Neville Vakharia, PhD
Neville Vakharia is Dean of the Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University, providing strategic leadership for innovative academic, research, and engagement programs that strengthen the University’s impact and reputation. As Dean, he ensures that the Pennoni Honors College helps shape the future of higher education through integrative approaches that enhance the Drexel experience for students, faculty, and external partners. Prior to Pennoni, Neville served as Associate Dean of Research and Planning in Drexel’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, where he led the College’s efforts to expand the scope, reach, and impact of its research enterprise and to develop and implement its five-year strategic plan.
As a professor, Neville teaches leadership, strategy, entrepreneurship, and related subjects while advancing research and development projects that strengthen the nonprofit and creative sectors. His research centers on the role of technology, innovation, and knowledge management in building sustainable, relevant organizations and communities. His work has been funded by government agencies and foundations, published internationally, and has resulted in the development of new technology-driven tools that benefit organizations and their leaders. He is a frequently sought speaker, facilitator, and panelist at conferences and events worldwide.
Prior to Drexel, Neville was Director of the Cultural Data Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts (now SMU DataArts), a national initiative to improve the management and financial capacity of arts and cultural organizations, inform grant-making strategies, and serve as a critical tool for policy research and analysis. At Pew, he oversaw the program’s strategic direction, operations, and national expansion, transforming it from a start-up enterprise into a multi-million-dollar organization.
Prior to Pew, Neville served as Director of Technology Services and Programs for the Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, where he developed and launched the Technology Connectors program to strengthen the technological capabilities of the region’s arts and cultural organizations through education, technology planning, and consulting. He also served as Director of Marketing for the Prince Music Theater, overseeing audience development and branding strategies.
Neville also has more than ten years of experience in the corporate sector, with roles in new product development, marketing, and global product management at W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., manufacturer of GORE-TEX products. He holds two international patents and has developed several new products and technologies. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Materials Engineering, his Master of Science in Arts Administration, and his PhD in Information Science from Drexel University. He serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Social Impact Commons, as a member of the editorial board of Artivate: A Journal of Entrepreneurship in the Arts, and as an advisor to creative, start-up, and social enterprises.