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A group of male students walk in front of the 1930 Commerce and Finance Building (now the Villanova School of Business). The building is now known as Vasey Hall. Courtesy photo
In the year In 1922, when the first students, on the first day of class, walked in Villanova Business SchoolThey were all remarkably similar: almost all were white Catholic men.
Students entering campus a century later have a very diverse makeup: nearly 54% of them are women, and more than 26% are students of color. They come from all socio-economic backgrounds, castes and creeds.
Today (August 24), the Villanova School of Business celebrated its 100th First Day as it welcomed 1,700 freshmen and 1,000 graduating students back to school with food trucks, swag and celebrity guest speakers. Festivities will gather around the newly renovated Bartley Hall, the heart of the business school, named for the school’s first dean: the Rev. Joseph Bartley, who served for 40 years. It is the official launch of events planned for VSB’s 100th anniversary, which will show how the school has changed in a century. (See the timeline of important school events here.)
More women, more people of color
When the nearly all-white, all-male, all-Catholic class first enrolled in the new Department of Commerce and Finance (then called the VSB), it was unremarkable for the time and place. Founded in 1842, Villanova College is named for its patron saint, St. Thomas of Villanova, and is founded on Augustinian values to serve Catholic students. Many universities and business schools did not allow women to enroll.
Students gather outside the Villanova Business School. Today, the school celebrates its 100th day of school. Courtesy photo
Forty-six years after its founding, in 1968, Villanova Business opened applications to women. In the year In 1972, the four graduated, becoming the first female students in the school’s history.
Now the first female dean has: Joyce EA Russell came to VSB on August 1, 2016.After serving as associate and vice dean at the Robert H. Smith School of Business in Maryland-College Park. This will be her seventh year leading the school.
“When I first came, there were very few female professors or chairs. We had a smaller percentage of female faculty, a smaller percentage of female students. “So we’ve made a concerted effort to get more women into business school as well as students of color,” she said. Poets&Quants.
In academia, women are often stuck as associate professors, Russell notes, and there is ample evidence that women avoid applying for leadership positions unless they believe they are a perfect fit for the job.
“I’ve put a lot of women on my leadership team who weren’t leaders before, so I think the school has definitely changed in that regard. “What are we doing to help you grow?” We tried to say. We encourage women to check their credentials and submit their names if they are eligible.
100 years of amazing events
Looking back on its first century, the Villanova School of Business believes it has much to be proud of — not least of which has happened under the leadership of Dean Russell, who implemented her five-year strategic plan in 2020.
Recent events include:
VBS students pose with Villanova’s first Wildcat, Count Villan. Courtesy photo
- His creation Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion In 2018 and the appointment of Professor of Marketing and Law Aaron Bennett as Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in 2021. The school employs 49 teachers with a focus on women and underrepresented groups.
- An undergraduate job placement rate of 98.9%, a 25% average salary increase for MBA students, and a network of 31,550 alumni.
- A revamped part-time MBA program, starting this fall, offers more flexibility and an updated curriculum.
- More than $40 million has been raised to support faculty research, DEI programming, scholarships for students, and building improvements.
Over the past decade, VSB has received a $50 million gift, the largest gift ever to Villanova University, from alumnus James C. Davis ’81, and many other multi-million dollar gifts from alumni and supporters. He established the first Church Administration Center He created a Master of Science in Business School, and Church Administration. Also added in commercial real estate, international leadership, career development, several new degree programs, new financial markets center.
Poets&Quants Join Dean Russell to talk about women’s leadership, 100 years of milestones, and what’s next for the Villanova School of Business. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
What do you think is the significance of Villanova’s first female dean?
You know, I get asked that question a lot. I’ve been in charge of various organizations where I’ve worked with women in leadership roles, and we talk about this: That’s not why you got the job. You probably don’t even think about it, really.
Joyce EA Russell became dean of the Villanova School of Business on August 1, 2016. She is the first woman to lead the school in its history. Courtesy photo
But I think about alumni coming back and saying, “You know, I wasn’t really with the school, but now that you’re running it, I’m engaged.” Or female students and prospective students who can go anywhere say, “I see there’s actually a lot of female faculty here and a lot of female leaders.” I’m not saying this to pat myself on the back, just to be attracted to women in leadership positions. I realize it may not be what I had in mind, but I understand that this is a responsibility. I always tell my daughter, as a woman, you have to take your responsibility seriously and realize that it affects other people. It would be very easy not to be the first, but I think it’s important for people to see other people like them in leadership positions.
Why is it important for women and other underrepresented groups to have leadership positions in addition to visibility?
I really think they can influence business and society. If you only think about the issues that workers face, you think about child care issues and the countless responsibilities that women still have in the family. I was having a fireside chat with a female CEO, and one of the most important things to her is, you know, she leaves during the day to watch her kids’ soccer games. She told people, “This is what I do.” She was letting them know that living life is okay.
I think having a woman in leadership shows an appreciation for some of the work-life issues that people sometimes face. I think one of the issues that our employees are facing today, especially with the pandemic, has to do with their work-life balance, and you have to have people in leadership roles that understand those issues.
It’s not just about looking at role models. It’s about understanding the issues our employees face and then influencing the rules to treat people in organizations. It means that your world is not just your job. We respect the other things you bring to the table. We respect that you have families, and you want to see those families, or you have hobbies or pastimes. Leaders who recognize that an organization may have flexible hours or flexible days. These are real issues that people face.
I teach negotiation, and knowing that women don’t negotiate has influenced my behavior. I want to make sure that the women I hire as faculty or staff are getting paid fairly, even if they haven’t negotiated for themselves. I think they’re trying to create workplaces where there’s no more appreciation for, you know, harassment, bullying, discrimination, misogyny, those kinds of things.
Next page: 100 years of VSB milestones
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