President's Report 2008

Villanova hosts the largest student-organized Special Olympics in the world

associate dean for graduate studies and research james r. birle professor of energy technology college of engineering

Villanova has more than 102,000 alumni worldwide

University record:
13,760 applications
received for 1,604 spots
in the class of 2011

When you walk into the laboratory of Alfonso Ortega, Ph.D., in the College of Engineering, you will see students of all levels —undergraduate through Ph.D. candidates — involved in research that attracts national attention and support.

Jeffrey Steward ’ 10 has been working in Dr. Ortega’s Laboratory for Advanced Fluid and Thermal Systems since the professor recognized his talent in a thermodynamics class this past year. He is now a research assistant on a grant funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Partnership, alongside Ryan Anderson ’07, a full-time master’s research assistant.

“It goes to show the great synergy between the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, and the quality of these students,” Ortega said. “They really seem to ‘get it.’ Undergraduates bring an unbridled enthusiasm to lab work that just makes me smile every day.”

That’s one reason Ortega, an internationally-renowned researcher, calls leaving a position as a program director at the National Science Foundation to come to Villanova “the best decision I ever made.”

“Villanova offers an environment that really promotes the idea that research and scholarship are intertwined with education. You can engage in world-class scholarship and establish an international reputation here, and at the same time teach in the classroom.”

He was also attracted by the opportunity to become the James R. Birle Endowed Chair in Energy Technology, which supports U.S. efforts to maintain its leadership in the development of sustainable energy sources.

Ortega views the national consensus on energy as one of the true grand challenges of engineering, and believes Villanova recognizes that. When he came to the University three years ago, Ortega realized the College of Engineering already had in place the elements for a graduate degree in sustainable engineering, including the Center for the Environment, a program in storm water resources and faculty members interested in alternative and renewable energy. With Ortega’s help, a new Master’s degree in Sustainable Engineering will be offered in 2009.

Ortega also leads the College’s Ph.D. program, which allows Villanova engineering students to earn their doctorates at Villanova, an opportunity not available just a few years ago. Ortega is focused on opening the door to students from Latin America, students like Andres Diaz, a Ph.D. candidate who now works in Ortega’s lab.

Ortega believes the College of Engineering’s firm commitment to teaching excellence is complemented by an increasingly higher level of research and scholarship.

“I think Villanova is demonstrating its ability to be an excellent research school without sacrificing its undergraduate excellence — without sacrificing its ‘soul.’”