Sofia Arrascue

Villanova University School of Business

“I am a thoughtful, motivated leader with a passion for travel and enthusiasm for meaningful relationships.”

Fun fact about yourself:  I have traveled to five continents with Villanova!

Hometown: Deer Park, New York

High School: The Stony Brook School

Major: Finance, Management, International Business

Favorite Business Course: Introduction to Business Analytics with Dr. Kathleen Iacocca

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Awards & Honors

• Saint Martin de Porres Scholarship (Full Tuition)
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar
• Global Leadership Fellow

Leadership & Service

• President, Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
• President, VSB Dean’s Undergraduate Student Advisory Council (DUSAC)
• Events Chair, Unitas Pre‑Orientation Program
• Admitted Students Day Committee
• Blue Key Society Tour Guide
• Campus Lifeguard

Global Engagement & Academic Enrichment

• Augustinian Leadership Journey, Villanova School of Business
• Global Key Ambassador, Office of Education Abroad
• CUIBE Global Student Leadership Council, Medellín, Colombia
• SDSU International Business Case Competition – Second Place

Where have you interned during your college career?

National Volunteer and Philanthropy Center, Singapore- Branding and Content Intern

TIAA, Charlotte, NC- Wealth Distribution Intern

Wells Fargo, New York, NY- Corporate and Investment Banking-COO Intern

Where will you be working after graduation? Wells Fargo – Emerging Healthcare Technologies Corporate Banking Analyst

Who is your favorite business professor? My favorite business professor is Dr. Sonya Williams‑Stanton. I had the privilege of taking both Principles of Finance and Corporate Finance with her, and her teaching played an important role in shaping my academic path. I first discovered my love for finance in her Principles course, which helped push me to pursue the finance major. Later, in Corporate Finance, her emphasis on capital structure and the foundations of a strong firm ignited my interest in corporate banking. I credit much of my post‑graduation success to the knowledge and confidence I gained in her classes. Professor Stanton is tough yet fair, and I have always appreciated her willingness to answer questions while still pushing students to challenge themselves and learn independently. I spent many hours in her office hours ensuring I truly understood the material, and although I was never perfect on her exams, her courses motivated me to work harder and grow. Her high standards, clarity, and dedication to her students have had a lasting impact on me.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I’ve gained from studying business is that the most meaningful learning happens through community, especially the kind you build by getting involved. Joining the Dean’s Undergraduate Student Advisory Council (DUSAC) was a key part of my business education. Through DUSAC, I learned how powerful it is when students, faculty, and administrators work together to improve the business school. I spent four years collaborating with peers, gathering feedback, and advocating for initiatives that strengthened the student experience, and those relationships became some of the strongest networks I built in college.

Being involved in DUSAC taught me that business isn’t just about technical skills; it’s about communication, leadership, and showing up for others. That lesson has stayed with me far beyond the classroom and is something I’ll carry into my career.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Go abroad! Even though it’s a common piece of advice, studying abroad truly shaped my Villanova experience in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I participated in three programs, and each one left me feeling more confident, knowledgeable, and compassionate than when I arrived. Developing a global perspective is incredibly powerful, you carry it into every line of work, and it changes the way you understand people, cultures, and yourself. There is something uniquely valuable about being able to build relationships with peers from different backgrounds.

One of my biggest fears before going abroad was losing my sense of involvement on campus, but that worry disappeared the moment I returned. Your school, your friends, and the communities you’ve built will still be there for you, and there are countless ways to stay connected while you’re away. Studying abroad is genuinely life changing, and it opens your world far beyond the classroom.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? Dr. Pankaj Patel, my Strategic Thinking and Implementation professor, embraces the reality of AI and its influence on the workforce. Our major class project is to use AI and LLMs to predict revenue and EPS before a company’s earnings announcement, with our predictions graded against the actual results. This project couples my entire business education with the ability to apply AI tools efficiently. One on my biggest takeaways is that although AI can be extremely powerful, it is not always accurate and requires critical thinking. While AI can give us context, the decision falls to us.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? Being part of the second cohort of Villanova’s Augustinian Leadership Journey is the achievement I am most proud of. When I arrived at Villanova, I hoped to find a community that would help me grow both as a leader and in my faith, and this program became exactly that space. The program blends Augustinian values, truth‑seeking, interiority, community, and service with intentional leadership development. This encourages us to not only to understand ourselves more deeply, but also to consider how we lead with humility and purpose. Learning about the Augustinians while reflecting on who I am, what I value, and how I want to show up for others was incredibly fulfilling. The program challenged me to think beyond traditional leadership skills and instead focus on becoming a person who leads through compassion, curiosity, and authentic connection. It is the most formative experience of my time at Villanova.

Which classmate do you most admire? The classmate I admire most is Evan Woo. Over the past two years, we’ve taken several finance courses together after both entering the major later than most of our peers. In class, Evan stands out for his curiosity, and confidence; he asks thoughtful questions and engages deeply with the material. In group projects, he brings a calm, adaptable presence and remains composed under pressure, which consistently elevates the team’s work. Our friendship strengthened when we both interned in Charlotte during the summer of 2023. Moving to a new city was daunting, but Evan’s steady, unfazed attitude helped me approach the experience with more confidence. Since then, we’ve supported each other through our coursework, internship searches, and full‑time recruiting, often discussing business news and practicing interviews together. As we prepare to graduate, I’m proud that we’ve both landed full-time positions and am grateful for the professional and personal support we’ve shared along the way.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? My mom is the strongest woman I know. An immigrant, a single mother, and an entrepreneur, she has worked tirelessly for everything we have. Any success I’ve had is rooted in her unwavering support, she’s the one who encourages me to step outside my comfort zone and chase my dreams with confidence. It has always been her life goal to see her two children graduate from college. As the youngest, I’m proud to say: Congratulations, Mom, you did it!

I truly believe she is the best, she is resilient, generous, and endlessly loving. Everything she has poured into our family shows up in who I am today, and I couldn’t be more grateful to call her my mom.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1) Serve on the board of a non-profit

2) Work internationally

What made Sofia such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“Sofia has been an exceptional member of the Class of 2026 whose leadership, character, and global engagement have meaningfully shaped our community.

From her first days on campus, Sofia stood out as a Global Leadership Fellow, demonstrating initiative, maturity, and a genuine commitment to others. I first noticed her when I overheard a campus tour guide speaking with remarkable enthusiasm and accuracy about the Moran Center for Global Leadership. Her poise and sincerity were so striking that I stepped out to see who was representing us so well – it was Sofia. That moment captured her natural ability to elevate Villanova and inspire those around her.

Academically, Sofia has excelled as a triple major in International Business, Finance and Management, consistently earning Dean’s List distinction while maintaining a warm, approachable presence among her peers. Her confidence and natural charisma make her a leader whom others readily trust and follow.

Her global engagement is equally impressive. I got to know her when she joined me for the 2024 Inaugural Iceland Maymester, where she emerged as a unifying force—mindful, inclusive and attentive to the well-being of every participant. She later represented Villanova in the CUIBE Global Student Leadership Program in Medellín, Colombia, thriving in a rigorous multi-institution environment. Her team’s second place finish in the Fall 2025 International Business Case Competition at San Diego State University, further highlights her analytical strength and composure.

On campus, Sofia’s impact extends beyond academics. As President of the Dean’s Undergraduate Student Advisory Council, she has been a thoughtful advocate and a trusted partner to faculty and administrators, embodying Villanova’s values of Unitas and Caritas. She participated in the Augustinian Leadership Journey with the Center for Church Management, where she strengthened her leadership skills and learned how to lead with confidence, compassion and purpose. She also recently served as the Co-President of Villanova’s MLK Day of Service where she helped plan, organize, and mobilize more than 300 volunteers to serve local communities.

Sofia is a scholar, a cultural ambassador, and a leader whose presence elevates every community she joins. Her academic excellence, global perspective and exceptional leadership make her an outstanding candidate for Poet & Quants’ Best & Brightest Award.”

Gloria Angel
Assistant Director
Moran Center for Global Leadership

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