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Joseph Evans 鈥�25 PhD has seemingly done it all. He鈥檚 a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and Army Ranger who served in numerous combat and peacekeeping missions around the globe. His academic credentials are equally impressive, as he holds five degrees, including master鈥檚 degrees in aerospace engineering, conflict studies and world politics.

And with a portfolio filled with military and academic achievements, Evans could have taken his next steps anywhere. He chose Villanova. To round out his academic and professional journey, he decided to pursue a PhD in Theology, which he reflects on with deep appreciation.

鈥淚 was looking for a university and a program that would help me achieve the goals I wanted, which were to do the research specifically related to a combination of my past experience in the military with the goals I had for my future profession,鈥� Evans said.

During his time in the Theology program, Evans forged meaningful relationships with faculty members whose mentorship and partnership played a pivotal role in advancing his research.聽

鈥淒r. Jerry Beyer, in the theology department, shared a lot of my research interests,鈥� Evans said. We were able to combine some of my previous experiences, which I had in the military, with areas of research that he had focused on, and kind of bring our two perspectives together in a way that made for some pretty good collaboration.鈥�

Since graduating, Evans has embraced a leadership role as the current coordinator of the Villanova Peacebuilding Project through the Center for Peace and Justice Studies and Catholic Relief Services. For prospective students considering the Theology department, Evans has some words of wisdom.

鈥淲hen you take courses here, you encounter new ideas and perspectives,鈥� Evans said. 鈥淵our research interests may stay the same, but they often evolve in unexpected ways. Approach the process with humility and patience.鈥�