority Alpha Gamma Delta and the Honors Program, in which she has previously been a peer mentor and student ambassador. She is also pursuing a major in Political Science with minors in Honors, Business, and Public service & Administration.

With her senior year in full swing, Caroline reflects on her time at Villanova thus far and where she hopes to go after graduation. “I am still very much figuring out what I want to do. I have gotten so much fulfillment out of the work I do now that I wonder how I’m going to find something that I like as much as this! But here at Villanova, I’ve fallen in love with the governing side and public administration side of political science, which is how I ended up doing my minor. I’m interested in government and the work that nonprofits are doing, but I know I want to stay on the East Coast because this area will always be home for me.”

“I’m trying not to process it all at once, and to give myself the year to really enjoy being a senior,” she adds. “I’ve reflected a lot on the fact that throughout middle school and high school, I wanted to go to college and I always had this plan. This is the first time in my life that I don’t know where I’ll be living or what I’ll be doing in a year, and I’m trying to embrace that as freeing, but it’s also scary! But that’s how life is. I’m very glad to be here and I’m trying to take in every moment.”

Throughout her time at Villanova, there are many people that Caroline would like to acknowledge for their influence and support. “The people who have really supported me are those I’ve worked with through the Community First Committee, and also my advisors in Student Life. They’ve been there to give me confidence when I needed it, showed me that I do and be better, and also put up with me when I’m really stressed! I got to see how much work the Community First Committee has put in, especially over the last year,” she says. “That has inspired me to give back to them and to the University, and I really appreciate the way that they’ve been there.”

“I want to pass down a lot of the knowledge and experience I’ve had through SGA, because the only way I ended up in this position was because of past Villanovans,” Caroline adds. “Amanda Rappa and Pat Treacy were the two Presidents before me, and they really believed in me and showed me how to do this work with meaning. I think about something a University administrator told me all the time: ‘You’re only as good as the people you build behind you.’ Whatever I accomplish this year, what’s going to speak more to the work I put in is what happens next year when I’m not here.”

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“We use the word ‘community’ all the time at Villanova, but when I reflect on all these different experiences, whether it’s in the classroom or through the work I’ve done for SGA, Villanova has really taught me how to build community. Part of me wants to be at Villanova forever, but Villanova has taught me how to build that sense of community in other places, like in my next job, in my family, or wherever I end up next. I think seeing everyone really come together over the last year taught me to be hopeful about things, how to find joy in the work and things to motivate you. I learned what it means to build community by building trust in each other, by finding values that bring you together, and I think that is something I’m going to carry with me.”

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As the Story and Experience Intern for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, junior Graciela Petrelli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

My OUS Story: Catherine Wood

Like many Villanovans, junior Catherine Wood from East Greenwich, Rhode Island knew that Villanova was meant to be from the moment she arrived on campus. “I visited Villanova and my tour guide was amazing, and I just had the best experience,” she says. “It was the feeling that I got, that this was somewhere I could really picture myself being for four years. It felt more like a home than anywhere else!”

Catherine says that her friends and the community at Villanova have made her feel most at home, and it all began during her first year living in Moriarty Hall. “Going into freshman year, I was very nervous that not living on South Campus would make me feel isolated from the rest of the community and that I would really struggle to find friends, but it was the complete opposite! I found my friends very quickly because they all lived in the same building as I did,” she says.

“They were the people I would hang out with all the time, and that was when I really started to feel at home. We’d all sit and do our homework together every day, and that building has so many memories for me. It’s very nostalgic to think back on because it feels like the foundation of my college experience. Since then I’ve grown and met so many people in different places, but Moriarty was where everything started for me. It’s like a family!”

On campus, Catherine is involved with NOVAdance’s Morale Committee and sorority Alpha Gamma Delta, and is also pursuing a major in English accompanied by minors in business and communication. “English class was always my favorite in middle school and high school. I was always the kid who was reading, and it was kind of a personality trait of mine,” she says. “I think over quarantine, everyone kind of reverted back to something, and for me, that was reading. It’s hard to do in college, but having the extra time during quarantine to sit down and read really brought a lot of that back for me. I realized how nostalgic it makes me, and I kept taking English classes because I enjoyed and looked forward to them the most. I realized that if English is what I love to do, why am I not doing it? So I decided to major in it, and it’s something I’m really proud of.”

Starting over the 2020 winter break and again in summer 2021, Catherine was an intern in the Human Resources department of multinational gaming company International Gaming Technology (IGT), which has footholds in Providence, Rhode Island; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Rome, Italy. “The winter internship was about a month and a half since we had a longer break…and then this summer I interned with them again. Both times, I worked in Benefits & Compensation, which deals with payroll and employee benefits and things like that. Over the winter, we did this thing called the Global Benefits Directory, because IGT is an international company and has employees in lots of different countries. Essentially, they took a list of all the benefits that each country and subsection of IGT offers their employees, and basically compiled all of them into one list,” Catherine explains.

“On my end, it was a lot of reaching out to people in different countries and asking them for information, and it was really interesting to learn about how different countries work in terms of their laws and policies, and also their culture,” she adds. “IGT has a big foothold in Italy and it’s interesting to see how Italians work, because over the summer, a lot of people in Europe have an August break where they step back from their computers for three weeks and vacation in their summer homes. IGT was deserted for the first few weeks in August! It was a really cool experience and I’m really glad I did it.”

With experiences that have furthered her skills and interests in her major as well as her minors, Catherine is keeping an open mind when it comes to post-grad plans. “I could see myself doing something in HR, where I’m working with and helping people more, like employee relations,” she says. “I think the English major lends itself to that when it comes to social skills and critical thinking, and talking to people instead of looking at balance sheets for compensation which is a little more finance-oriented. That’s kind of what I’m leaning towards, something more people-oriented in business. I’m also considering something in editing and publishing—I’m taking a class about that right now, which is really exciting!”

As she starts her junior year, Catherine reflects on the last two years and reaching the halfway point of her Villanova journey. “It kind of hit me that we’re halfway through college and we only have two more years left, and that’s a really strange thing. It’ll be exciting and I can’t wait to see where everyone goes, but it’s crazy to think about!” she says. “I think it’s crazy in a good way—it’s not anything that we can’t handle. Everyone here is really mature and very ready to go into a career, and I think Villanova is preparing us well for it.”

“It kind of hit me that we’re halfway through college and we only have two more years left,” says Catherine. “I think it’s crazy in a good way–it’s not anything that we can’t handle!”

With that in mind, Catherine tells her fellow Villanovans to make the most of their time on campus and seek out new opportunities, build relationships, and make memories. “Leave your door open,” she says. “Freshman year, you might not really know anyone, and you have to make friends very quickly. I didn’t have anyone from my high school that came to Villanova, so I was basically on my own. I was like, ‘Ok, I guess I’ll just make new friends,’ which is what you come to college for! You really have to be friendly and open, and go out and seek those opportunities for yourself.”

“I think that translates anywhere in life,” Catherine adds. “Once you leave Villanova, you have to do that process over again. You’ll still have your old friends, but you also might go to a new city and a new job or a new place, and you need to learn how to make those new connections. I think coming to Villanova and learning how to make myself a new home with new friends is going to help me a lot when I move on from Villanova and start my new job, new career, new life. I can’t wait to take that knowledge with me.”

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As the Story and Experience Intern for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, junior Graciela Petrelli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 

An OUS Story of My Own

As she begins her third year contributing to the Office for Undergraduate Students Magazine, Story and Experience Intern Gracie Petrelli reflects upon her experience sharing the stories of exceptional students within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the expansion of the Magazine in its acquisition of two additional staff writers. 

The beginning of a new season tends to bring about reflection, a reminiscence upon the past and a hopeful look toward the future. I’ve just finished my second week of classes, the beginning of my junior year at Villanova (which still feels surreal to say). We’ve lost time over the last year and a half of the Villanova we once knew, and though the last academic year was successfully and thankfully conducted on campus, I’m looking forward to the healthier, happier, more normal year ahead. So what better to do than reflect? 

The annual New Student Orientation for the Class of 2025 (wow) has recently wrapped, and as I moved back to campus over the weekend, I got to observe and reflect upon my own beginning at Villanova. There’s something so exciting about starting a new year–a new chapter, where so many possibilities and opportunities await you. 

I still remember my orientation as a newly minted Villanovan, and if you would have told me that University would know my name as the resident CLAS writer within a week, I never would have believed you. I remember being herded by college into the Finneran Pavilion for our personalized presentations, and in the midst of the information overload, I managed to do one productive thing: follow the Office for Undergraduate Students Instagram page. 

In the grand scheme of things, I realize that following a single Instagram account is the furthest thing from productive, but that one action was what would set the tone for my Villanova experience, and change it for the better. 

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I’ve missed the sights and sounds of Villanova, Admitted Students’ Day (top right, pre-pandemic), and spending time with my friends and roommates. I’m looking forward to getting to know more of my peers and feel at home on Villanova’s campus again!

Post orientation, upon settling into a routine amidst the new places and faces, I found myself perusing social media in my free time. I’d come across an internship position advertised by @NovaOUS, which, as you may have guessed, was the very Instagram account I’d followed only days before. It involved interviews and publication of student features on what was then the OUS Blog, and as an aspiring English major and already avid writer, I thought this was the perfect opportunity. So I did what any ambitious applicant would do: send the post to my mom over direct message. And then I promptly forgot about it. 

But luckily, I didn’t forget for long. 

The following weekend, a cold had hit me pretty hard (remember pre-pandemic when all we had to worry about was the common cold?) and landed me at home for the next two days. It was a Friday night around eleven o’clock, and I was too busy being balled up on the couch with a cough to be worried about anything else. 

Until–and if she hadn’t, I don’t know where I’d be–enter Mom: 

“Hey Gracie, did you ever fill out the application for that internship? When was that due again?”

The answer was no, and it was due at midnight that night. Cue forty-five minutes of furious typing and file-sifting, and I had (with the help of my dad) a resume, cover letter, and writing samples ready to go.

So I submitted it, and promptly forgot about it. Again. 

But after an interview, an offer, and several trips to the HR office later, here I am. I’ve been lucky to share the stories of exceptional students within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for the last two years, and now I have the chance to tell a little bit of mine. 

I’ve been continually amazed by the achievements of my peers and Villanova alumni, and have been able to engage in meaningful interactions in settings such as BRIDGE Society Meetings, pictured above.

Little did I know that the on-a-whim application would lead me to so much. I’ve been able to learn from, connect with, and form friendships with my fellow students, and I’m amazed every day by what my peers can do. I’ve had the privilege of hearing and sharing the stories of students who have written and published books, started nonprofits, and gained valuable career and life experiences through internships and semesters abroad. I’m endlessly thankful for the opportunities to connect with students, staff, and alumni alike, and working with OUS has also given me the opportunity to expand and improve myself as I add to my own Villanova story. I’ve declared a double major in English and Secondary Education, become a proud Blue Key, assumed the role of President of Villanova’s student chapter of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, and will be collaborating with one of my favorite professors in research this semester through the Department of Education and Counseling. 

I’m not the person I was when I began at Villanova, when I first started this position, or even who I was last semester. Writing for OUS has given me the opportunity to grow and expand my horizons, and that’s what I’d like to do with this platform as well. Just as OUS encourages students to explore, experience, and evolve, I’d love for OUS Magazine to evolve from an independently-run platform to a collaborative team as we take on two additional staff writers, so more of the stories and experiences of so many exceptional and deserving CLAS students can be shared. 

This new year and new season is a time for growth and improvement upon the previous, and we should find excitement and optimism in change as a new beginning arrives. I remember that excitement, and I’m feeling it again. I can’t wait to get started!

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As the Story and Experience Intern for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, junior Graciela Petrelli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

My OUS Story: Anna Jankowski

For rising junior Anna Jankowski from Baltimore, Maryland, it was obvious that Villanova was the right choice for her. “It wasn’t totally on my radar, but my tutor from high school used to live in the area and she said it was such a great community,” Anna says. “She encouraged me to tour, and that was it! It was the only school I toured. My friends said that they knew I was always going to end up here based on the way that I talked about it. It truly has been everything I’ve hoped for and more.”

Anna has been involved in various clubs and organizations at Villanova, including NOVAdance, sorority Delta Gamma, and Villanova Athletics. Anna is also the Member Engagement Coordinator for LEVEL, and has completed an internship during the Spring 2021 semester as the Social Media Marketing Intern for Villanova’s Office of Health Promotion.

“They’ve all been impactful in different ways,” says Anna. “I’ve loved my experience with LEVEL and the Office of Disability Services, and LEVEL has really challenged me and pushed me to grow as a leader and a friend. Everyone there is so kind and compassionate. I do LEVEL hours every week with a student in the office, and it just makes the week so much better. No matter what tests or assignments I have, it just completely rejuvenates me. Also, the skills I gained from my internship were incredible and really helped connect me to the Villanova community through social media and also through the events we had reaching out to people. I really got to see all the things that Villanova offers to students in terms of wellbeing, which was so encouraging as a student to see what’s available to me.”

“I also worked with Villanova Athletics my freshman year as a Gameday Volunteer, which was the most amazing experience ever!” Anna adds. “I literally got to go courtside for the basketball games. I found it at random—I was an avid reader of the Wildcat Newswire, and I came across the opportunity in the email and was like, ‘You know what? I’ll try it!’ We would coordinate the halftime singers or the color guard or other student groups, and it was so fun to do that. What a way to be introduced to the Villanova community!”

With all of this in mind, Anna is looking forward to her junior year at Villanova, which will hopefully be more normal than the past academic year. “I’m dying to go back to a basketball game! I can’t wait to hang out with friends in a more normal setting,” she says. “Academically, I definitely want to take more opportunities with internships in the communication department, like the Waterhouse Family Institute. I would definitely love to study abroad at some point, potentially in Italy or Greece. There are so many things I still want to do!”

However, though this year has been unusual, Anna says the connections she’s made at Villanova kept her feeling supported and at home. “What has kept me so grounded at Villanova is the people,” she says. “I knew I wanted to come to Villanova because of the service and values, and I wanted to meet like-minded people that want to learn and care about others. That’s definitely how I would describe Villanova. I met Jessie Williamson, who is the other Member Engagement Coordinator for LEVEL, last summer and we instantly became best friends. She is someone I look up to so much, and everyone in LEVEL is just so, so kind.”

“I also want to thank my friends and my sorority, and I’ve had some amazing mentors,” she adds. “My Orientation Counselor’s name is Rachel Randall, and I’m so close with her. We became best friends and it’s been so amazing. Also, my CMI—his name is Bobby Nichols and he helped me so much. He would always be in his room in Maguire Hall, and I would trek on up whenever I had a problem. I also really appreciate LSS (Office of Learning Support Services). They’re so helpful—I meet there once a week to go over what assignments I have, and we figure out what I need to do. Villanova would not be the same without them!”

“At Villanova, I’ve really learned the value of relationships,” says Anna. “People really, really care about you here, and the Villanova community cares about you long after, even after you leave campus. It’s so comforting to see that you have so many people in your corner—we have each other’s backs, and other people have yours. We really take the time to develop those relationships, and good things come from it!”

“When I got here, I didn’t want to go to a school that was only focused on getting the highest grades possible. I wanted to go to a school that really nurtures the whole person and really takes care of every aspect of who you are, not just as a student. I feel like my professors see that—they see me as more than just a statistic or for what I’m involved in, and they encourage me. My friends, my peers, my teachers, my mentors—everyone is amazing. You have to find what’s best for you, and what will make you the most well-rounded person you can be, instead of just pursuing what others or society or academics want you to do. You have to forge your own path, and a lot of that comes from the people you surround yourself with. I’m glad I surrounded myself with Villanova!”

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As the Story and Experience Intern for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Graciela Petrelli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Senior Spotlight: Paola Lis

For senior Paola Lis from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Villanova has remained ever-present in her life and family. As her father and grandfather also attended the University, Paola has always been able to call Villanova home. “I’ve wanted to go to Villanova ever since I knew what college was!” says Paola. “My dad went here and so did my grandfather, and just seeing that, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. He always talks so highly of Villanova—I remember being around five years old and he would talk to me about the basketball team, all the priests he’s worked with, and everyone he knew from Villanova. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away before I even told him I wanted to come here, but I do feel more connected with my dad. He loves this school and he is such a big part of my life. I’ve always looked up to him, and I wanted to be a part of that community too.”

Though the past academic year has been a different experience than most Villanovans know, Paola is grateful for the opportunity to remain on campus and Villanova’s efforts to keep its students and staff as safe as possible. “It’s such a mix of emotions,” she says. “I’m glad that I did have that first-year experience that so many other freshmen aren’t able to have right now. I feel sad that I didn’t get to say goodbye to my senior friends last year, but I feel grateful that we’re on campus and able to have a commencement with guests. I love that Villanova was able to handle this year in a way that we could all be here safely. This could not have happened anywhere else!”

Paola is graduating from Villanova with a major in math and a double minor in Spanish and studio arts, and happens to be Villanova’s first studio arts minor as students were given the opportunity to pursue the minor as of the Fall 2020 semester. Furthermore, she has used her skills in her work study with UNIT’s Classroom Technologies to support Villanovans in their virtual endeavors in the past year. Paola also plans to pursue an MBA after graduation and is currently occupying a position at McAdam Financial, a registered investment advisor based in Philadelphia.

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Paola’s future is undoubtedly very bright, but as her time at Villanova comes to an end, she reflects on the things she will miss the most. “I’ll miss the connections I’ve made here,” she says. “I’ll miss the community feeling, not just with students and professors, but also with the people who work in food services. I have made friends with the people that serve us, and I think that’s really important for somewhere you live. We live here for four years, and they are here to help us every day, including snow days, which is incredible! Also, I love being able to see my parents every day. Both of my parents work here—my father is an ACS professor and my mother works in alumni relations, so being able to see them every day around campus or meet them for lunch is something I’m going to miss a lot. My mom started working here my sophomore year…and because she never had the opportunity to go to college, I love being able to share my college experience with her.”

Paola would also like to thank the Office of Learning Support Services, her advisor Dr. Elise Pasles in the Department of Mathematics, as well as her boyfriend of eight years for their continuous support in her academic journey and endeavors. “I’ve taken classes here every semester and summer including the summer before my freshman year, and they’ve all been there to help every time,” says Paola. “They’ve definitely shaped my Villanova experience.”

Most of all, Paola extends the most gratitude to her parents, who provided her with the opportunity to attend and thrive at Villanova. “I was born in Nicaragua, and when I was born, my family did not have a lot,” she says. “I shared one dress with my cousin for the week. Then my mom met my dad when I was around two years old, and they got married and he brought us here. My mom didn’t go to college because she had kids so young, and I just want to say how grateful I am for my parents and how much my dad has supported us. My mom is now working here at Villanova and taking classes on top of it, and she’s my role model for sure. They had told me, ‘If you want to go to Villanova, we will find a way to do it.’ And they did it! I just feel very grateful to both of my parents, and I’ve definitely taken advantage of my time here. I hope I made them proud.”

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As the Story and Experience Intern for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Graciela Petrelli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 

My OUS Story: Lauren Kourey

For rising junior Lauren Kourey from Danville, California, it wasn’t until she saw the community for herself that she realized Villanova was the school for her. “My brother actually went to Villanova—he graduated about ten years ago, and it was always on my radar because of that,” says Lauren. “But when I was in high school applying to schools, I thought I wanted to be different! I applied anyway, and once I actually toured and saw it through my own eyes, I knew this was exactly where I wanted to go! I needed to see it for myself.”

On campus, Lauren is involved in Villanova’s Food Recovery Network as well as The Villanovan newspaper, writing for the publication’s news section. Lauren is also involved as the marketing co-director in one of Villanova’s all-female a cappella groups Nothing But Treble, where she says she feels most at home. “I’ve really found a home through a cappella,” she says. “I joined right when freshman year started when everything was still very new and a little scary, but joining a cappella really helped me find a community and people who I’m very close to.”

“In high school, I was really into choir and a little bit of musical theater, and I always knew that I wanted to keep doing music in college,” Lauren adds. “It’s one of those things that is very therapeutic for me, and it just allows me to decompress and not think about my school work for that time. It’s completely student-run and I love that we’re able to create so many cool pieces of music that are all ours, all by ourselves. I was happy to see them during the craziness of this whole year—I’m just very thankful to be a part of it!”

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With a double major in English and political science, Lauren is furthering her professional development this summer with an internship on the social media management team of social networking startup 30 Friends, as well as next summer through the Washington Minimester program with Villanova’s Department of Political Science. With all of this experience and the versatility of her studies, Lauren is considering multiple avenues when it comes to post-graduation plans. “I’d always tossed around the idea of going to law school, but I also really wanted to become a journalist,” she says. “I think that’s partly why I wanted to join The Villanovan, even though it’s on a smaller scale. I just really enjoy reporting and being able to investigate a little bit. I could also see myself doing something more in politics, working at an NGO and helping people, or something where I’m getting young people to register to vote. I’m very interested in politics and the political climate where we are and how that has changed over time. I think my dream job would probably be to be a political journalist, and I think that’s why I chose political science and English as my majors because for that job, that’s the perfect field of study!” 

Villanova is well-equipped with resources, professors, and staff that are unwavering in their support of students. For Lauren, the most supportive and influential figure of her Villanova experience thus far is Dr. Mary L. Mullen in the Department of English. “She has been so accommodating and understanding of everything that’s happened with COVID,” says Lauren. “I’m grateful for her, because she’s always so understanding and genuinely wants all of her students to succeed. No matter what, she makes you feel validated, which is so important.” Recently, I collapsed my lung and had to go to the hospital for a few days, so I couldn’t do my schoolwork and it was really stressing me out. Dr. Mullen was so accommodating and understanding, and right away she sent me an email letting me know she was thinking about me and to prioritize my health first.”

“I wish more people would realize that their health is the most important thing,” Lauren adds. “If you don’t have your health, you can’t do anything else. You can’t even worry about your grades or anything like that, because you don’t have the capacity to. I feel like as students nowadays, we’re taught growing up that grades are everything. It’s not healthy, but when I was in the hospital, I realized that my grades don’t even matter if I don’t have my health! Dr. Mullen reminded me of that, and it’s especially important during the pandemic. It’s really nice when professors take the time to realize that we’ve never gone through this before, and that sometimes we need to take care of ourselves first.”

“If there’s anything I’ve learned in my time here, moving away from home and being on my own, I’ve really learned to never apologize or feel bad for being myself,” says Lauren. “I feel like this is probably common for a lot of people, but in high school, I felt very insecure and tried to conform. But in college, I learned not to take things personally anymore. I’m more confident in myself, and I feel very secure in who I am and what I value. I learned to care less about things I shouldn’t. If someone likes you or doesn’t like you, it doesn’t matter—your happiness doesn’t depend on other people!”

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As the Story and Experience Intern for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Graciela Petrelli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Senior Spotlight: Caitlin O’Leary

Though the last academic year has been unlike any other, senior Caitlin O’Leary from Clayton, California has maintained a positive outlook and reminds her fellow Villanovans of the importance of living in the moment and making the most of every day. “I came in this fall thinking that there was no way that we were going to end up staying on campus,” she admits. “I adopted the mindset that every single day is a blessing, just to be on campus, and to take full advantage of it. Whether that’s going to meet up with my friends to have a picnic outside by the church or walking through the Quad just because I could, I wanted to do everything to maximize my time here.

“We’ve been more than lucky to be on campus this whole year, so I’ve kept that mindset the whole time because I’m not going to be able to be here forever. This is the last time we’ll be college seniors and be spontaneous, so I think taking advantage of the time to be with my best friends, being on Villanova’s campus, and taking in the beauty that this campus has reminded me to always enjoy being who I am in this moment.”

When she first visited Villanova prior to attending, Caitlin says she felt that she was already a part of the community. “When I got into Villanova, it was really exciting,” she says. “My mom and I made a trip to Villanova in late April. I came to an admitted students panel and then a tour after, and then I was just on campus walking through the Quad for the first time when it just hit me that Villanova was it. Everyone was very involved and seemed like they really enjoyed being friends with one another, and I noticed when I was walking around on campus with my mom that students were interacting with one another, stopping to say ‘Hi,’ and I think that was what made the biggest difference in choosing Villanova—knowing that I was going to have this amazing academic experience, and seeing that community aspect and how much love Villanovans have for one another. It’s not something we just talk about—you really feel it.”

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On campus, Caitlin has been a member of the Blue Key Society, sorority Alpha Gamma Delta, the varsity women’s water polo team, participated in an SJE Habitat for Humanity trip in South Carolina, and worked in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as an admissions assistant. However, what was most impactful for Caitlin was her membership and later mentorship in the Leadership Learning Community. “I was in the Leadership Learning Community as a freshman, and I felt like it was the perfect transition from high school to college,” she says. “I loved it so much that I became a facilitator myself during my sophomore year and also my senior year. I love giving back to the community, and that program made such an impact on me. Being able to go back and talk to freshmen about my experience has been one of my favorite things that I’ve done at Villanova so far.”

With a major in sociology and triple minor in business, psychology, and educational policy leadership, Caitlin furthered her academic experience and connected to her heritage by studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland during the fall of her junior year. “I had always planned to go to Ireland to study abroad,” Caitlin says. “I have a lot of family in Ireland, so I was able to meet my cousins and other family members all across the country. I had a really in-depth look at the culture as I got to go out with my cousins, and just to be able to meet a bunch of different people was amazing.”

“I did a direct enrollment program at University College Dublin, taking six classes—two about Irish culture, also two education classes, and two sociology classes. One of the education classes was specifically about the Irish educational heritage, an in-depth look at how education has come about in Ireland. It was really cool because my grandma lived and grew up in Ireland, and we actually went to the school that she went to. That was a great field trip!”

“While I was there, I was able to travel to about ten other countries. I was on the move!” Caitlin adds. “Of course, we got to do a lot of touristy stuff in Dublin, like going to the Guinness factory, all the pubs and clubs, and visiting the Cliffs of Moher. I was even able to go to Cork, which is where my family is from, so that was really cool. My parents were actually able to come up and spend a week there to see some family too, because my dad has so many family members. My mom had never been and neither had I, so we got to meet them. We did it all!”

Caitlin has undoubtedly made the most of her Villanova experience, and as it comes to a close, she has a few professors and mentors she would like to acknowledge. Caitlin would primarily like to thank Dr. Lance Hannon, who sparked her interest in sociology and informed her post-graduate plans to pursue a career in educational policy. “I’ve had him now for three semesters—he was the first one to get me excited about sociology,” she says. “I had him for Intro to Sociology, and in that class a lot of the things we talked about related to higher education and the education field in general. That sparked my interest in education policy and the problems that higher education faces, really valuing and critiquing Villanova as well as other educational institutions.”

“This semester, I have him for my senior seminar, and he has pushed me so much to think about the way things are and how education works. He’s also definitely informed my post-grad plans. I’m going to be doing Teach for America, which is a program that takes non-education majors and turns them into teachers,” Caitlin adds. “The reason why I decided to do that program is because of the ability to have teaching experience, and to be able to take that experience and apply it to policy making to make more equitable changes for our education system.”

Caitlin would also like to thank Dr. Christa Bialka in the Department of Education & Counseling, Dr. Jill McCorkel in the Department of Sociology & Criminology, and Joseph Citera in the Office of Student Involvement. “They’ve definitely helped shape who I am today,” she says.

Reflecting on her time and growth at Villanova over the last four years, Caitlin says that she’ll carry the University’s famous sense of community with her far beyond the physical campus. “Villanova taught me what it means to be a part of a community, how to be there for one another, and how to do that in different ways. There are different ways to show care, whether it’s making sure to stop and say ‘Hi’ to acquaintances when you’re walking from Bartley to the Oreo, or when a friend is in trouble or in crisis, being a good listener and friend that’s there for them,” Caitlin says. “I’ve learned how to put all of myself into my community. Self-reflection is important, to take a moment to reflect and see how we can get better and change after we make a mistake. Villanova has taught me resilience in acknowledging myself and my mistakes, but also to have the ability to pick myself up and say, ‘How can I move forward and be a better person?’ I think that’s something huge that Villanova has taught me, that we can always get better.”

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As the Story and Experience Intern for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Graciela Petrelli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.