Dear CLAS Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff,

Congratulations, Class of 2026!

To our graduates, I want to express how it has truly been an honor to serve as your graduate dean. I’m grateful for all you have contributed to Villanova and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences during your time here. Our community is a better one today than it was before you arrived and as you leave, I hope you carry with you a sense of purpose that will shape the work that you do.

As we close out the academic year, Commencement offers a meaningful moment to reflect on the dedication required of our students to arrive at this milestone and begin to move forward on their chosen path. Time and again, I see our alumni go on to innovatively lead in ways that make a tangible difference. I was again reminded of that last weekend during a special celebration of the 30th anniversary of our doctoral Philosophy program, which you can read about below. Hearing from alumni spanning the decades, I was happy to know how their years here continue to inform their work and that they remain committed to carrying out the values of a Villanova education.

In my remarks at that event, I noted that we are living in an era shaped by rapid technological change alongside divided public discourse and growing challenges to scientific understanding. This is why graduate education matters so deeply. As AI technology continues to evolve and things become more automated—and decidedly less authentic—we must continue to elevate the importance of research, science and the humanities.

Let me return to a question I raised at the Philosophy celebration: What happens if we imagine a world where the systems that have long trained scholars disappear, and intelligence becomes abundant, on demand and less connected to human beings? The formation of thoughtful, principled leaders grounded in reason, evidence and enduring values is essential to navigating the complexities of our time. Our students embody this mission.

So, graduates, as you move on from Villanova, carry with you not only your academic achievements, but the responsibility and opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a world that sorely needs your insight and leadership.

Warm regards,

Emory H. Woodard IV, PhD
Dean of Graduate Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Philosophy PhD Program Celebrates 30 Years

A weekend-long celebration brought together alumni, faculty and current students to reflect on three decades of Villanova University’s doctoral program in Philosophy. Today, there are more than 100 graduates of the program, and they’ve contributed an extraordinary body of work and scholarship at colleges and universities; in professional societies; and within many books and articles that continue to shape conversations in the field. READ MORE.

Counseling Alumni Present Research on Impostor Syndrome

Luvonda Fuller ’25 MS, Patrice Manasse ’25 MS and Carina Azuine ’26 MS attended the 2026 American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference and Expo to lead a discussion on how impostor syndrome manifests in people of color. After collaborating on earlier assignments, the group recognized a gap in literature on this topic and identified an opportunity to contribute. READ MORE.

Stress from the Inside Out: Derick DeCamp ’26 MS Earns Top Thesis Honor in Psychology

What happens in your body when you’re stressed—and why some people react differently than others—are questions that may have far-reaching implications for understanding mental and physical health. For Villanova University graduate student Derick DeCamp ’26 MS, those questions became the foundation of his award-winning thesis exploring the connection between personality and wellbeing. READ MORE.

Spring 2026 Graduate Student Survey
Graduate students are encouraged to complete the Spring 2026 Graduate Student Survey. This confidential survey gathers your input on key aspects of the graduate experience, including community engagement, housing, professional development and research opportunities. Your feedback is essential and will directly inform decisions that impact current and future graduate students. Please take a few minutes to share your perspective and help shape the future of graduate education at Villanova.

Conference Travel Support 
The FY27 Conference Travel Award application is now available. Any CLAS graduate student traveling after May 15, 2026, must submit a FY27 application. As a reminder, students are eligible for only one travel grant per fiscal year (June 1 to May 31) based on the date of the conference and not the notification of the award. Awards are limited! Students are encouraged to complete the form as soon as possible but no later than 30 days prior to the conference to ensure that the funding for their travel is approved prior to the conference.

Graduate Student Funding Opportunities
Open graduate assistant, tuition scholar, and hourly graduate assistant positions are posted online. New opportunities are being added regularly, so please visit the site often!

Summer Success Program
This three-part workshop series is designed to help students and alumni identify and apply for prestigious fellowships, grants and graduate programs, including those from the AAUW, Boren, Fulbright, Mellon, NASA, and the National Science Foundation (NSF). It combines hands-on application guidance, writing workshops and peer feedback. Sessions will be held June 10, June 17 and June 24 from 1 to 5 p.m. in Bartley Hall and online. Click the links to register for each session. Each session builds on prior sessions.

Degree Works for Graduate Students
Students are encouraged to track and plan their academic progress towards degree completion with Degree Works, an online auditing tool for Villanovans that provides students with an academic roadmap that lays out their required courses, tracks their credits earned and updates their GPA status each semester. To access, search for Degree Works in MyNova. For more information, including tutorials and FAQs, please visit the Degree Works information page.