Villa Maria’s fourth president, Matthew Giordano, Ph.D., is leading the way with purpose, precision, and passion.
Office of the President
Dr. Matthew Giordano, Villa Maria’s Fourth President
Under Dr. Giordano’s leadership, Villa Maria College has cemented its position as the premier student-centered College in Western New York.
An innovative and proven leader, Dr. Giordano has helped Villa Maria College fulfill its mission of serving students in the Western New York community and beyond. Dr. Giordano’s forward-thinking initiatives have positioned Villa Maria College for long-term growth and success. With students at the heart of everything he does, he has helped the College launch new academic programs designed to benefit the community, and eliminated barriers to access through the free books and supplies program.
Under Dr. Giordano, college leadership created a strategic plan that will guide the College and its growth through 2027. He has introduced new models of governance at Villa, nurturing a collegial atmosphere among the faculty and employees. Giordano has also successfully expanded the College’s reach by engaging with several community leaders and elected officials to develop strategic partnerships and garner support for the institution.
Awards & Accolades
- Citizen of the Year, 2024 – Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce
Educational Background
Dr. Giordano has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Philosophy from Binghamton University and both a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in American literature from the Ohio State University. He completed the Executive Leadership Academy of the Council of Independent Colleges and the Felician Leadership Institute in 2018.
Strategic Planning
Elevating Outcomes. Expanding Opportunities: the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan for Villa Maria College
Our vision: Villa Maria College will be a leader is creating a more equitable and prosperous Buffalo.
Our mission: Villa Maria College is a Catholic Franciscan college, founded by the Felician Sisters, that uses innovative strategies to educate and empower a diverse student body to positively impact their communities.
Institutional Goals:
1. Increase enrollment
2. Improve outcomes
3. Strengthen our financial position
Empowering Educational Equity: We believe that the challenges of one’s personal conditions should not interfere with their potential to succeed.
Media Articles and Press
Villa Maria College aims to raise $3 million for student retention
Another Voice: All of WNY has a stake in success of Buffalo schools
Letter To The Editor Published On Chronicle.Com
Gates Foundation Grant helps WNY colleges bolster mental health
Letter to the Editor The New York Times
Giordano installed as fourth president of Villa Maria College
Higher education is about more than rankings
Inauguration Address Speech
Inauguration Address Video
Personal Life
Originally from Rochester, Dr. Giordano is married to Jennifer Desiderio, a professor of English at Canisius College and has three daughters: Sophia, Alice, and Lucy. The Giordano family resides in Snyder, NY.
Service to the Community
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education Peer Reviewer, 2021—present
- Say Yes to Education, Buffalo Operating Committee Member, 2018—present
- Most Valuable Parents, Board of Directors, 2022—present
- Council of Independent Colleges and Universities, Transfer Pathways Grant Steering Committee, 2021—present
- Town of Cheektowaga, New York, Comprehensive Planning Committee, 2020—2021
- Town of Cheektowaga, New York, Cheektowaga Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Task Force, 2020—2021
- Western New York Digital Equity Coalition Committee Member, 2020—present
Contact the Office of the President
Michaelene Karpinski
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
716.961.1869
Brian Emerson
Media Contact, Executive Vice President
[email protected]
Office: 716.961.1838
Cell: 716.472.7817
About Our President
“It is an extraordinary privilege to be named the fourth president of Villa Maria College, an institution that has served our community with distinction for almost 60 years. Villa’s Catholic, Felician mission, as well as its values of transformation and respect, completely align with my own beliefs and with my convictions about higher education. I have witnessed Villa’s transformative power on a daily basis, seeing firsthand how it changes and improves the lives of the students and families it touches through its exceptional academic programs and community outreach. I am thrilled to lead the College as it builds off of this enduring legacy to create an even brighter future and as it plays a critical role in the continued resurgence of Western New York.”
– President Matthew Giordano, Ph.D.
