Villanova University’s Faith Yost ’27 CLAS Named 2026 Goldwater Scholar
VILLANOVA, Pa. (April 10, 2026)—Faith Yost ’27 CLAS, a Biology major in Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has been named a 2026 Goldwater Scholar by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Yost was selected from a competitive, nationwide pool of students for this prestigious award, which recognizes outstanding undergraduates pursuing research careers in STEM fields with a scholarship to support those academic endeavors
The Goldwater Foundation’s scholarship, awarded annually to sophomores and juniors, is considered the preeminent award for undergraduate students preparing for research careers in the sciences, mathematics or engineering.
“Faith’s recognition as a Goldwater Scholar is a testament to her academic achievements, dedication to research and commitment to fieldwork,” said University Provost Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD. “A true Villanova researcher, she is harnessing her intellectual curiosity and passion for conservation science to ignite change for the common good. We congratulate Faith on her selection and look forward to seeing the impact of her work in the years ahead.”
Yost is dedicated to a research career in wildlife biology, with a focus on conservation and sustainability initiatives in tropical environments. She has prioritized research and fieldwork across Pennsylvania, Florida and internationally.
As a first-year student, Yost connected with Samantha Chapman, PhD, and Adam Langley, PhD—faculty members in Villanova’s Biology department—and began contributing to research projects in environmental biology. Under their mentorship, she assisted in biomass measurements of coastal wetland plants and nitrogen analysis of soil samples.
In Summer 2024, Yost was awarded a Biology Summer Research Fellowship to study mutualistic relationships between fungi and mangrove trees. Her resulting work was the first to integrate arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi into Florida’s black mangrove ecosystems. She presented her research at the Villanova Undergraduate Research Symposium and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, earning first place in the “Creativitas: Displays of Beauty in Research” competition for her microscopic image of mycorrhizal fungi.
The following fall, Yost expanded her global research and conservation experience by studying abroad in the Galapagos Islands. There, she conducted research on pollinator species in diverse ecosystems, designed an exhibit addressing wildlife-related traffic risks and pesticide use and volunteered in forest management initiatives.
In 2025, Yost interned with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, contributing to habitat management efforts through data collection and wildlife handling involving species such as black bears, waterfowl and songbirds. She is currently an intern at Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, Pa., supporting animal care and conservation education. This summer, Yost will intern with Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust, where she’ll build upon her ecological restoration techniques and study biodiversity.
As she continues her academic journey, Yost is interested in researching the impact of invasive wild pigs on marsh and mangrove ecosystems. She intends to pursue the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and obtain a PhD in tropical conservation biology at the University of Hawaii, with the goal of conducting research on invasive species in the Amazon rainforest.
For more information on the Goldwater Scholarship, visit goldwaterscholarship.gov.
About Villanova University
Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.