Photo courtesy of Isabel Choi.

Your ten-year-old sibling might ask you one morning, “So, what exactly do you do at school?” What if you study thermomechanical and electromagnetic properties of ceramic composites at high temperatures or smooth orthogonal decompositions? What would you say? How would you say it? This is the question graduate students competing in Three Minute Thesis (3MT) are forced to wonder and answer. At Villanova University’s 3MT competition, graduate students had to answer the question, “What do you do?” in three minutes or less. 

Held in The John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, Feb. 24, 13 finalists (master’s and doctoral students at Villanova) presented their research to members of the audience in front of a large slideshow presentation. The stage was setup so that audience members were able to see the three-minute timer. Similar to that of a game show, audience members watched the timer tick down to minutes and then to mere seconds. After each presentation, numerous judges (Villanova faculty) would give feedback before going on to the next contestant.

Towards the end of the event, audience members were able to vote for a “people’s choice” award while the judges calculated the first and second place winners. Before the winners were announced, audience members were able to hear a couple personal comments from the contestants themselves–their process, struggles, and aspirations.

Eliana Uriona took first place for her presentation “Optimizing Biochar Conditions for Heavy Metal Immobilization in Contaminated Soils.” Uriona also earned the people’s choice award. Grace Sutoris, won second place for her presentation “Using Machine Learning to Detect Underlying Heartbeat During CPR.”

Representing Villanova University, Uriona will compete at the Northeast Regional 3MT Competition on Friday, April 28. The virtual competition will be hosted by the University of New Hampshire. Watch Villanova’s 2023 3MT competition here. Be sure to check out Falvey’s blog next year for 2024 3MT announcements.

Isabel Choi ’26, is Communication & Marketing Assistant at Falvey Library.

“Attending the competition definitely inspired me…to see dedicated graduate students present their studies….perhaps graduate research is something I should consider pursuing too!”

The image depicts St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church’s Ashes to Go station on Ash Wednesday in 2017 that was positioned at w:Mizner Park in Florida. Fr. Andrew Sherman and Fr. Craig Burlington are pictured distributing ashes to people in Boca Raton, Florida. This picture was clicked on March 1, 2017.

By Shawn Proctor

Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer and penance that prepares for and signals the coming of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. It celebrates the redemption of all people made possible by Jesus’ sacrifice.

For many Christians, Lent is a time to give up something, most often a vice like chocolate or even social media. Others fast or donate their meals to the less fortunate. But whether you cut out Hershey’s bars or posting on TikTok, the real goal is to devote more completely to faith and reflect on your connection to God.

“The purpose of Lent is to provide that purification by weaning all of humanity from sin and selfishness through self-denial and prayer, by creating in them the desire to do God’s will and to make His kingdom come by making it come first of all in their hearts.” (New Catholic Encyclopedia)

Each year since 2019, Villanova’s Office of Mission and Ministry has offered Lenten reflections written by faculty, staff, and students. These collections are personal glimpses into the University’s Augustinian Catholic community and inspiration for your own Lenten practice.

Additionally, Falvey Library has many relevant holdings, some of which are noted in stories already posted on the website.

In expanding on the theme of reading as a form of reflection, we add to these offerings Show me the way: Readings for each day of Lent by Henri J. M. Nouwen.  It traces his 40-day journey from solemn beginning to joyous Easter conclusion. The physical copy of the book is available in the stacks, can be reserved for Pick Up & Go, or requested for partial scanning.

Shawn Proctor is Communication and Marketing Program Manager at Falvey Library.

Laurie Ortiz Rivera, Social Science Librarian.

“Librarians want to help students, professors, and researchers. Our profession is service oriented. All questions are necessary, not asking or talking about your questions is the obstacle to resolve.”

Laurie Ortiz Rivera recently joined Research Services and Scholarly Engagement (RSSE) as the Social Science Librarian. RSSE works to “support research, teaching, and learning at Villanova University; enabling the discovery of, access to, and stewardship of a vast array of scholarly resources.” Ortiz Rivera’s first day as Social Sciences Librarian was Monday, July 25. She is the Social Science Liaison Librarian for History, Art History, Education, and Counseling. “My academic background and academic librarian experience provide me with the competencies to work with different disciplines in social sciences and humanities,” says Ortiz Rivera.

Ortiz Rivera was born in Puerto Rico and worked in special and academic libraries in areas such as architecture and education at the University of Puerto Rico until 2022. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Anthropology from the University of Puerto Rico, a master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Puerto Rico, a master’s degree in Management with Specialization in Management of Business (Nonprofit & Public Management) from Cambridge College, and a PhD in Documentation from Carlos III University of Madrid.

The opportunity to develop the information and research skills of academic students led Ortiz Rivera to Falvey Memorial Library. “I knew about Villanova University’s educational offerings and prestigious background, so I searched for job opportunities. Later, I received a notification from one of my job lists, and I discovered the Social Sciences Liaison Librarian position at Falvey Memorial Library. The opportunity fits with my background and my interests.”

She feels her academic librarian experience will help inform her new role. “As a member of the Library’s social sciences team, I participate in a collaborative model of general research support. Among others, I create instructional materials to secure information access for in-person and distance learners in my areas of specialization. I work with a fantastic library team in reference services. We work together to have an interface with stakeholders inside and outside the library to build essential relationships and establish a foundation for successful research support, collection development, and information literacy instruction.”

Ortiz Rivera is looking forward to collaborating with the Villanova University community. “The Social Sciences Liaison Librarian contributes to the development and delivery of strategic, high-quality, virtual and in-person services to advance teaching, learning, research, and scholarship. My work is outreach, information literacy instruction, research support, and collection development in history, art history, education, and counseling. As a subject specialist, I meet with students and faculty to assist them with: Research consultations, information literacy instructions, instructional resources, collection development, library databases, search queries or keyword selection, finding cited sources, citing sources following Chicago style and APA style, literature reviews, locating primary sources, locating secondary sources, and interlibrary loans.”

In her free time, Ortiz Rivera enjoys learning about different cultures. “I like watching international movies based on historical events and documentaries, especially Latin America and the Caribbean. I love to travel and make friends.” She recommends Research within the Disciplines: Foundations for Reference and Library Instruction by Peggy Keeran and others for graduate students looking to add another book to their summer reading list.

Be sure to stop by the Library and say hello! Ortiz Rivera is also meeting students on Zoom. Her office is located in the Learning Commons on the second floor of Falvey Memorial Library in room 229. Telephone: 610-519-3907. Email: laurie.ortizrivera@villanova.edu. To schedule an appointment with Ortiz Rivera, visit her webpage.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

Nicole Daly, Social Science Librarian.

Nicole Daly joins Research Services and Scholarly Engagement as the Social Science Librarian. Research Services and Scholarly Engagement works to “support research, teaching, and learning at Villanova University; enabling the discovery of, access to, and stewardship of a vast array of scholarly resources.” You may have seen Daly at Falvey’s front desk; she joined the Library staff in 2021, working as the Service Desk Coordinator in Access Services.

Daly earned a BA in Psychology from Arcadia University, a MS in Psychology from Villanova University, and will complete her MLIS degree from San José State University this fall. She also earned an advanced certificate in Digital Assets with a focus in Data Analytics and Data Driven Decision Making from San José State University.

Daly’s first day as Social Science Librarian was Monday, July 11. She is liaison to the communication department, sociology and criminology department, and the College of Professional Studies. “Right now I’m working on collection development for those specific areas; anticipating their needs, making sure they are getting the resources they need from the Library,” said Daly. “When we get into the semester, I’ll be teaching information literacy courses, helping students to develop research skills. I’ll be creating subject guides so patrons can easily find resources, and I will be providing research assistance to those that may need help tracking down resources.”

Collaborating with the Villanova community is an essential part of Daly’s role. “All of it is very interconnected: As I build these relationships with students and faculty, I feel like those relationships will inform what is needed from the Library as far as collections.” Listening to various groups on campus will also assist Daly in ensuring Falvey’s collection reflects all voices. “Learning from the Villanova community, I will work to broaden Falvey’s collection; creating awareness and providing students with the information they need to expand their own knowledge and continue advocating for social change. Building an understanding of the current collection is essential moving forward; understanding if I need to provide context for specific content or edit material to reflect current language or provide content warnings. Thinking ahead but also addressing current material will be an important part of my role as liaison librarian.”

Transitioning from Service Desk Coordinator to Social Science Librarian, Daly feels her experience working in Access Services will help inform her new role. “In Access Services, we are the first to welcome Library patrons. Working with people and physically seeing and speaking with them, those experiences will inform how I approach my new role.” Working together with Falvey’s librarians, Daly was able to see what questions were frequently asked by community members when working at the front desk. She also worked in course reserves, assisting faculty and helping to send requests to Falvey’s librarians to see what items were needed for a particular course. “I’ve learned so much working in Access Services, specifically all of the different pieces (Interlibrary loan, course reserves, etc.) that people sometimes miss because they tend to be more behind the scenes. Having a vast knowledge of the innerworkings of an academic library is a valuable resource.”

A graduate of Villanova University, Daly wants students to know that Falvey librarians are here to help! “As someone who has gone to Villanova and lived that experience I remember thinking “Oh gosh, how do I conduct this research project?” She fondly remembers Falvey librarians coming to her undergraduate classes to provide helpful outreach. “We had wonderful librarians that came to our classes and gave very targeted help for specific projects. It was very enlightening, just showing us that they are available.” Acknowledging that the first year of college can be a challenge, Daly encourages students to reach out to her. “I can do so much more than just find a book. I can help students narrow down resources, determine which resources are valid, and find resources that may be unavailable at Falvey Memorial Library. I can help in so many different ways.”

If you happen to miss Daly at the many orientation fairs this fall, stop by the Library and say hello. She is also meeting students on Zoom. Daly’s office is located in the Learning Commons on the second floor of Falvey Memorial Library in room 225.

Telephone: 610-519-5207. 

Email: nicole.daly@villanova.edu.

For more on Daly, check out her “Welcome to Falvey” blog here. Visit her webpage here.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

On Wednesday, March 30, the Villanova community sent the Wildcats off to the Final Four in New Orleans. Good luck to the Villanova Men’s Basketball team as they take on the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday, April 2, at 6:09 p.m. Go, ‘Cats—Nova Nation is behind you!

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library. Photos courtesy of Joanne Quinn, Director of Communication and Marketing at Falvey Memorial Library.

Ad from The Villanovan in February 1974

Photo by William P. Gottlieb/Ira and Leonore S. Gershwin Fund Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress

Next Tuesday will mark the 47th anniversary of Miles Davis’s performance at Villanova! The ad above is from an edition of The Villanovan published in February of 1974. Check out his beloved music on Spotify or click here for a quick synopsis about “arguably the most influential jazz musician in the post-World War II period.” Be sure to look into more resources and information on this iconic performer in the Falvey Collection, or check out the books linked below.

• MILES ON MILES : INTERVIEWS AND ENCOUNTERS WITH MILES DAVIS
• MILES DAVIS, MILES SMILES, AND THE INVENTION OF POST BOP
• THE STUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE MILES DAVIS QUINTET, 1965-68

Anna Jankowski ’23 CLAS is a Junior Communication Major from just outside Baltimore who ​​works as a Communication & Marketing Assistant in Falvey.

Happy Boss’s Day to the Wildcat supervisors out there, and to one special, non-Villanovan: Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen.

Before he was “Born in the USA” or “Born to Run,” Bruce was born to play at Villanova a whole lot. He rocked the campus three times in 1973 alone! From all accounts, he crooned to mere dozens back then, and the photo above, from the 1974 Belle Aire yearbook, didn’t even caption whether this is actually Springsteen strumming.

The Library staff is divided on the identity of the singer in the photo too.

The hair, beard, silver cross, and guitar model and strap closely match this image, also from 1973.

So what do you think? Did we find a long, lost Springsteen photo or bust out with a basic Bruce-a-like?

While you’re pondering, head over to our Digital Library and check out our other amazing yearbooks from yesteryear.

In accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and University policies, mask wearing in all campus spaces, including Falvey Memorial Library, is now optional. For individuals who are not fully vaccinated, wearing masks indoors is still strongly recommended.

April is a full month with many exciting events and activities, including National Jazz Month. Put on your favorite Jazz playlist and take a look through the 1965 Intercollegiate Jazz Festival Program in Falvey’s digital collection. 1965 marked the 5th annual jazz festival – an opportunity for college jazz ensembles to compete and share musical experiences with one another. In addition, many years students also had an opportunity to learn from noted jazz musicians across the country.

The photo is the cover of the 1965 Villanova Jazz Festival Program.

Jenna Newman is a graduate assistant in Falvey Memorial Library and a graduate student in the Communication Department.

To celebrate the resilience and teamwork of our Villanova Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams, Falvey invites our students and hoops fans to take a break and try their hands at finding the stars of the two teams.

The Men’s team has reached the “Sweet Sixteen” round of the national championship tournament and will tip off against the Baylor Bears Saturday, March 27, at 5:15 p.m.

The Women’s team advanced twice in the Women’s NIT and faces the University of Delaware’s Fightin’ Blue Hens at 7 p.m. tonight!

Note: In the word searches, you are only looking for a player’s last name. To download the puzzles as PDFs, click the links below.

Additionally, if you get stuck, we’ve included the solutions below as well!

Fun fact… the two teams have a sister and brother on their rosters! Can you spot them too?

Download the puzzles as PDFs:

Men’s Basketball Word Search

Women’s Basketball Word Search

See the solutions to the word searches:

Men’s Basketball Word Search Solution

Women’s Basketball Word Search Solution

Shawn Proctor is a Communications and Marketing Program Manager at Falvey Memorial Library.