Academic Advisor and Student Success Professional

Olivia M.

Olivia D’Aiutolo Mendenall dedicated her graduate research and professional career to engaging college students and young alumni in more effective, innovative, and inclusive ways. As an undergraduate at Temple University studying history and Italian, Olivia focused on understanding lesser-known pieces of Colonial American history while further developing her skills in archival research, scholarly writing, and digital engagement during her internship at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. This love of history then brought Olivia to a development internship with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

In the higher education administration graduate program at William & Mary, Olivia combined her passions for history and diversity/inclusion/equity initiatives into a master's project examining recent university slavery reconciliation projects. She also advised a student organization committed to supporting diversity and inclusion at Christopher Newport University. She applied student development theory and critical thought in order to more effectively engage her students. An internship in William & Mary's Office of Academic Advising confirmed for Olivia that she entered into higher education in order to directly advise students.

In University Advancement at William & Mary, she refined her skills in engaging students and empowering them to cultivate a more inclusive campus environment, as well as connect young alumni back to campus through more meaningful volunteer opportunities. Now, as an Academic Advisor at Villanova University, Olivia uses a developmental advising approach to guide non-traditional college students toward achieving their personal and professional goals.