Drexel Foodies Share Their Favorite Wawa Hoagie Order

Wawa Inc. will open its new location on Drexel University’s University City Campus this Friday at the intersection of 34^th and Market streets. Recently becoming the first chain convenience store to be named America’s favorite sandwich shop, most in the Drexel community already know that you’re not ordering a sandwich at Wawa — you’re ordering a hoagie.

To celebrate the grand opening, DrexelNow asked some of Drexel’s foodiest faculty and staff members to tell us about their favorite Wawa order. Head to the new 8,760-square-foot location starting Friday to try one of these hoagies for yourself!

Vice Provosts (from left to right)

Vice Provosts (from left to right)

Stephen L. DiPietro, PhD

Vice Provost, Assessment, Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness

Favorite hoagie: hot breaded chicken sandwich with lettuce and tomato.

“Since you are what you eat, and since chickens are related to dinosaurs whom we all know are extinct, it’s a natural fit for me.”

Koren A. Bedeau, PhD

Vice Provost, Academic Programs and Strategic Initiatives

Favorite hoagie: roasted veggie hoagie with spicy mustard.

“I feel like I’m eating healthy and it’s filling!”

Thomas J. Quinn

Vice Provost, Finance and Administration

Favorite hoagie: honey-smoked turkey with lettuce, pickles and oregano.

“This hoagie taste so good and reminds me of my college days when I worked at Wawa.”

Paul E. Jensen, PhD

Dean, LeBow College of Business

Favorite hoagie: turkey with pepper jack cheese, hot peppers, roasted red peppers and pickles.

“I like my Wawa hoagies with a little bit of spice and a load of veggies.”

“I like my Wawa hoagies with a little bit of spice and a load of veggies.”

Charles Sacco

Assistant Dean of Strategic Initiatives, Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship

Director, Laurence A Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship

Favorite hoagie: Italian hoagie with lettuce, tomato and onion plus peppers and pickles on the side.

“This is my favorite order because, like entrepreneurship, I have some options to configure it on the fly and get it just right.”

“This is my favorite order because, like entrepreneurship, I have some options to configure it on the fly and get it just right.”

Richard Pepino

Executive Chef, Academic Bistro for the Center for Food & Hospitality Management

Favorite hoagie: classic turkey, provolone cheese, lettuce, onion, salt, pepper, oregano, light mayo and light oil with bacon, hot peppers and pickles on the side.

“Since my teenage years in the mid ’90s, the Wawa hoagie became a late-night staple in what has become a long-term snacking career. I believe it hashes back to the fact that during the summer months at the Jersey Shore, late-night snack consumption is limited to very few options. This is where my go-to hoagie comes into play.”

Maria T. Schultheis, PhD

Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

Favorite hoagie: turkey, lettuce, tomato, onion, hot peppers and sriracha mayo on a classic hoagie roll.

“That sriracha sauce – the spicier the better! And the turkey makes me feel like I’m being healthy.”

Favorite Wawa

Tim Gilrain

Assistant Dean, Goodwin College of Professional Studies

Favorite hoagie: turkey, cranberry, stuffing and gravy (not toasted — this is important).

“Thanksgiving all year ‘round!”

Favorite Wawa

Nick Jushchyshyn

Assistant Professor, Digital Media, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design 

Favorite hoagie: Classic hoagie not toasted, with turkey, spinach, sweet pepper, mayo, salt, pepper, oregano, provolone and a side of Herr's Original Kettle Cooked Potato Chips.

I was a Drexel student myself once .... back in the 1900s, as my son likes to say. For lunch, I would always go to my favorite food truck to get a turkey hoagie with lettuce, tomato and mayo — mainly because it was easy to say and order at a crowded truck window. Of course, my tastes have changed a bit, but I always loved that turkey hoagie, and now I can easily get it at Wawa with spinach, peppers, provolone and oregano — all without holding up the line.”

Nyree Dardarian, MS, RD, CSSD, FAND, LDN

Assistant Clinical Professor, Nutrition Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions

Favorite hoagie: shorti veggie hoagie with provolone, spicy cherry pepper relish and extra roasted veggies for an additional dollar and 30 calories.

“It’s a fiber/veggie-packed lunch in a perfectly sized package.”

Veronica Carey, PhD, CPRP

Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the College of Nursing and Health Professions

Favorite hoagie: Sourdough cheesesteak with spicy peppers and garlic aioli sauce.

“I love the eclectic nature of the sandwich!”

Stephen F. Gambescia, PhD

Professor, Health Services Administration, College of Nursing and Health Professions

Favorite snack: Peddler’s Pantry trail mix .

“As much as I would love to grab a doughnut or soft pretzel at Wawa, these treats don’t travel well. My grandson says I am very ‘fidgety’ about people eating and drinking in my car. So I get the trail mix — satisfying and delicious and no mess.”

“As much as I would love to grab a doughnut or soft pretzel at Wawa, these treats don’t travel well. My grandson says I am very ‘fidgety’ about people eating and drinking in my car. So I get the trail mix — satisfying and delicious and no mess.”

Ami Hopkins

Adjunct Professor, Lindy Center for Civic Engagement

Favorite hoagie: tuna salad, pepper jack cheese, sriracha sauce, jalapeno peppers, spinach and tomatoes on a wheat shorti, with the whole sandwich toasted.

“I LOVE spicy food and I’m a pescatarian. This sandwich covers all my cravings!”