Neville Kersey Vakharia

Neville Vakharia is the Dean of Pennoni Honors College and an Associate Professor in the graduate Arts Administration program at the Antoinette Westphal College. In his previous role as Associate Dean of Research & Planning for Westphal, Neville led the College's efforts to increase the scope, reach, and impact of its research enterprise while also leading the development and implementation of its five-year strategic plan. He teaches leadership, strategic planning, entrepreneurship, and related subjects while undertaking research and development projects that seek to strengthen the arts, cultural, and creative sectors. His research centers on the role that technology, innovation, and knowledge play in building sustainable, resilient, and relevant organizations and communities. His work has been funded by government agencies and foundations, published internationally, and he has developed new tools and resources to benefit the cultural and social sectors. Neville is a frequent speaker, facilitator, and panelist at conferences and events worldwide. Prior to Drexel, Neville was the director of the Cultural Data Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts (now SMU DataArts), a growing national initiative created to improve the management and financial capacity of arts and cultural organizations, inform grant-making strategies, and serve as a powerful tool for policy research and analysis. At Pew, he oversaw the program’s strategic direction, operations, and national expansion from a start-up enterprise to multi-million dollar organization.