price increased to $28 per seat. Determined to see the Birds
play again, Professor Silvesti set out to earn $7 more. To his
surprise and utter delight, that Christmas his dream came true
when he received season tickets for the 1962 season. He’s been
a season ticket holder ever since.
A tradition that began with Professor
Silvesti and his father has slowly developed
into a family-centered occasion. Soon, his
brother joined the group, and eventually so
did his uncle and cousin. When Professor
Silvesti got married and had children
of his own, he initiated his son into the
tradition. To this day, the family tradition
continues, which now incorporates the
fourth generation of Eagles fans: Professor
Silvesti’s grandchildren.
“
Distinguished Teaching. The honor is given to a full-time faculty
member who excels in teaching, scholarship, and service. It’s
obvious that Professor Silvesti’s passion and commitment
is a key factor in why our Griffins soar and succeed in their
professional careers.
When I first
graduated college, I
remember telling my
family, ‘If someone
would pay me to stay
in college forever, I
would’.
When he’s not watching the Birds, Professor Silvesti is focusing
his attention on another group of feathered folks: GMercyU
Griffins.
”
“The thing that we try to instill in our
students is that accountants are not just
number crunchers. You’re a storyteller.”
Professor Silvesti says. “You can learn so
much about a company just from financial
records. That’s the way we approach things,
teaching new concepts to help students
adjust and think critically.”
When it comes down to it, you can always
count on Professor Silvesti for two things:
(1) offering the Philadelphia Eagles the faith and loyalty of a
true fan, and (2) providing GMercyU Griffins the wings and
support they need to soar.
After earning his CPA license in 1986 and spending 35 years
as a financial officer for a variety of companies, Professor
Silvesti decided to try his hand at teaching. He was granted
an opportunity to be an adjunct professor at the then Cabrini
College, which sparked his passion for teaching.
“When I first graduated college, I remember telling my family,
‘If someone would pay me to stay in college forever, I would’,”
Professor Silvesti said.
It turns out that Professor Silvesti’s extensive business
expertise and joy for teaching proved to be invaluable as
he embarked on his journey as a professor at Gwynedd
Mercy University in 2006. In the 13 years he’s been with
the University, Professor Silvesti has shaped GMercyU’s
Accounting program into a competitive and successful major.
In fact, as of 2018, GMercyU was ranked 16th in the nation
for CPA exam pass rates among similar-sized schools and our
students were passing the exam at a 17% higher rate than
the national average. He also spearheaded the creation of the
annual Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher
Education (SEPCHE) finance and accounting career fair to
help his students land internships and full-time jobs.
“In order to be a good manager, you need to be a good teacher,”
said Professor Silvesti. “You can only succeed if people around
you are growing and getting better.”
His mentality and approach to teaching have impacted the
lives of countless graduates, many of whom are successful
accountants today. For the past several years, 100 percent of
the University’s CPA Track Accounting graduates have landed
a job before or shortly after graduation. That’s a true testament
to Professor Silvesti’s desire and willingness to help every
student succeed.
Professor Silvesti’s dedication to his students was recognized
in 2016 with The Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for
Professor Silvesti with his grandchildren Marco, Benny, and son
Greg with the Eagles Super Bowl Trophy in 2018.
TODAY
17