Patti Ippoliti, PhD, ’75 VSB Establishes Scholarship to Support Next Generation of STEM Leaders

Patti Ippoliti, PhD, ’75 VSB knew that she always wanted to help students at Villanova who had the ambition and drive to succeed, but who did not always have the financial resources. This became the vision behind the establishment of the Dr. Patti Ippoliti Legacy Scholarship, which provides full-tuition scholarships to academically talented undergraduate students with financial need who demonstrate academic accomplishment, professional ambition and a personal commitment to making a difference in STEM.

This investment advances a central priority of Espiritus Nova: The Campaign for Villanova University—closing the financial need gap for undergraduate students. To date, more than $230 million has been raised toward the campaign’s $300 million goal for financial aid, moving the University closer to expanding access to a Villanova education for all deserving students.

For Dr. Patti, as she is known to most, this gift not only helps shape the next generation of Villanova leaders but also reflects her own experience as an alumna. After years of diligently chipping away at her student loan debt, she was finally able to pay it off when she landed her first C-suite position at Reebok at age 38. Reaching that milestone of financial success allowed her to focus on a goal she had long held close.

This led her to establish an investment account dedicated to funding scholarships for Villanova students. Over time, the fund grew steadily, and last year it reached the level needed to begin supporting students. Grace Rodenberg ’28 CLAS and Frances Waltz ’27 VSB were named the inaugural Dr. Patti Ippoliti Legacy Scholars for the 2025-26 academic year.

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

Today, Dr. Patti continues to give back to the University community by serving on the Villanova School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council, teaching in the MBA and Executive MBA programs and mentoring students and faculty. Her dream has long been to support students who have determination and talent but not the finances—and now her steadfast commitment has turned that dream into a reality.