Villanova University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

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Villanova University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences cultivates knowledge, understanding and intellectual courage for a purposeful life. in Philosophy.
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The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Villanova, the largest and oldest of the University’s four undergraduate colleges, was founded by the Augustinian Order in 1842. Since its creation in 1842, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has distinguished itself from its peers by an unwavering dedication to undergraduate education. A true emphasis on undergraduate education allows students to

study with faculty who are experts in their fields so that they gain a deep understanding of the fundamentals of critical insight, mature judgment, and independent thinking, and a sense of the importance of values and the moral responsibility of caring for others and working for the betterment of society. The academic majors, minors, and concentrations offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences reflect the College’s mission to provide all of its students with an interdisciplinary and diversified academic program and core curriculum, which offer its students a scale of well-defined universal values that equips them to be wise critics of the society in which they live. That said, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Villanova University is an ideal place to pursue your graduate education. Our extensive program offerings in Graduate Liberal Arts and Sciences include more than twenty master's degrees, more than forty pre- and post-master's certificates, and a Ph.D.

06/02/2026

For Trinity Franklin ’26 CLAS, language is more than a subject of study, it is a way of understanding the world.

Trinity explains that languages have long played an important role in her life. “I’ve always been interested in language and linguistics. I grew up hearing a lot from friends and classmates speaking different languages,” she says. Upon arriving at Villanova, Trinity found an opportunity combine her passion for languages, cultural knowledge and critical thinking by double majoring in Spanish and Latin American Studies. This spring, her dedication to her studies has been recognized through two Medallion Awards for Academic Excellence: the St. Theresa of Ávila Award and the Berta Cáceres Award.

Now a recent graduate, Trinity’s volunteer work with Centro de Cultura, Arte, Trabajo y Educación, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the Latinx community, helped crystalize her career goals. “[The experience] gave me a clear example of how an impactful nonprofit runs,” she shares. “It also showed me the need for bilingual Spanish-English speakers in the PA region.”

Reflecting on the value of an education in the liberal arts, Trinity offers advice to fellow Villanovans. “Please, do not let people make you feel like your education was wasted because you didn’t study business or something STEM related. We need artists, poets, writers, journalists, historians, and most importantly, curious people.”

05/29/2026

Congratulations to our feature, Cera Murtagh, PhD, associate professor of Political Science and Irish Studies! Dr. Murtagh recently published her book, "Civic Parties in Divided Societies: Northern Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina."

In places shaped by conflict, politics are often reduced to a simple story of stark polarization between two opposing sides. According to Dr. Murtagh, PhD, that narrative overlooks a more complex reality. In her new book, she explores how a different kind of politics is taking place in deeply divided countries.

Focusing on Northern Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina where most political parties organize along ethnic lines, she examines the rise of civic parties that seek to reach across the divide—rejecting ethnonationalism and organizing around alternative identities and issues such as class, gender and social justice. “My research examines how societies move on from conflict—not just to signing a peace agreement, but beyond that, towards a fuller sense of democracy,” she explains.

The book draws on more than a decade of Dr. Murtagh’s research, including extensive fieldwork in Northern Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina. During that time, she conducted more than 100 interviews with politicians, activists and civil society leaders, in addition to focus groups with voters. “It was a real privilege,” she says. “People were incredibly generous with their time and insights, and that shaped not just the findings, but my understanding of the problem itself.”

Following peace agreements, power-sharing systems in Northern Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina were established to give former conflict groups guaranteed representation in the political sphere. However, these systems left limited space for parties organizing outside traditional ethnic identities. Yet, “Despite these barriers, civic parties show really creative agency in how they navigate the system and have even taken up positions in government,” says Dr. Murtagh.

Dr. Murtagh sees lessons that extend beyond these case studies, offering insights into how civic movements and social movements can navigate deep political divides and make a meaningful impact.

05/27/2026

“I love that every day is different and that I am getting a front row seat to history in real time. What I didn’t bank on when I got into news, was that some of the historic changes would happen to the industry itself.”

Now a senior producer and showrunner at Red Seat Ventures, Kevin Chupka ’03 CLAS has spent his career navigating a continuously evolving media landscape. “It has forced me to learn a lot more about technology, audience development and human behavior,” he shares. “Despite the stress of it, I enjoyed being able to broaden my perspective of what the industry is and have learned things I never imagined I would.”

For Chupka, pursuing a liberal arts education provided the strong foundation necessary for impactful storytelling in his profession. “Classes in American and world history, sociology, philosophy and world religions are invaluable when trying to give a news story context,” he explains. “Why it matters, why it’s news and why you should care.”

As he reflects on his time as a Communication major, Chupka points to memorable classes and professors whose teachings he still draws on today. A Humanities seminar strengthened his writing skills and exposed him to literary classics, while a radio production course expanded his understanding of how audiences engage with multimedia content—a learning experience that continues to resonate with him as the creator and producer of the NY POSTcast, a daily podcast for the New York Post. He also credits Susan Mackey-Kallis, PhD, his senior thesis advisor, with sharpening his critical thinking skills, and appreciates how Bryan Crable, PhD, encouraged him to think more deeply about mass communication.

With the class of 2026 preparing to begin their post-Villanova journeys, Chupka advises graduates to embrace lifelong learning and stay connected to the Villanova network. “We always enjoy helping a fellow Wildcat!”

05/26/2026

We’re excited to highlight the recipient of the 2026 Graduate Research Prize, Gabby Piccirilli ’25 CLAS, ’26 MA! Gabby’s paper, “An Author’s Voice and the ‘Wounds That Speak’: Creative Writing as Emotional Processing and Public Communication,” appears among 12 student papers in the 49th issue of CONCEPT, the peer-reviewed graduate research journal of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Gabby’s prize-winning paper examines the under-researched experience of emotional release offered by the process of creative writing. As a combined BA/MA student in Communication and an author herself, Gabby shares that her paper stemmed from personal experience. “If I'm dealing with something emotionally, I always find that writing is how I get through it, kind of processing on the page,” she explains.

To investigate if writing as processing was common among other authors, Gabby conducted interviews and observed authors at both Villanova and during a study abroad trip to Northern Ireland. She found many writers channel their personal experiences, noting that almost all the authors in her study put autobiographical elements into fiction. “I was really interested in exploring that, because a lot of people—I wouldn't say hide behind a character, but they put themselves into a character.”

Gabby based her work on “A Cognitive Process Theory of Writing” by Linda Flower and John R. Hayes, which describes writing as a complex mental activity rather than a linear or even mechanical task. “I think it’s a big concept I was already familiar with as a writer,” Gabby says. “Once you put it on the page, you're confronting it. It's tangible and not just spinning around in your head.”

As she looks ahead and continues work on her own novel, Gabby remains inspired by a lesson from her research: “You carry a story that needs to be told.”

Click the link in our bio to learn more about Gabby’s research and explore the collection of student scholarship featured in the 49th edition of CONCEPT.

05/21/2026

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! 🎓 We are so proud of all you’ve accomplished and look forward to seeing how you ignite change in your post-Villanova journey.

As you reflect on your time in the College, we invite you to think about a mentor who has helped shape your CLAS experience. Is there a memory or note of gratitude you’d like to share about a faculty member who made an impact on your life?

Head to the link in bio to submit your message!

05/20/2026

As a financial professional with over 32 years in the industry, Gregg Gelinas ’92 CLAS is dedicated to investment strategies that emphasize discipline and helping partners win through compelling solutions. However, the real reward lies in the impact his work has on people’s lives.

“What I enjoy most about my work in financial services is offering clients consistent long-term investments which may allow them to live the life they envision and plan the future they desire,” says Gelinas. “Whether that means planning for retirement, purchasing a second home, funding a child's education or leaving a specific legacy—being able to help others achieve their financial goals is personally rewarding.”

A Political Science major, Gelinas initially set his sights on a legal career. After a year in law school, Gelinas realized it was no longer the path he wanted to pursue. That pivot led him to the financial industry where he has since built a career with major firms such as Morgan Stanley, BlackRock and Eaton Vance.

Today, Gelinas is a Director at Golub Capital, a market-leading direct lender and experienced private credit manager. He is responsible for managing existing and new client relationships for the firm’s Private Wealth Americas channel in the Southeast.

Gelinas credits his Villanova education with equipping him with the skills to adapt and thrive in an industry he hadn’t originally considered. “Without Villanova providing a solid foundation and CLAS offering me a strong education based in critical thinking, communication and analytical reasoning, those opportunities would not have been available to me,” he explains.

As a member of the CLAS Dean’s Advisory Council and current Vice Chair, Gelinas is dedicated to supporting the College’s programs and initiatives and helping students prepare for their own professional journeys. Gelinas and his wife Sharon live in Jupiter, Florida, and are the proud parents of two Villanova students, Max ’26 CLAS and Gavin ’29 CLAS.

Stemming from his personal experience of taking the leap from one profession to another, Gelinas’ advice is, “Take calculated risks and have the courage to fail.”

05/15/2026

This , we congratulate Emil Ricci, EdD, adjunct history professor, on receiving the 2025 Tolle Lege Award! This honor recognizes excellence in teaching within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

“I am truly humbled to have received this prestigious award from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,” says Dr. Ricci. “It confirms my deep commitment to offering my students innovative and interesting courses taught with passion and enthusiasm. Above all, the Tolle Lege Award is a reminder that teaching is a highly valued professional activity requiring constant reflection, dedication and improvement.”

Dr. Ricci’s favorite courses to teach are part of the Legal Studies minor in the Department of History. “These courses include the history of the United States Supreme Court and US constitutional and legal history,” he explains. Dr. Ricci continues to expand that curriculum with new subject offerings, such as The History of the Federal Courts, a class he introduced this semester. He is also developing another course for the 2026 – 2027 academic year. “Currently, I am creating a course on the Role of the Public Prosecutor in American Legal History,” Dr. Ricci shares.

Alongside his teaching, Dr. Ricci is pursuing research on a lesser-studied area of judicial history. “In addition, I am doing research on the impeachment of Pennsylvania State Court Judges going back to the nineteenth century,” he says. “This is a topic requiring more scholarly attention, and I hope to eventually publish an article based upon my research.”

For Dr. Ricci, the award affirms a long-standing sense of purpose in the classroom. “Teaching has always been a personal vocation,” he says. “I will always cherish the Tolle Lege Award, and I am grateful to those who selected me for this honor.”

05/13/2026

For Terry Guerin ’81 MA, giving back to Villanova has meant returning to the creative spaces that first shaped her. This spring, Guerin directed a production of Urinetown, 45 years after earning her master’s degree in Theatre.

Beginning as an art major at Quincy University, Guerin soon discovered a passion for the stage that would alter the course of her future. “I moved into theatre just because I was interested,” she says. “And then I just loved it.” That interest sparked a lifelong career spanning both education and directing. In addition to a decade as an instructor for Villanova Theatre, Guerin has directed musicals for the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Players, taught at The Baldwin School and Friends’ Central School, and directed performances for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Throughout her long and accomplished career, Villanova has remained a constant.

Her recent production of Urinetown by Greg Kotis, a Tony Award-winning dystopian satire that takes on capitalism and social justice, allowed her to revisit a show she had previously directed at the high-school level, this time in collaboration with Villanova graduate students. “It’s an ensemble piece—the entire ensemble is engaged in creating this world,” Guerin explains. “There’s a kind of tongue-in-cheek style, almost with a wink to the audience and we know the story we’re telling you.”

Working with current students was a highlight of Guerin’s work on campus this spring. While she reflects fondly on her own experience in the program, she also recognizes how it has evolved. “[The students] are great scholars of theatre, and the program has moved progressively and positively with the times. But it still has a commitment to teaching all aspects of theatre and that’s exactly what we had.”

05/12/2026

What does deep space sound like? Physics major Nathaniel Slichta ’28 CLAS knows a surprisingly earthside answer. Last year, he worked with Assistant Professor of Physics Becka Phillipson, PhD, to create audio recordings from satellite readings of black holes by the NASA satellite Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. Their study, published in the Veritas journal, zeroed in on the “heartbeat” of the black hole Binary GRS 1915+105—a duo of cosmic objects over 27,000 light years away.

“The idea of converting complex astrophysical data into sound was something I had never encountered before, and it immediately stood out as an exciting way to explore physics from a completely different perspective,” Nathaniel said. The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer collects information from astronomical structures such as neutron stars, black holes and white dwarfs. These objects give off x-ray radiation, which can be captured and analyzed. For Nathaniel, the result was a series of small oscillations resembling a human pulse.

His work is just one scientific outcome from the Match Research Program for First Year Students, which offers Villanovans the opportunity to do hands-on research during their first year at the University.

“Working under Dr. Phillipson has helped me immensely as a developing researcher,” he added. “She has supported me through every stage of the process, from coding and data analysis to poster design and scientific writing. I feel incredibly lucky to have such a supportive mentor throughout the early stages of my research career.”

In addition to broadening his interest in scientific study, he says this research invites the wider public to a realm of science that merges music with astrophysics. In August, the sound data he and Dr. Phillipson created will be incorporated into new music by composer LJ White and performed at the SkySpace installation in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia.

“Scientific research, while challenging, can be incredibly rewarding, especially when you are able to share your work with others,” he added. “Presenting this project to friends, family, fellow students and other scientists at conferences opened my eyes to the importance of scientific outreach."

05/08/2026

As we commemorate the one-year anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s election on this , CLAS faculty reflect on his early papacy.

For Jaisy Joseph, PhD, assistant professor of Theology and Religious Studies, Pope Leo’s first year has been defined by a spiritual vision centered on unity, listening and shared responsibility.

“From the beginning of his papacy, Leo emphasized that we are a synodal Church working towards peace and moving forward together. Leo’s Augustinian formation will absolutely leave its imprint on what Pope Francis started,” she says.

Professor of Italian Studies Luca Cottini, PhD, discusses Pope Leo’s effort to position the Church in active dialogue with the modern world.

“Leo XIV has used his first year to elevate this idea of a universal Church that is much needed, shaped by his global exposure and an ability to see the world through the lens of others,” Dr. Cottini explains. “He sees that we can dialogue with the world, approaching modernity not as an enemy but as something to engage with.”

Looking ahead, Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD, Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Christian Theology, says one of the most significant social developments Pope Leo must face is the rise of advanced technologies.

“So, we have to face this reality, not by asking ‘What is happening to us?’ but ‘What are we becoming with our technologies?’ and ‘How best can we remain human in an AI world?’ I think Pope Leo is asking similar questions, considering what makes the human person the image of God, what makes us distinct and whether there are human values that cannot be downloaded or reproduced in a digital medium.”

Read more at the link in bio.

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