VUSHRM Semester Events Recap

This semester in the Villanova HRD program was nothing short of exceptional, packed with community-building, professional development, and meaningful engagement both on and off campus. From welcoming new students at the Graduate Student Picnic to serving alongside thousands during the St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service, the VUSHRM community embraced every opportunity to learn, connect, and grow. Throughout the fall, our board and chapter members came together at events that strengthened our network, deepened our commitment to service, and showcased the incredible energy within our HRD community. It was a semester defined by enthusiasm, collaboration, and a shared passion for the HR profession. We are happy to share some highlights from this semester:

Graduate Student Welcome Picnic

Organized by Villanova's Graduate Center, our VUSHRM board had the opportunity to connect with the graduate student community and promote their student chapter to recruit new members. This event served as the perfect way to kick off the semester!

St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service

Celebrating 20 years, members of the VUSHRM board had the opportunity to volunteer in the St. Thomas Villanova Day of Service, visiting the Chester Heights Camp Meeting and providing service to their community. With 5,000+ volunteers across 125+ sites in the greater Philadelphia region, this annual day of service was filled with meaningful impact and community.

Meet the VUSHRM Board Happy Hour at The Refectory

In September, the VUSHRM board hosted a Happy Hour at Villanova's on-campus restaurant, The Refectory, to meet and socialize with members of our student chapter. It was a casual opportunity for members to connect and learn more about VUSHRM. This was a relaxing, fun-filled event with great conversation and bonding!

Phillies College Series: Legal and Human Resources Night

At this event, students went behind the scenes with Phillies’ legal and human resources executives at an exclusive College Series event at Citizens Bank Park. Panelists provided excellent insight into their areas of business, as well as shared their career experiences. After the networking opportunity, students attended the Phillies home game and watched them hit a record of eight home runs!

1842 Day Fundraising

Villanova's 1842 Day is the largest fundraising effort of the year, celebrating all that makes Villanova great. The day presented a wonderful opportunity to support the HRD program and the people who make it special. On this day, the VUSHRM board hosted a table during Power Hour in the quad, holding a bake sale to fundraise for VUSHRM. We are so grateful for the support!

Talent Acquisition Leadership Alliance (TALA) Leadership Forum

This year, the Talent Acquisition Leadership Alliance (TALA) Fall Leadership Forum was held at La Salle University's Founders' Hall. With a mission to create a safe, no-pressure association for corporate talent acquisition leaders to learn, network, and share challenges, TALA hosted members of our VUSHRM board to listen on two profound speakers: Jamie Minier, President of Nxtthing, and Brian Schaller, President of Wawa.

Pumpkins & Popcorn

In October, the VUSHRM chapter gathered for a social event, Pumpkins & Popcorn. The event allowed our new members to get to know each other better and build a rapport. We painted pumpkins, served popcorn, and watched a cozy Halloween movie as voted by our members. The event was an opportunity to have a casual setting to discuss the transition into our Fall II academic quarter, internship and job search, and other professional development topics.

Virtual Town Hall & Skill Sharing Session

In November, the VUSHRM board held a Town Hall alongside a Skill Sharing Session. They leveraged this chance to get insights and feedback from members, incorporating an online webinar based on the talents of the community. First, the board gave brief introductions and opened the floor for questions. Then, each attendee shared a helpful skill or tip with the group. Attendees covered a range of practical skills and insights including strategies for public speaking, networking, wellness, citation management, resume writing, time management, and budget/assignment spreadsheet design.

Philabundance Virtual Food Drive

For the month of November, our VUSHRM group partnered with local food bank and non-profit, Philabundance, to raise money through a virtual food drive. With the goal of ending hunger in our communities, Philabundance provides 2 meals for every $1 donated to someone facing food insecurity. The deadline to donate was extended to December 2nd, Giving Tuesday. Our team collected $280 in donations, which contributed to the larger Philabundance campaign goal of $200,000.

Greater Valley Forge Human Resource Association (GVFHRA) College Night

During GVFHRA's 2025 College Night, our very own Associate Professor of Practice, Bethany Adams, mediated an insightful panel on how AI is transforming careers, skill-building, and HR leadership. The panelists included Kelly Jones, Founder of The Jones Group, Christina Croft, Professor of Business Management at West Chester University, Jessica Ryan, Organization Development Manager at Superior Plus Propane, and Faiz Malik, Chief People and Culture Officer of Prevention Point Philadelphia. Attendees, including VUSHRM members, networked with peers and celebrated our annual scholarship awards, including our very own VUSHRM board member, AnaLeah!

As we reflect on a semester filled with impactful service, professional events, and genuine connection, it’s clear that the strength of the VUSHRM community continues to shine brighter each year. From networking with industry leaders to painting pumpkins and supporting charitable causes, our members showed up with curiosity, dedication, and heart. We are grateful for every student and faculty member who made this semester so memorable. With the momentum we’ve built and the relationships we’ve strengthened, we look ahead with excitement, ready for the opportunities and moments of growth that await us in semesters to come.