Alumni in Action: Meet the Newest Members of the Alumni Council
Widener has a long history of deeply rooted traditions and a network of over 65,000 alumni who are the driving force behind that legacy. From Pennsylvania Military College to the Pioneers to the Widener Pride of today, you can find alumni almost anywhere. The Widener/PMC Alumni Council is at the heart of this community, and it aims to represent the global alumni network and support the strategic direction of the Alumni Association.
Made up of alumni from different majors, class years and backgrounds, members of the Alumni Council serve as a voice for the broader alumni community and form connections not only with other graduates but also with current students and campus life.
“When alumni stay connected to campus, they’re not just giving back - they’re helping shape the future. Their involvement provides current students with mentorship, networks and inspiration, while reinforcing the lifelong community that makes our university stronger,” said Executive Director of Alumni Engagement Jessica Lista.
In 2025, the Alumni Council welcomed three new members – Jessi Feoli ’21, Rayd Barqawi ’15 and Joe Vaccaro ’74.
Jessi Feoli ‘21
Feoli graduated from Widener with a degree in international business. Her time at the university shaped her life in ways she couldn’t anticipate, and the generosity of alumni was the driving force.
She had dreamed of traveling abroad but didn’t think she would ever be able to afford it. Through support from an alumnus, she was able to travel for a multi-week program at a university in the Netherlands. A few years later, she reconnected with that alumnus at an event and was able to share just how much their support meant.
“It was really wonderful to see him in person and tell him how much impact he made,” said Feoli. “Today, I’ve traveled to over 25 countries and the start of it was Widener.”
Feoli, who previously worked for the United Nations Global Compact, now works at a sustainability software company working with companies across North America and Latin America. She became interested in reconnecting with Widener and finding ways to shape student lives like hers. When the opportunity arose for her to join the Alumni Council, she viewed it as a significant way to get involved and give back.
“Widener made things really accessible for me and I’m not sure I would have had those opportunities had I gone elsewhere,” she said. “The biggest thing is that I just want to help students. It grows a really strong connection and a sense of pride to be an alum and have that connection.”
She shares that she’s most looking forward to working with students and serving as a mentor and a resource in their professional network, as someone who has been in their shoes before. Additionally, she’s looking to strengthen her connection with other alumni and continue being part of the Widener community.
“I’m really excited because I know that Widener has been really growing and it seems like a really exciting time and so I’m hoping that the Alumni Council can make some waves,” she said.
Rayd Barqawi ‘15
Barqawi graduated from Widener in 2015 with a degree in electrical engineering. Shortly after graduation, he began a career at Lockheed Martin where he has continued to grow his career for nearly 10 years. After recently getting married, he found himself reflecting on how he wanted to use his time, talents, and experience in a more meaningful way.
“I was looking for something to satisfy my soul, if you will,” he said. “I had just been talking to my wife about craving some kind of outlet that would allow me to be in a mentor/mentee relationship. I had this itch to give back to something.”
Soon after he received what seemed like a spontaneous outreach from Widener’s Office of Development & Alumni Engagement, with an invitation to learn more about the Alumni Council. What felt like fate to Barqawi was actually the work of his longtime friend and now fellow council member Patton Vo ’15 who had recommended him for an open position.
“Right from there it felt like the stars were aligning in a way,” Barqawi said.
Barqawi doesn’t recall having much interaction with alumni during his time as a student and feels that alumni mentorship can be pivotal in helping students achieve their goals. Having already been called on several times over the years to speak with a class or student project group, he hopes his time with the Alumni Council will allow him to serve as a mentor to students and share the lessons he’s learned.
“It’s very rewarding to me to be able to hand off some of the things I’ve learned. Something that I really value is the mentor/mentee relationship and being on both sides of it, and this seems like a great opportunity to do that.”
He continued, “[As alumni] it’s part of our responsibility to pass our knowledge down so that students are able to make their future decisions based on that insight you were able to provide. I think it’s really important to take those moments in life and really look at where you’ve come from and what you’ve done with your time. Sometimes that gives you a perspective that you may need now and again.”
Joe Vaccaro ‘74
Vaccaro attended Widener at an interesting time in the university’s history. A graduate of the class of 1974, he was on campus during the time of transition from Pennsylvania Military College and Penn Morton College to Widener College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and History. While he now resides in Virgina with his wife, Ruth, and their three rescue dogs, his life hasn’t always been so quiet.
Following his graduation from Widener College he commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps where he spent 31 years in both active duty and reserves until he retired as a full Colonel in 2005 having served in major events such as Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. Following his retirement from the Marines, Vaccaro began what would be a 24-year career in federal law enforcement serving as a Special Agent with Naval Intelligence Service and later completing the FBI Academy to become a Special Agent for the Department of Justice. After his retirement from the military and law enforcement, he worked in local government and as a contractor. Throughout his life he also continued his education earning a master’s degree in education and pursuing his lifelong passion for music by maintaining his guitar collection.
All of these things, he says, would not have been possible if not for the lessons he learned at PMC and Widener College where he developed the skills needed for service, commitment, and being part of a team.
“Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes,” Vaccaro said. “When we got into PMC they told us, ‘cooperate and graduate,’ in other words, help everybody along the way. We’re all part of the same mission and, to me, the biggest part of leadership is teamwork.”
Vaccaro participated in Widener’s annual Voices from Freedom event during Homecoming 2024, serving as a panel member to share his story and reminisce with his fellow PMC and Widener College graduates. His passion for keeping the legacy of PMC and Penn Morton alive, and being an advocate for the Widener of today, is what drove his interest in the Alumni Council.
“PMC helped me succeed because of the small, tight knit community on campus and we all worked together toward a common goal,” he said. “I want everyone to be aware that our PMC legacy is still alive at Widener University. It didn’t die. It’s still there. And we need people to come back and make sure it stays there for the next generation.”
Special thanks to all current Alumni Council members for their dedication:
Gregg Froio ’84, chair
Sharon Carothers ’92, associate vice chair
Patton Vo ’15, associate vice chair
Jessica Single ’16, secretary
Rayd Barqawi ‘15
Daniel Bellopede ‘95
Jessica Feoli ‘21
Madeline Hoffman ‘24
Lindsey Isler-Amadio ‘09
Lindsey Susco ‘12
Joe Vaccaro ‘74
Sean Wagner ‘02
