Committed to Caritas

Mia Farina ’25 ME lives her Augustinian Catholic values through community outreach

Whether in the classroom or volunteering, Mia Farina ’25 ME is committed to creating positive change and building meaningful connections. It’s a passion she’s developed throughout her four years in the College of Engineering, yet it’s rooted in her upbringing as the child of an engineer.

Growing up in Wilmington, Del., Farina enjoyed solving everyday problems, exploring scientific concepts and collaborating with others. She developed a deep love for engineering and decided to pursue a degree in the field, following in her father’s footsteps. “I wanted to find a way to channel my creative side, the part of me that enjoys connecting with people and helping them work together,” Farina says. “Mechanical Engineering was the perfect fit; it’s a degree that opens doors for you.”

At Villanova, Farina found an ideal outlet in Villanova Community Action by New Engineers (NovaCANE), a program that brings engineering into the classrooms of local schools. Through NovaCANE, students and faculty lead hands-on experiments and teacher training, helping students apply their knowledge through follow-up projects.

“NovaCANE made me realize how much I love outreach and making engineering feel approachable for all kinds of students,” Farina says. “It also helped me define what I value—connecting with others and making a tangible impact.”

Farina’s commitment to Veritas, Unitas, Caritas has shone through in her actions. Twice a week, she played basketball with students in VUnited Scholars, a program offered through the College of Professional Studies for individuals with intellectual disabilities. On occasion, she handed out notes with uplifting messages to encourage those around her.

Additionally, Farina shared the gift of learning through her Entrepreneurial Private Tutoring Service, a business she started last summer. By offering personalized support to middle and high schoolers, Farina empowered her students to achieve their academic goals.

After college, Farina is interested in pursuing product improvement or project management—areas where she believes she can make a significant impact. A key experience that shaped this direction was her senior capstone project, where she and her teammates designed a robot to help visitors navigate Drosdick Hall.

“Understanding how my teammates work, identifying ways to improve our process and learning how to help everyone be the best team member they can be—that’s what I really learned,” Farina says. “I gained a deeper understanding of how to be the kind of teammate who can motivate and support the team to succeed.”

Photo caption: Mia Farina ’25 ME says she’ll never forget her favorite Villanova memories, like sitting by the Oreo for lunch on a spring afternoon. As she moves forward, she offers incoming students a piece of advice: “Your first year of college is transformative; be open-minded, but also don’t be afraid to stay true to who you are, even if that means you’re different.”