Academic Support

The Villanova University School of Law Office of Academic Support is designed to help students achieve academic success in law school. The Office of Academic Support provides services to students through study skills seminars, instructional materials, one-on-one meetings, and an informational web page.

Sheilah Vance is the Assistant Dean of Academic Support. She also teaches the Education Law Seminar at the Law School as an adjunct professor. She earned a B.A. in communications, magna cum laude, from Howard University in 1977 and a J.D. in 1984 from Georgetown University, where she was a member of the Robert S. Wagner Labor Law Moot Court team. From 1996-98, Vance was a Visiting Legal Writing Instructor at Villanova University School of Law. She previously maintained a private practice and was a partner in the firm of Vance, Jackson, Simpson & Vance-Lewis. She was a hearing officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Professional Standards and Practices Commission. In addition, Vance has worked as Special Assistant to the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, Assistant Counsel for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, and an associate in the firm of Atkinson & Archie. She was Press Secretary to former Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey during his 1986 campaign, and she has worked as a media and political consultant for the Democratic National Committee and numerous political candidates.

Telephone: 610-519-7136
Email: vance@law.villanova.edu