We hope that you had a joyous and restful holiday season and that your new year is off to a great start! And while it may not feel like spring, the spring semester at Villanova has arrived. After a restorative winter break, our campus is once again buzzing with activity.  

We are excited to welcome neighbors to campus this spring for a variety of events, performances, and more - starting this month. Read on to learn about how you can be involved. 

Please reach out to neighbors@villanova.edu with any questions. We look forward to seeing you on campus in 2025!

Villanova University Set to Celebrate the Life and Legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Saturday, January 18, the University will celebrate its 18th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. This yearly event honors Dr. King’s vision by bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to improve lives, bridge social barriers and move our nation closer to the “Beloved Community” of which the civil rights pioneer dreamt.

How the Northern Lights and Digital Photography Have Boosted Astrotourism        The New York Times (subscription may be required to view)

Scott Engle, an assistant professor of astrophysics and planetary science at Villanova University in Villanova, Pa., described the northern lights phenomenon as the visual result of particles issued by the sun encountering the Earth's atmosphere. "The sun is always losing tiny bits of its own mass, which is what we call the solar wind," he said. "They hit whatever gas is in the Earth's atmosphere and impart their energy to it and cause it to glow."

Biden Awards Pope Francis Medal of Freedom, Highest U.S. Civilian Honor       Reuters

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Saturday and awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the nation's highest civilian honor, the White House said... Both Biden and Francis have been weakened by global events, said Massimo Faggioli, an Italian academic and professor at Villanova University who follows the papacy.

Please join us for Villanova's annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Keynote Lecture on Wednesday, January 22nd at 7:00PM in the Villanova Room, located in the Connelly Center. 

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Keynote Lecture is a major event each January open to the entire Villanova community and to the public.

This year's keynote speaker is Dr. Teresa Nance. Dr. Nance recently retired as the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Chief Diversity Officer and as a Professor of Communication. In this role, she lead the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Dr. Nance’s Villanova career spans more than four decades, during which time she has served as an administrator, teacher, scholar, activist and ‘support system’ for students, faculty, and staff at the University. In 2018, The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education recognized Dr. Nance with the Frank W. Hale, Jr. Distinguished Service Award – an honor given to individuals who have “contributed substantially to diversity and inclusive excellence in higher education.”

For more information on this special event, please visit, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 

Join us on Thursday, January 30th at 4:30PM in  Falvey Library’s Speaker’s Corner for a talk by author and Bloomberg Opinion columnist and editorial board member Francis S. Barry on his book, Back Roads and Better Angels: A journey into the Heart of American Democracy.

Barry reflects on a 10,000-mile road trip exploring the challenges and resilience of American democracy, race, religion and the myths shaping our national identity.

The event is co-sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Falvey Library and is free and open to the public. Registration is open now. We hope to see you there!

Located on the second floor of the Connelly Center in the heart of Villanova's main campus, the Art Gallery is a free and dynamic space, offering several exhibitions on view per season. 

From opening receptions to family-friendly events, the Art Gallery offers many opportunities for our neighbors to connect with the Villanova cultural community.

For more information and to see what's on, please visit The Art Gallery at Villanova University. 

Introducing Nancy Baker Cahill: Through Lines, a mid-career survey exhibition traveling from the Georgia Museum of Art.

Expanding upon her background in traditional media, the artist redefines the possibilities of drawing in contemporary art. Through Lines moves across spatial dimensions and media, following Baker Cahill as she investigates materiality and immateriality. Featuring drawings, sculptural installations, and single- and multi-channel videos, the exhibition traces Baker Cahill’s mark-making from traditional modes of artistic production into new media. The works invite reconsiderations of the art historical canon in the face of emerging technologies while examining site, time, and space as they relate to the physical body, the digital, the permanent, and the ephemeral.

Through Lines is on view now through January 17th, 2025 at the Art Gallery. 

Join us for an exciting spring season of performances at the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts, beginning in February. Upcoming shows include The Thanksgiving Play, Lost Lear, Alice in Wonderland, and Heathers. 

The Mullen Center will also showcase the Villanova Chorale, featuring the Main Line Symphony Orchestra on February 23rd in the Topper Theatre. 

Performance schedules and tickets are available now. Please visit the Mullen Center for more information. 

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. 

Please visit villanova.edu/fovmembership to complete a membership application. 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. 

Davis Center

Spring Semester Hours of Operation

Monday-Thursday:  7:00AM -11:00AM & 8:00PM - 12:00PM

Friday: 7:00AM - 11:00AM

Saturday: 10:00AM - 6:00PM

Sunday: 10:00AM - 12:00AM

Pavilion Pool

Spring Recreational Swim Hours

Monday 9:00AM - 12:45PM

Tuesday 8:00AM - 1:00PM

Wednesday 9:00AM - 12:45PM

Thursday 8:00AM - 1:00PM

Friday 9:00AM -12:45PM

Wildcard Office Hours

Monday - Friday: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Please follow www.facebook.com/NovaNeighbors for program updates and hours of operation. 

New Applications and Renewals

All new applications and membership renewals must be initiated online at www.villanova.edu/fovmembership.  

All approved members must complete the membership process at the Wildcard Office in person. Wildcards may only be issued to the verified member to whom it is assigned. 

Please email neighbors@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