As we approach this year's momentous Independence Day, we are pleased to share that Pope Leo XIV — the first American-born pontiff and a 1977 Villanova graduate — will be honored with the National Constitution Center's prestigious Liberty Medal, recognizing his lifelong commitment to religious liberty and human dignity. Read on for more details and information on how to view the upcoming ceremony. 

Villanova is also proud to join our neighbors in Radnor Township for #LighttoUnite in honoring the spirit of unity and the promise of America. As part of this nationwide celebration, Villanova's campus landmarks are illuminated in red, white, and blue to commemorate our shared heritage and mark America's 250th birthday. 

As always, please reach out to neighbors@villanova.edu with any questions, and follow us on Facebook for campus updates and community events.

We wish all of our neighbors a happy and safe holiday weekend!

Pope Leo XIV to Receive 38th Annual Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center

Villanova Media Room

VILLANOVA, PA. (June 23, 2026) – On July 3, 2026, the eve of the nation's 250th anniversary, the National Constitution Center (NCC) will present Pope Leo XIV with the 38th annual Liberty Medal during a ceremony at Philadelphia's Independence Mall. The American-born Pontiff will deliver remarks via video during the hour-long event, which will honor his longstanding advocacy for religious liberty, freedom of conscience and human dignity.

Ahead of America250, Villanova Historian Reveals How Independence Hall Almost Didn’t Survive

Villanova Media Room

Philadelphia’s Independence Hall has long occupied an outsized place in the American imagination. The space where the Continental Army was established, the Declaration of Independence adopted and the United States Constitution ratified, the site was once described by President Abraham Lincoln as the source “where were collected together the wisdom, the patriotism, the devotion to principle, from which sprang the institutions under which we live.”    

According to Whitney Martinko, PhD, associate professor of History and director of the Albert Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest at Villanova University, the “cradle of American democracy” almost never survived the country’s infancy.

“Early on, the challenge was about two things,” says Dr. Martinko, who specializes in public history, historic preservation and the early U.S. “One was about ownership of what was called the ‘Old State House,’ because it was the former statehouse in the colony of Pennsylvania. And the second was about the development of the city around it.”

For Villanova and the Augustinian Community, the Liberty Bell’s Sister Rings on as a Symbol of Faith and Freedom

Villanova Media Room

Originally made to replace the now-iconic Liberty Bell, its “Sister Bell” rang alongside it at Independence Hall in July 1776. For nearly 200 years, it has been inextricably linked to Villanova University and the Order of St. Augustine.

Calling all young artists and their families! Join us at the Villanova University Art Gallery on July 9th at 11AM for a morning of discovery and creativity.

We'll start with a guided look at the photography exhibition, Doubling with a Difference, where kids can explore how photographers play with repetition, pattern, and surprise. Then, step outside (sunshine permitting!) to try your hand at cyanotype printing with our Sun Kits - a magical, old-school photography process that uses nothing but sunlight to turn leaves and found treasures into awesome, blue-toned prints.

Kids will leave with their own sun print to take home and show off. If the weather does not cooperate, we'll send you home with the paper for another day of creativity. For kids 6 years old and over and their parents or caregivers, free and open to all. Feel free to bring a few small flat objects from nature (leaves, flowers, feathers) if you have them — we'll have extras too!

The University Art Gallery is located on the second floor of the Connelly Center, in the center of our Villanova Campus.

The Connelly Center is building #24 on the campus map, found here: https://tinyurl.com/bdzej336

Space is limited. Register today! https://tinyurl.com/22k9hmtv

Save the date! Villanova's annual outdoor movie night returns Thursday, August 6. Watch this space and follow us on Facebook for details coming soon.

Please reach out to neighbors@villanova.edu with questions.

Due to the complexity of the excavation work needed for the steam pipe replacement project on the Villanova Campus, the section of North Ithan Ave. at Lancaster Ave./Route 30 must remain closed next week: Monday, July 6 through Friday, July 10 from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day.

Key details are below:

Between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, there will be no through access for cars between Lancaster Ave./Route 30 and the main entrance to campus on Ithan Ave.

Note: After 4 p.m., there will be temporary metal plates put in place so that cars can drive normally along Ithan Ave. until work begins again at 7 a.m. the next day.

The main entrance to campus on Ithan Ave., Wright Way and the Jake Nevin Field House parking lot will remain accessible from Ithan Ave. north of the closure via County Line Rd. (See map showing alternate routes to campus.)

Dougherty Drive will be accessible only to authorized construction and delivery vehicles.

Pedestrians will be limited to part of the sidewalk in the work area. Signs will be posted to provide guidance.

Villanova continues to coordinate with Radnor Township and PennDOT, and Radnor Police will be on site directing traffic at the intersection of Ithan Ave. and Lancaster Ave./Route 30. Detour signage will also be posted to assist motorists.

Construction continues on the Cabrini Campus as we prepare for the fall semester. While we look forward to welcoming our neighbors soon, the campus remains closed for now. For your safety, please refrain from walking or driving through while work is underway.

In the meantime, we invite you to visit our recently launched Cabrini Campus website for an overview of the campus and key project updates. This page will be the central source for information as the University prepares to open the campus later this year.

We'll also share campus updates and details on upcoming Neighbors meetings here in the newsletter and on our Facebook page.

Please reach out to Hally Ammons, Assistant Director for Government & Community Relations, at 610-519-7455 or hally.ammons@villanova.edu, with questions.

Summer is an ideal time to visit The Refectory, located on our Villanova campus in The Commons at 862 Lancaster Avenue. Drop in for brunch, lunch, or dinner and explore their new seasonal offerings—or, if you're planning something special, consider one of The Refectory's private event spaces.

For details and reservations, please visit The Refectory.

What is the difference between a pair of shoes and a photograph of a pair of shoes? A sequence of two or more things in the world does not necessarily mean anything, but two items taken together within the bounds of a photograph can generate profound significance. 

On view now through September, Doubling with a Difference is a show of doubles, duplicates, and visual rhymes that, taken together, will demonstrate that photography is more than just a visual record – that it can take an image of life and perform that special alchemy that transforms it into art. 

Doubling with a Difference is curated by undergraduate students in the History of Photography class directed by Dr. Alexis Monroe, Arthur J. Ennis Postdoctoral Fellow in The Augustine and Culture Seminar Program and Jennie Castillo, Curator of the University Art Collection and Gallery Director.

For more information, please visit The Villanova University Art Gallery. 

The Friends of Villanova program is offered by Villanova University to our neighbors in Radnor Township and select neighborhoods in Lower Merion Township that are contiguous to our main campus.

Residents of Radnor and select areas of Lower Merion may, for an annual fee of $60, access University facilities such as the Fitness Center at the Davis Center and the Pavilion Pool, on a limited recreational basis. 

If you are interested in joining the Friends of Villanova program, please apply online.  Please allow 3-5 business days for staff to complete the review and verification process. Once the process is complete, you will be notified of your status via email. 

Questions? Please contact neighbors@villanova.edu. 

Davis Center Fitness Center Summer Schedule

The Davis Center Fitness Center will operate on summer hours through August 14^th.  

Summer Hours

Monday – Thursday: 7AM – 7PM

Friday – Sunday: Closed

Closures

The Pavilion Pool is closed through August 23^th.

WildCard Office

The WildCard Office will also operate on a summer schedule. Please keep the adjusted hours in mind if you need to visit or get in touch.

Summer Hours

Monday – Thursday: 8AM – 4PM

Fridays: Closed 

*Please note that Villanova University is closed on all Fridays from May 22^nd through August 14^th.

Neighbors may now sign up to receive NOVA Alert emergency text messages simply by texting NOVAALERT to 333111. For full sign-up instructions, visit the NOVA Alert registration page. To opt out at any time, simply text STOP NOVAALERT to the same number.

Please note NOVA Alert subscriptions will automatically expire after one year. Those who wish to continue receiving notifications will be prompted to resubscribe at that time.

Friends and neighbors may also follow @NOVA_Alert on X (formerly Twitter) for real-time updates.

The safety and well-being of our community remain a top priority. These updates reflect Villanova's ongoing commitment to strengthening emergency communication and ensuring our surrounding communities are well-informed.

Please reach out to Hally Ammons, Assistant Director for Government & Community Relations, at hally.ammons@villanova.edu with questions.

Coming to campus? Know where to go using our Campus Map. Wondering what's happening on campus? Check our guide to noteworthy events to stay up-to-date. 

Please note that the use of recreational e-scooters and related motorized personal transportation devices on campus, including self-balancing one- or two-wheeled boards and motorized skateboards, is prohibited on campus. Electric mobility aids are exempted from this policy. 

The University's Off-Campus Living website contains pertinent information for students and community members about living in the community. The website also allows neighbors to submit an issue or concern directly through the website. Visit the Off-Campus Living website for more information. And be sure to check out our Villanova University Neighbor Updates Facebook Page! 

Contact Information

Hally Ammons, Assistant Director

Government & Community Relations

Phone: 610-519-7455

Email: hally.ammons@villanova.edu

800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085