Allison Venella serves as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development, a position she's held since the fall of 2022. Venella is a member of the senior staff leadership team, the sport administrator for softball, the secondary sport admin for women's soccer and a member of the UNITAS Executive Leadership Team.
In her role, Venella oversees all aspects of student-athlete development programming for the 600-plus student-athletes at Villanova. She oversees student-athlete community service and social justice efforts, a life skills program and any events and special projects related to VU student-athletes.
She begins to work with the student-athletes at New Student Orientation and continues through Commencement. She works closely with many offices across Villanova's campus to enhance the student-athlete experience. Venella has also been an instructor for seven years of the one-credit Leadership Course in Villanova University's freshman Communitas Learning Community program.
She began working in the Villanova athletic department in 2008, where she first served as an intern in the equipment room and the following year interned in student services.
In 2010, Venella was named the Coordinator of Student Services before being promoted to Director of Student-Athlete Development in 2014, assistant athletic director in 2018 and associate AD in 2021.
Venella is a member of the N4A, the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals. In January of 2017, she attended the Athlete Development Certificate Program at the Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business, as an NCAA participant.
Venella is a two time graduate of Villanova University. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2008 and a Master of Arts in Education in September of 2013.
