Fran 6 • SPRING 2014 Francis J. “Fran” Shammo ’83, an involved and valued member of Philadelphia University’s Board of Trustees, serves as chief financial officer and executive vice president for Verizon Communications, where he oversees the company’s finance and strategic planning operations and financial transaction services. Shammo He was honored with Philadelphia University’s 2012 ’83 Leader of Innovation Medal for his outstanding achievements in fostering innovative financial practices at Verizon. This spring, Shammo participated in the PhilaU-Verizon Innovation Project, an interdisciplinary and collaborative student project to pioneer advances in healthcare. “Philadelphia University is where innovation happens, and it happens because the PhilaU community is populated with innovative minds who collaborate to best support our vision and growth,” President Stephen Spinelli Jr. said. “Fran Shammo has one of the keenest and most creative minds. At Verizon, he has engineered the highest level of collaborative strategic planning operations, and he brings a unique perspective of insight, experience and positive influence to our community. As an alumnus, he stands as an exemplary model of the success a PhilaU graduate can achieve and the myriad ways in which a graduate can give back to PhilaU.” A dedicated advocate for education at all levels, Shammo spoke with Innovator about the importance of innovation in business and education—and what innovation he wishes he had as an undergraduate accounting student at PhilaU. Tell us what your experience was like as a Philadelphia University student. When I got to campus in the late 1970’s, I found an outstanding accounting faculty that I would put up against any university, even today. They taught me everything I needed to expect in the business world. In addition, it was a well-rounded education. Along with business, I took English, history, science and other courses. And, in my junior and senior years, I was afforded the opportunity to do a co-op with the Internal Revenue Service. It was extraordinary. Not everyone got that kind of experience back then. But Philadelphia University has always had close ties to industry partners, so I was fortunate to benefit from those relationships. The reason I am involved now is because Philadelphia University gave me everything I needed to start my career, as well as a foundation to build upon. What is exciting about PhilaU today? PhilaU is at the forefront of higher education. Other universities are now doing what President Spinelli and the PhilaU team put into place in 2008—developing the strategy around Nexus Learning and the DEC
Alumni Update Spring 2014
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