Engineering a Brighter Future

With technical expertise and community focus, Stefan Roots ’82 EE tackles complex challenges as the mayor of Chester, Pa.

Stefan Roots ’82 EE is a man of many talents— engineer, marketer, journalist and, now, mayor of Chester, Pa. His journey defies traditional expectations for an Electrical Engineering major. Yet, according to Roots, his Villanova education laid the groundwork for every step along the way.

“My problem-solving skills were made [at Villanova],” Roots says. “I had four years of learning how to solve difficult problems, which is now all I do in the city. Problem-solving is part of my DNA now from those four years of engineering school.”

His journey into engineering wasn’t straightforward. Inspired by a neighbor who studied engineering and spurred by the fact that, even now, less than 5% of the profession is made up of Black engineers, Roots set out on what became a challenging academic path.

“We were just a few Black students trying to get through engineering,” he recalls. “It was a tough curriculum. We were all struggling and crying on each other’s shoulders.”

During his sophomore year, Roots founded VIBES, the Villanova Informed Black Engineering Society, a support group for Black Engineering students. His effort provided him and his peers with a much-needed space to connect, collaborate and receive the support they needed to complete their undergraduate studies. It also earned him the Dean’s Award for Meritorious Service from the College of Engineering.

Problem-solving is part of my DNA now from those four years of engineering school.

Roots started his career at Philadelphia Gas Works after graduating and later moved to IBM, where he worked as a systems engineer before transitioning to marketing and sales. Despite his successful corporate career, he felt a strong pull to serve his community, leading him to work briefly at the Delaware County Daily Times before starting his own local newspaper, the Chester Spotlight. He launched the Spotlight to cover human interest stories in Chester, the city where he was born and raised and one of the most impoverished cities in Pennsylvania. Through this endeavor, Roots says he sharpened his communication skills and developed an even stronger determination to make a positive impact in Chester.

In 2021, he decided to run for a seat on Chester’s city council. To his surprise, he won by a landslide. After two years on the council, he ran for mayor and was elected in 2023. He assumed the role in January 2024.

Roots says his position as mayor has allowed him to combine all his talents. In a city grappling with financial challenges, he uses his engineering background to address complex technical decisions, from solar panel installations to liquefied natural gas projects. In the fall, his efforts to improve the lives of families in Chester were recognized with a Meritorious Service Award from the Villanova University Engineering Alumni Society.

His advice to students considering a nontraditional career path is simple: “Don’t hesitate at all. Engineering is great because everybody knows that you know how to solve problems. There are so many opportunities for us out here.”

Stefan Roots ’82 EE is a man of many talents— engineer, marketer, journalist and, now, mayor of Chester, Pa. His journey defies traditional expectations for an Electrical Engineering major. Yet, according to Roots, his Villanova education laid the groundwork for every step along the way.