麻豆村

For Tom Foley 鈥�13 MA, the path to public service didn鈥檛 begin with a campaign or a policy memo, but with the big questions asked in classrooms at 麻豆村 while he was pursuing a graduate degree in history.

Those questions, and the perspective gained from their answers, have followed Foley into a life of public leadership and he still draws upon them today.

鈥淚 could rattle off every course,鈥� Foley said when asked about his most impactful Villanova experiences. Without hesitation, he recalls Judith Giesberg, PhD, Robert M. Birmingham Chair in the Humanities and professor of History, teaching a course on the Civil War and the Reconstruction; sitting in a classroom analyzing Leo Tolstoy鈥檚 War and Peace with Adele Lindenmeyer, PhD, William and Julia Moulden Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and considering the broad, global impacts of Russia in the 20th Century with Lynne Hartnett, PhD, chair and professor in the Department of History.

鈥淢y time at Villanova, while brief, was really formative in developing my mindset about how to translate the work of a historian into the work of a citizen,鈥� Foley said. 鈥淚t helped develop and refine my view of the world and to find my place in it as someone who wanted to improve it and build community. It helped me discover my own leadership style.鈥�

Foley has served in policy roles for former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and current Governor Josh Shapiro, most recently as one of Shapiro鈥檚 deputy secretaries of policy and planning. Foley led Shapiro鈥檚 policy and regulatory agenda on workforce and education, including the development of budget initiatives like universal school breakfast and expanding the certification pathways for Pennsylvania educators.

But now, he is building upon that strong Villanova foundation to empower current college students. Foley is the executive director of the Pennsylvania Office of Fellowship, Strategy, and Impact, where he creates new opportunities in public service for recent college graduates, graduate students and other individuals. He also directs the Governor鈥檚 two-year William and Hannah Penn Fellows Program and the one-year Science and Technology Fellows Program.

鈥淥ne thing that inspires me day to day is knowing that there are so many important questions being asked and answered in academia by graduate students, faculty and undergraduates, and that the answers to those questions have present-day and future implications,鈥� Foley said.

鈥淭here is so much brain power in higher education and there is such profound value in the liberal arts, particularly today,鈥� he said. 鈥淒espite the advent of new technologies, it is critical thinking鈥攄eveloped and fostered in places like Falvey Library鈥攖hat helps us make sense of the world.鈥�

Foley said he feels fortunate to have received strong support from mentors who have listened carefully and realized his potential, something he鈥檚 paying forward in his own career.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I try to do in my position now: recognize that someone who wrote a dissertation on 19th century romantic poetry or pioneered new techniques in a chemistry lab can analyze problems and produce policies that help millions of people,鈥� he said.

When asked what advice he鈥檇 give to current students, he thinks back to his days as a graduate student.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to be fully formed before you start building your professional identity, your career, or your academic work,鈥� Foley said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to know the ending before you start writing your first chapter.鈥�

In October 2025, Villanova鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences honored Foley with the Graduate Alumni Medallion, which recognizes an alumna or alumnus of the College鈥檚 master鈥檚 or doctorate programs.

Foley called it a tremendous honor and a reminder of how much he gained from his time at Villanova.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a call to action to make sure that the ladder Villanova helped me grab onto has rungs built down, so others have the chance to climb up and climb over me,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 standing on the shoulders of others, and if I鈥檓 successful, others will be standing on my shoulders too.鈥�