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Getting to Know Antonio Merlo, Drexel’s 16th President

Published

4 months ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Antonio Merlo stands in front of artwork.

At his core, Antonio Merlo is a teacher.

Whether he is in a classroom, overseeing a university department or on the pool deck, Drexel’s newest president has found his greatest reward in a single, powerful moment: when understanding dawns.

“There is nothing like looking at a student and seeing them have a lightbulb moment — a sudden flash in understanding of a complicated topic,” he said. “It’s amazing.”

The same spark, he explains, can ignite within a team. As a longtime water polo coach and seasoned higher education leader, Merlo has seen firsthand how transformation happens when ideas click — not just for individuals, but for entire groups.

“When everyone is on the same page, when everything starts to make sense, that is when the magic happens,” he said. “Then, everyone can be empowered, as well as take responsibility.”

Merlo has honed his teaching expertise as an economics professor and administrator at New York University, where he most recently served as the Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, as well as at the nearby University of Pennsylvania, Rice University in Houston and at the University of Minnesota. Come July 1, Merlo intends to bring his leadership style — one in which he infuses his passion for collaborative learning with his entrepreneurial spirit — to Drexel as the institution’s 16th president.

Changing tides

Merlo joins Drexel as the University embarks on its Academic Transformation, a blueprint for reimagining the institution’s future through the integration of programs and schools, redesign of curriculum and transition to a semester calendar — offering an improved and more flexible academic experience for students. Since being named president in January, Merlo has emphasized his commitment to the initiative and his strong belief that it is giving Drexel an advantage to outshine the rest, especially when combined with the University’s expertise in experiential education.

“The Drexel community has been willing to engage in this process of Academic Transformation, look under the hood and reinvent, while so many other institutions have been sitting on the sidelines,” Merlo said. “This is the type of action we need to take if we want to be a model university for the next century.”

Aside from Academic Transformation, Merlo was attracted to Drexel because of its longtime dedication to inclusive education. Merlo, the son of working-class parents in Italy, and the first in his family to attend college, is living proof that higher education is an important engine to social mobility.

“In a way, I embody what Drexel has been and can be for so many,” Merlo said, noting that without scholarships, he wouldn’t have had the resources to pursue his doctoral degree in the U.S.

An academic entrepreneur

Merlo attended Bocconi University in Milan for his undergraduate degree in economics and social sciences, where he said he “fell in love with academia.” He attended NYU for his doctoral degree, studying economics, and secured his first job out of college as an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota.

“I applied for over 70 jobs, and I was open to moving anywhere,” recalled Merlo. “I ended up at the University of Minnesota and it was an incredible opportunity for me.”

Merlo said he remembers feeling intimidated at first, “working alongside geniuses” at one of the top economics departments in the country. Five of his colleagues would later earn a Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences.

“It was a remarkable experience,” he said. “I learned so much there.”

After six years of growth at the University of Minnesota, and a stint as an adjunct consultant in the research department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Merlo was lured back to NYU for a few years as an associate professor with tenure, where he had a joint position in economics and political science. He landed in Philadelphia and at Penn in 2000, where he earned recognition time and again for his scholarship and teaching, including the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2009, and the Irving B. Kravis Prize for Distinction in Undergraduate Teaching in Economics on five separate occasions.

Throughout the years, Merlo’s scholarship has fused economics with politics, with his expertise hovering over political economy, policy analysis, public economics, bargaining theory and applications and empirical microeconomics. A little more than five years ago, after three decades of teaching, Merlo published an undergraduate textbook that focuses on political economy and policy analysis, which is used as an educational resource across the country. His research interests span the gamut, from the economics of crime, voting, the study of the residential housing market, and more, and he has been cited most for his scholarship involving politicians’ career decisions and bargaining theory in a stochastic environment.

“Politics affects economics and economics affects politics on a daily basis,” Merlo said, when asked why he got into this particular field of research. “I felt like I couldn’t study economics alone, and I wasn’t solely interested in politics per se, but I have always been very interested in how the political system and the economic system constantly interact to determine the world we live in.”

It was at Penn, where Merlo worked for 14 years, that he really got a taste of higher education administration and university service, convening conferences, fundraising for new fellowships and establishing global student exchange and research collaborations. He was appointed director of the Penn Institute for Economic Research in addition to his Lawrence R. Klein professorship and was a research associate at the university’s Population Studies Center and a member of the Center for Italian Studies advisory board.

Later at the Ivy League institution, Merlo became the chair of the Economics Department, before he took on the same role at Rice University, where he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming dean of Rice’s School of Social Sciences. As a dean at Rice, Merlo was instrumental in completing a major fundraising effort, which supported the construction of a state-of-the-art academic building, endowed chairs and graduate and undergraduate student fellowships. He also partnered with government agencies and nonprofit groups to establish a public policy research institute.

In 2019, he was recruited back to NYU, where he served as what some call a “super dean” — overseeing its Faculty of Arts & Science, the university’s largest academic unit, comprising of 1,600 faculty and staff members, three schools, dozens of departments, research centers, institutes and cultural houses. In this role, Merlo worked meticulously and strategically to expand the limits of NYU Arts & Science, overseeing the completion of a new, innovative home for the college, NYU’s founding school; establishing new centers and an office of research; growing research and fundraising dollars; and hiring 120 tenure-line faculty.

Coach Merlo

In addition to his academic and administrative duties, Merlo has also served as a beloved head coach for both men’s and women’s water polo teams at NYU, Penn and Rice. Coaching allowed him to connect with students on a deeper, more personal level, all while sharing in the sport he has played since childhood.

“Being a coach just allows you to interact with students at a different level, which I really enjoyed,” Merlo said. “I have huge respect and admiration for student athletes. You want to see leadership in action? Go visit with a sports team at a college.”

Sure, it was a lot, balancing his regular work with coaching, admitted Merlo. But it was worth it.

“The students juggle so many things, and I was like, if they can do it, I can do it,” he said. “It was always a joy to be a coach.”

Merlo brings his coaching mindset into every facet of his work — motivating, mentoring and always aiming for excellence. As he prepares to step into his new role at Drexel, his enthusiasm is unmistakable.

“Go Team Drexel,” he said. “Now it’s our time to win championships.”

Drexel’s bright future

A proud “city person,” Merlo has officially moved back to Philadelphia and is comfortably settling in, relishing long walks (his ideal mode of transportation) and the food and cultural scene he’s always adored. He has also embarked on his “listening tour,” meeting with folks from across the University with the goal of having a boost on Day 1 to “hit the ground running.”

“I want to meet everyone I possibly can, hear their concerns, understand what their pain points are, what their aspirations are, and really start putting all these pieces together with a strong team to continue moving Drexel forward,” he said.

Drexel’s Academic Transformation, which is at the top of Merlo’s priorities, will make the institution more attractive to students, better support scholars, build innovative programs and ultimately increase the institution’s impact on society. He has other big plans, for instance, to uplift Drexel’s alumni network and ramp up fundraising, with more details to be unveiled in the coming months. An inauguration celebration is expected to take place next spring.

“One of my goals is for Drexel to be discussed at dinner tables around the country,” said Merlo. “I want our concept of experiential learning to shine, and for everyone — whether you are in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Pennsylvania or beyond — to say, ‘How about Drexel?’”

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IWU Trio Sweeps CCIW Women’s Volleyball Weekly Honors

Published

38 minutes ago

November 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NAPERVILLE — Illinois Wesleyan swept Monday’s College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women’s Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Week awards after a perfect 3-0 stretch that included two top-five victories and clinched the program’s first-ever back-to-back CCIW regular-season championships.

Taylor French was named Hitter of the Week, Sophia Feeney earned Setter of the Week honors, and Kannyn Boyd collected Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week recognition as the Titans capped a big week with wins over #3 Wisconsin-Oshkosh and #5 Juniata.

Hitter: Taylor French, Illinois Wesleyan
French powered Illinois Wesleyan to a 3-0 week, highlighted by two top-five wins and the program’s first-ever back-to-back CCIW Regular Season Championships. She totaled 51 kills (4.64 per set) and 35 digs (3.18 per set), while also adding seven aces, four blocks, and an assist.

Last Wednesday, French became IWU’s all-time kills leader with her 1,778th career kill in a win over Carroll. She followed with 17 kills, 15 digs, and three aces in a sweep of #3 Wisconsin-Oshkosh before closing with 21 kills and seven digs in a four-set win over #5 Juniata. Her effort earned her IWU Tournament III All-Tournament Team honors.

Setter: Sophie Feeney, Illinois Wesleyan
Feeney totaled 65 assists, averaging 5.91 per set in the 6-2 rotation, while adding 21 digs, nine aces and two kills. Feeney opened the week with 16 assists, seven digs, and four aces in a four-set win over Carroll. She followed with 24 assists, four aces, and seven digs as IWU swet UWO. The junior capped the week with 25 assists, seven digs, two kills, and an ace in the victory over Juniata, helping the Titans hit .293 for the match.

Defensive: Kannyn Boyd, Illinois Wesleyan
Boyd anchored the IWU defense during the 3-0 week, logging tallied 55 digs (5.0 per set), 14 assists (1.27 per set) and two aces, as IWU’s defense held opponents to a .198 attack percentage.

Boyd opened the week with 17 digs, three assists, and an ace in a four-set win over Carroll. She added 15 digs and five assists versus UWO and later capped her Senior Day with 23 digs, six assists, and an ace to beat Juniata, earning IWU Tournament III All-Tournament Team honors.

2025 CCIW Women’s Volleyball Student-Athletes of the Week

Hitter

Nov. 3: Taylor French, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 27: Alex Bardouniotis, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 20: Kristina Manojlovic, Carthage

Oct. 13: Taylor French, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 6: Alex Bardouniotis, Illinois Wesleyan

Sept. 29: Meg Rothermel, North Park

Sept. 22: Taylor French, Illinois Wesleyan

Sept. 15: Sarah Lezon, North Central

Sept. 8: Taylor French, Illinois Wesleyan

Sept. 2: Annaliese Rotman, North Park

Setter

Nov. 3: Sophia Feeney, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 27: Payton Depies, Carroll

Oct. 20: Kendal Britton, North Park

Oct. 13: Sophia Feeney, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 6: Kendal Britton, North Park

Sept. 29: Sarah Harvey, North Central

Sept. 22: Alyssa Frederking, Millikin

Sept. 15: Kendal Britton, North Park

Sept. 8: Sarah Harvey, North Central

Sept. 2: Kendal Britton, North Park

Defensive

Nov. 3: Kannyn Boyd, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 27: Maggie McGough, Carroll

Oct. 20: Hannah Tellor, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 13: Kyra Carothers, Millikin

Oct. 6: Eleanor Palmer, Illinois Wesleyan

Sept. 29: Grace Autry, Wheaton

Sept. 22: Kyra Carothers, Millikin

Sept. 15: Jenna Damon, Carthage

Sept. 8: Alysa Lawton, Illinois Wesleyan

Sept. 2: Kannyn Boyd, Illinois Wesleyan

Follow the CCIW
| CCIW on X | CCIW Instagram | CCIW Facebook |

The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.), Carroll University (Waukesha, Wis.), Carthage College (Kenosha, Wis.), Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, Ill.), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Ill.), Millikin University (Decatur, Ill.), North Central College (Naperville, Ill.), North Park University (Chicago, Ill.) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.).

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Hartman named MVC Player of the Week for third time this season

Published

54 minutes ago

November 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ST. LOUIS — UNI junior outside hitter Cassidy Hartman has been named the Missouri Valley Conference’s (MVC) Player of the Week for volleyball, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.

The selection comes for the North Liberty, Iowa native after led the Panthers with a pair of double-digit kill showings and one double-double performances in victories over Belmont and Southern Illinois, helping UNI improve to 12-0 in league play.

Northern Iowa is currently in the midst of a 15-match winning streak, tied for the second-longest in Division I, while also having won 48 consecutive regular season matches against MVC opponents, the third-longest such streak in program history and the second-longest active streak in the nation. UNI is also closing in on at least a share of its fourth straight MVC regular season title this week.

UNI’s season leader with 352 total blocks on the year, Hartman notably set a new career-high with 26 terminations in the Panthers’ 3-1 win at Southern Illinois on Saturday, while also tallying 11 digs for her team-leading 11th double-double of the season. Hartman also recorded 11 kills against Belmont last Thursday, having now posted ten or more kills in 19 matches this year.

Hartman’s selection is the eighth MVC weekly award of the season for the Panthers, who have also seen Maryn Bixby be named the MVC Freshman of the Week three times, and Jadyn Petersen the league’s top defense player of the week twice.

In addition to Hartman, Valparaiso’s Emma Hickey was named MVC Defensive Player of the Week for a second straight week, while Drake’s Caroline Smith earned MVC Freshman of the Week honors.

Hartman and the Panthers return to action on Tuesday nights as UNI hosts Drake at 6 p.m. CT inside the McLeod Center. Live coverage of the match can be found on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network (106.5 FM Corn Country / 93.5 HD-2).

Tickets can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at tickets@uni.edu.

Fans are encouraged to wear purple for the team’s annual Purple Out match, while UNI will also celebrate Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night.

UNI students in attendance will also have the opportunity to enter a drawing for a $1,000 scholarship. Rules and eligibility can be found HERE. For a full list of upcoming Panther promotions, click HERE.

UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

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Cheney Named A-10 Volleyball Rookie of the Week

Published

1 hour ago

November 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Atlantic 10 conference has named freshman setter Ava Cheney the conference Rookie of the Week for games played Oct. 27-Nov. 2.

Cheney stepped into the solo setter role this week and rose to the occasion. Totaling 146 assists over three matches, averaging 10.43 per set, she helped quarterback the Patriots’ offense. She totaled 46 assists on Wednesday vs. GW, 57 assists on Saturday vs. Rhode Island (good for top-5 assists in a single match post-2008, and second most in a single game in the A-10 this season), and 43 assists on Sunday vs. Rhode Island.

In addition to her assists, the Tucson, Ariz. native had four service aces in Saturday’s match, and she totaled 14 digs and 9 blocks over the week.

The Patriots went 1-2 last week, splitting with Rhode Island and losing to George Washington. They are currently tied for fourth place in the A-10 with a 15-10, 8-6 conference record.

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WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL CLINCHES AMERICA EAST POSTSEASON BERTH

Published

1 hour ago

November 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant volleyball team clinched a spot in the America East postseason on Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs make their return to the postseason after not qualifying last season. They’re the first team in the America East to clinch a postseason berth.

The Black and Gold have an overall 14-11 record and are 5-3 in conference play, tied for second place in the conference with UAlbany and Binghamton. Bryant split the season series with UAlbany and defeated Binghamton in the first meeting.

Bryant split their home matches against New Hampshire and UMBC this weekend at the Chace Athletic Center.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Friday night (Nov. 7), taking on the Binghamton Bearcats on the road. First serve is at 6:00 PM in Vestal, N.Y.

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CAA Volleyball Weekly Awards – Nov. 3, 2025

Published

2 hours ago

November 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CAA Volleyball Weekly Awards – Nov. 3, 2025

11/3/2025 2:00:00 PM

Dylan Smith

RICHMOND, Va. (Nov. 3, 2025) – Hofstra’s Beatriz Braga and Stony Brook’s Kali Moore shared Offensive Player of the Week honors, while the Pride’s Julia Amorim and the Seawolves’ Ava Zamora earned outright Defensive Player and Rookie of the Week recognition, respectively, on Monday.

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Beatriz Braga, Hofstra
Junior | Outside Hitter | Uberlândia, Brazil

Braga helped the Pride pick up a pair of road wins over North Carolina A&T to extend the win streak to nine consecutive matches. For the week, Braga averaged 5.13 kills, 1.88 digs and 0.75 blocks per set. She also hit at a .304 clip in the two contests. The Brazilian native posted 41 kills, while adding 15 digs and six blocks in the two matches. On Saturday, she was outstanding with 20 kills in the three-set match, averaging nearly seven kills per set to go with seven digs and three blocks. In Sunday’s win, she literally one-upped herself with 21 kills, a .350 attack percentage, along with eight digs and three blocks. Both kill totals established new season highs for Braga, and they were just the second and third times in her career that she has reached the 20-kill plateau in a match.

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kali Moore, Stony Brook
Senior | Outside Hitter | Brooklyn, N.Y.
Moore led the Seawolves offense with 41 kills in a pair of upset wins over Towson. The two wins were also the program’s first two wins against the Tigers in its previous 16 matches prior to the weekend slate. The senior outside hitter posted her fifth 20-kill performance of the season with 22 on Friday en route to a 3-1 victory over the Tigers. Moore also had two aces and nine blocks, including a season-high six blocks on Friday. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native followed up with her ninth double-double of the season, notching 19 kills and a season-high 19 digs to secure another 3-1 victory on the road.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Julia Amorim, Hofstra
Freshman | Middle Blocker | Pavuna, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Amorim produced a strong week as the Pride won both contests at North Carolina A&T to extend the current win streak to nine consecutive matches. The middle blocker totaled 15 stuffs, including five solo, along with nine kills, three service aces, and a pair of digs. In Saturday’s match, Amorim totaled nine blocks, including four on her own, to go with three kills, two aces and two digs. The freshman followed that up with another strong defensive effort with six blocks and six kills in Sunday’s victory.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Ava Zamora, Stony Brook
Freshman | Setter | San Diego, Calif.
Zamora guided the Seawolves to a pair of victories at Towson with 76 assists and 24 digs. The San Diego, Calif., posted a double-double in the opening match with 45 assists and a season-high 19 digs. The freshman setter then recorded 31 assists with five digs on Saturday to notch the team’s first in-season sweep of Towson. Zamora also had five kills, two aces and one block on Saturday.

2025 CAA VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY AWARDS

Offensive Player of the Week

Sept. 1: Tyne Ross, N.C. A&T

Sept. 8: Maja Daca, Campbell / Taylor Pagan, Towson

Sept. 15: Gwen Wolkow, Campbell / Ella Sanders, Towson

Sept. 22: Izadora Stedile, Hofstra

Sept. 29: Caroline Noonan, Charleston

Oct. 6: Beatriz Braga, Hofstra

Oct. 13: Gwen Wolkow, Campbell

Oct. 20: Gwen Wolkow, Campbell

Oct. 27: Tyne Ross, N.C. A&T

Nov. 3: Beatriz Braga, Hofstra / Kali Moore, Stony Brook

Defensive Player of the Week

Sept. 1: Nadia Koanui, Northeastern / Mercedes Motton, Stony Brook

Sept. 8: Malinah Purcell-Telefoni, Towson

Sept. 15: Julia Amorim, Hofstra

Sept. 22: Sydney Stewart, Towson

Sept. 29: Makena Parthen, Charleston / Sydney Stewart, Towson

Oct. 6: Sydney Stewart, Towson

Oct. 13: Jumana Martin, Charleston / Lilia Duczek, Hofstra

Oct. 20: Caroline Noonan, Charleston / Leonor Polezzi, N.C. A&T

Oct. 27: Hailey Heytvelt, Campbell / Jumana Martin, Charleston

Nov. 3: Julia Amorim, Hofstra

Rookie of the Week

Sept. 1: Ava Zamora, Stony Brook

Sept. 8: Julia Amorim, Hofstra

Sept. 15: Caroline Noonan, Charleston

Sept. 22: Nina Jioshvili-Ravva, Hofstra

Sept. 29: Malinah Purcell-Telefoni, Towson

Oct. 6: Jumana Martin, Charleston / Nina Jioshvili-Ravva, Hofstra

Oct. 13: Nina Jioshvili-Ravva, Hofstra

Oct. 20: Nina Jioshvili-Ravva, Hofstra

Oct. 27: Zariah Winton, N.C. A&T

Nov. 3: Ava Zamora, Stony Brook

Follow #CAAVB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get up-to-date information and learn more about CAA member institutions and their volleyball programs.

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Mara Štiglic Named Mountain West Offensive Volleyball Player of the Week

Published

3 hours ago

November 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball outside hitter Mara Štiglic has been named the Old Trapper Mountain West Offensive Volleyball Player of the Week the conference announced on Monday.

Štiglic led Utah State with a .400 hitting percentage while recording 29 total kills in a pair of wins at San Diego State (3-1) and UNLV (3-0). The sophomore from Rijeka, Croatia, averaged 4.14 kills per set for the week and added two aces, six digs and four blocks. Štiglic tied for the team lead with 13 kills against the Aztecs, hitting .355 on 31 total attempts and adding three blocks. Against the Rebels, Štiglic posted 16 kills on 29 attempts for a .448 hitting percentage, also adding two aces. In the third set, Štiglic had a team-high eight kills to help seal the win. Of 60 total attempts during the week, Štiglic recorded only five hitting errors.

It is Štiglic’s second time this season and in her career earning Player of the Week honors. She previously earned the award after totaling 46 total kills to help USU to wins against Utah Valley and Weber State plus a spirited effort against then-No. 16 BYU, averaging 4.18 kills per set for the week.

Štiglic is the first Aggie to receive multiple awards from the MW this season. Utah State has had six different players receive a weekly award from the conference this season.

PREVIOUS AGGIES TO RECEIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK THIS SEASON

Sept. 2 – Tierney Barlow, Sr., MB – Offensive Player of the Week

Sept. 22 – Mara Štiglic, So., OH – Offensive Player of the Week

Sept. 29 – Lauren Larkin, R-Fr., MB – Freshman of the Week

Oct. 6 – Kaylie Kofe, So., S – Offensive Player of the Week

Oct. 13 – Kendel Thompson, Jr., L/DS – Defensive Player of the Week

Oct. 27 – Loryn Helgesen, So., OPP – Offensive Player of the Week

Up Next

The Aggies return home for a pair of crucial matches versus teams currently in Mountain West Tournament position. Utah State will first host second-place Colorado State on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m., before facing Wyoming, who currently sits third in the conference standings, on Saturday, Nov. 8, at noon.

Season tickets, mini-plans, and single-game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here or by contacting the USU Ticket Office at 435-797-0305.

Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.

– USU –

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