Louis Ruvolo ’80, ’08 is the new director of Graduate Business Programs. Prior to this role, Ruvolo served as an adjunct and then full-time professor at Saint Peter’s, teaching master’s courses in business ethics and legal liability, global business strategy, marketing research, risk management and insurance, international marketing and human resources management. He has also taught undergraduate courses in organizational behavior, international management and principles of marketing. As an alumnus, Ruvolo earned both a bachelor of science in business management and master of business administration in international business at Saint Peter’s. He is currently enrolled in the doctorate program in business management at Pace University.
What are your long term goals and plans as the new director of Graduate Business Programs?
Saint Peter’s has been awarding master’s degrees in business since 1988 and has a long track record for offering a superior business education. One of our hallmarks is an exemplary fulltime faculty, and a dedicated adjunct faculty that are leaders in their particular industry. There are several plans, both on the short term and long term horizons, that are currently underway: increase and broaden faculty resources, provide faculty with developmental opportunities, revise the course curriculum with new classes (leadership and personal branding are being offered in Spring 2013), outline a course map for students, partner with our undergraduate brethren to offer a five-year BS/MBA, leverage our Jersey City and Englewood Cliffs locations to attract more students from our corporate neighbors. One other key initiative is to deepen the sense of community for our students, both while they are students and as they carry our message to others in the ranks of alumni.
How did your time as a professor of business courses prepare you for this critical role?
I have always been a "teacher" deep down inside. I like communicating with people and gravitated to positions in my business career that presented teachable moments with clients and fellow employees. In 2004, I received a significant promotion to a global leadership position at HP, only to see the position eliminated two years later. After receiving many comments from my employees and upon introspection, I reexamined how naturally teaching came to me and how it was a satisfying experience for me. I contacted Saint Peter’s and I was brought on as an adjunct in the MBA program. My first class in February 2007 marked a turning point in my life as it introduced me to academia. I went on to work for a private software company and eventually became its chief marketing officer. Still, I held on to my adjunct position and continued to enjoy my academic career.
In the summer of 2010, I knew I wanted to head more in the academic direction, so I enrolled in the doctoral program at Pace University. In 2012, I received a one-year fulltime appointment to the faculty and the combination of my corporate background and academic experience formed a natural progression to seek the director’s position when it became available.
I gained a great appreciation for the fact that our graduate students work a full day before arriving on campus for three and a half-hour classes in the evening. This is in the back of my mind in all things that touch the program – from the courses we offer, the delivery medium and the faculty that lead our students on to success.
How would you explain to someone who is interested in obtaining their graduate degree in business that Saint Peter’s University is the best choice for continuing their education?
We offer a graduate business program that requires our students to be actively engaged in their education as they identify business issues and learn to think more critically. The richness of the students’ work/life experience and our faculty combine to empower students to achieve new opportunities in their careers.
As an alumnus of Saint Peter’s, what is your favorite memory of the University during your time as a student here?
The University provided me many opportunities to grow and enhance my leadership skills, which were a wonderful compliment to my studies. I was a very active student in my undergraduate days, having been class president for two years, a member of Argus Eyes, a co-editor of the yearbook, chairman of the Cross Keys Committee, and involved in several other organizations. I received great support and guidance from various members of the faculty, administration and staff. I was chosen to participate in a newspaper ad campaign, which had the tagline "SPC Makes a Difference." I made longtime friendships that made a difference in my life as an undergrad and still do today.
Why did you pursue a career in business?
I started as a biology major and changed my major to business as a result of my studies and activities at Saint Peter’s. Those experiences prompted me to acknowledge that business was truly in my DNA. I received my first job at IBM from an on-campus interview. My hiring manager was also a Saint Peter’s alumnus and we forged an instant bond. The combination of my Jesuit education and the training I received in premier companies such as IBM, Compaq and Hewlett-Packard allowed me to rise through the ranks quickly and have many interesting assignments. I always enjoyed approaching business as a series of problems to which we could explore and implement solutions.
And as a former professor and now director at the University, what are you most proud of about Saint Peter’s?
I am most proud that Saint Peter’s University has a dedicated faculty and remained a vital institution that continues to deliver a quality education.
Interested in learning more about graduate business programs at Saint Peter’s University? Visit the Graduate Business website here.