About Us

VITAL Faculty Associates 2026

Jerusha Conner, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Edcuation and Counseling Project: “Advancing the Proposal for a Mission-Based, CPED-Aligned EdD in Educational Leadership”
This project encapsulates three goals: (1) conduct literature review and comprehensive market and competitor analysis and examine regional and national demand for doctoral level preparation of K-12 education leaders; (2) hold an external consultant-led department faculty visioning retreat to refine program goals and curriculum; and (3) produce a fully developed proposal.

Dron Mandhana, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Depratment of Communication
Project: “A Departmental Service-Based Learning Framework in Communication”
The goals of this project are (1) develop an integrated cohesive pedagogical framework for discipline-based service learning; and (2) design adaptable teaching and learning resources for service-based learning integration across client-facing undergraduate and graduate courses. The project will inform intentional, course-integrated service-based learning grounded in reciprocal partnerships and accompanied by structured reflection that connects students’ experience to disciplinary content.

VITAL Faculty Advisory Committee Members

Representatives from College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Liberal Arts, Sciences), College of Engineering, M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova School of Business, College of Professional Studies, and Charles Widger School of Law