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Last week, Director Sasha Perugini travelled with Academic Manager Rachael Smith and Assistant Director for Student Life Jessica Volpe to Strasbourg for the 2023 European Institute Conference. They also met and shared ideas with Syracuse Abroad colleagues from London and Madrid while visiting the Syracuse center in Strasbourg.

The conference was co-organized by the Forum of Education Abroad and the European Association of Study Abroad and took place in the National University Library. It was a great chance for the 120 participants from across Europe to share best practices, especially concerning current issues like DEI, mental health, and the climate crisis in relation to study abroad. Director Sasha Perugini also spoke about artificial intelligence and international education as part of the panel “Open Forum Dialogue: Giving Voice to Onsite Perspectives.”

Samantha recently returned to the Villa Rossa with her mother, who finally got to see the place that had such an impact on her daughter and meet the host family that took such good care of her. Samantha shares some heartwarming reflections in this follow-up interview.

What was your impression of the school and the city 15 years later?

Returning to Florence after so many years was such a surreal experience. As my mom and I walked from Santa Maria Novella to our hotel, it was so exciting to see the Duomo come into view. When I was there from January-April 2008, there weren’t as many people around since it was still winter. Visiting in mid-October, the weather was much warmer and the larger crowds were a big difference! Otherwise, it felt like coming home and nothing had changed. The city is just as enthralling as I remember, and I still feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of seeing it all. Villa Rossa is still a charming and tranquil spot in a bustling city. I was so happy that I got to show my mom where I had gone to school. Getting the chance to walk around the courtyard, peak into classrooms, and rediscover some of my favorite study and hangout spots was so special.

We know you had a great experience with your host family. What made it so special?

My host family was amazing! They were so welcoming and really made me feel like part of the family. We had long dinners every night getting to know each other and talking about our days and what we were learning at school. My host brother would ask for help with his English homework after dinner while I practiced my Italian. My host mom let me help cook and tended to me when I was sick. I remember when my host dad found out I had never been to IKEA, we all went the following weekend. There were other day trips they included me on to Fiesole and the beach, which was a wonderful way to see parts of Italy I might not have ever seen. Living in their home was the best experience I could have had and allowed me to immerse myself fully in the Italian language and culture. The fact that I was included in their lives because they wanted me to be is something for which I’ll always be grateful.

What made you decide to be a study abroad advisor when you returned to the US?

Studying abroad is both so exciting and nerve wracking, especially when going to a country where you might not speak the language. When I decided to go to Florence, I didn’t know Italian, but I wanted to learn and knew the curriculum would afford me that chance. I wanted to help set other students’ minds at ease and assure them that even if they didn’t know the language, that shouldn’t stop them from going. I also wanted to help guide future study abroad students through the more overwhelming aspects of the application process, how to prepare for living abroad, what to expect when you’re there, etc. I was fortunate enough to have support and insight from former study abroad students and wanted to be able to provide that to others.

Tell us about any memories that particularly stand out about your time here.

There are so many amazing memories from my study abroad experience. If I had to pick, I’d say both my first and last day in Florence. When I first arrived, I was simultaneously so excited, nervous, and having second thoughts about being able to live successfully in a totally different country.  On my last day, I remember visiting my favorite spots around the city one last time. I was so emotional and couldn’t imagine what it would be like if I hadn’t come to Florence. Now, looking back on how much my feelings had changed from day one to my final day, I am reminded of how much my time abroad shaped me as a person. I’m lucky to remember both how it began and how it ended – each day was memorable in its own way.

Any advice for current or future Syracuse Florence students?

It might sound cliché, but take advantage of your time there and soak it all in. Go to the museums and explore the outdoor markets. Have lunch in different piazzas. Speak Italian in restaurants and shops, even if you’re still learning! Stop to take in the details of the buildings and sculptures. It’s a unique experience being able to live and study in a different country, especially in such a historical and beautiful city. Travel to and explore different cities and countries on the weekends. It’s a big world and being able to travel Europe so easily while you’re there is not an opportunity to be missed. Studying abroad in Florence is an experience like no other and it will stay with you forever. Enjoy every moment!

Last Spring, Syracuse student and chemical engineering major Erin O’Donnell interviewed Professor Francesca Parotti as part of her internship with UNESCO on women in STEM to find out what it’s like to work as a woman engineer in Italy.

When were you introduced to STEM education?

I’ve always loved scientific subjects and attended a high school that specialized in applied sciences (liceo scientifico sperimentale).

What piqued your interest to receive a higher education degree in it?

I’ve always been fascinated by numbers, and by studying complex objects I was able to understand the world around me.

What field of engineering do you have a degree in? Do you have additional degrees? If so, what?

I have a Master’s degree in civil engineering and a PhD in science and material technologies.

Do you hold a position in which you hire people? If yes, how many women applicants do you see with respect to male applicants?

No, I’m a freelancer and work for myself.

Have you ever seen men hired over women who were more qualified ?

Of course, yes! In my field (construction) there are so many prejudices about women. Older people especially look at me like an alien when I arrive at a building site to do my job.

What is your current specific job description?

I’m a ProStructural designer, safety manager, and construction manager.

When you direct men in the workplace do you find that you are not respected? How so?

At first men don’t seem to take me seriously and they give their opinion even if they’re not qualified to (mansplaining). Then, when they realize that I’m firm, competent and stubborn, they accept my leadership. Sometimes they even end up telling me that women are better bosses than men!

Do older or younger men give you more respect?

It depends more on their level of awareness and maturity than their age.

Do you have anything else to say?

Please keep fighting for gender equality!

By Michelle Tarnopolsky

Our longstanding conversation and cultural exchange program, Spazio Conversazione, is seeing a rise in popularity this semester after experiencing a pandemic-related slowdown over the last couple years. More and more of our students are coming out to chat with local Italian university students in this out-of-class activity held most Wednesdays from 4 to 6pm in the Villa Rossa Garden.

Loredana Tarini founded the program in 1995, a year after she became the coordinator of the Italian department. She originally called it Casa Italiana, inspired by similar initiatives at American colleges, and in the early years when the Student Life Office organized less extra-curricular activities, it often involved site visits, fieldtrips, and events like open-mic nights. “I wanted to open our school to the city and vice versa,” explains Tarini. “Not many others were doing this at the time.”

Professor Tarini changed the name a few years later to highlight the focus on language exchange. Otherwise, the set-up remains the same as in the early days, with a rotation of different Italian language professors running the activity each semester. Seasonal or themed snacks are offered, and students either do a 50/50 blend of Italian and English, or they start with one language and continue with the other. Board games are a popular icebreaker. It is all very informal; a fun, relaxed way to practice speaking a foreign language.

The help of Italian department interns from the University of Florence has done much to enrich the activity, especially since they are great at getting the word out to their friends and peers. This semester we have political science majors Alessandro Clementelli and Matteo Sigismondi, and Mariasofia Ottaviani, whose studies in education management and clinical pedagogy align perfectly with the aims of the program.

Interested students are always warmly welcome and can simply show up to future events. Più siamo, meglio è!

Dr. Leonardo Lastilla, who teaches our popular class Vine to Table: Italian Wines in Context, has just published a book of poetry, Epifanie interotte: Canzoniere Postmoderno (“Epiphany Interrupted: Postmodern Sonnets”). As explained on the back cover, this postmodern remake of Petrarch’s Sonnets is an ode to love in all its guises, “inexperienced, tender, romantic, erotic, destructive.”

Florence native Lastilla got his PhD in Italian Literature from University College, Dublin, and has taught Italian language and literature, travel writing, English literature, and food and wine studies for over 20 years. He has also published poetry and short stories in various

Photographs by Francesco Guazzelli

On October 19, 2023 Syracuse Florence alumnus Daniel D’Aniello, who donated $10 million to the program in May 2022, was presented with the keys to the city of Florence by Mayor Dario Nardella. Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud also made the trip from the US for the special occasion.

Mayor Nardella showed D’Aniello and guests around the Palazzo Vecchio, the fortress-like building that has been home to Florence’s government since the Middle Ages.

Members of the Syracuse Florence community attended the ceremony, which was solemnly marked by trumpet players in traditional costume. Speeches were made by Director Sasha Perugini, Chancellor Syverud, Town Councilor Elisabetta Meucci, and Mayor Nardella, who spoke in both Italian and English. Everyone touched on Syracuse’s extraordinary relationship with the city of Florence.

Philanthropist and business man D’Aniello gave an especially moving speech, all in Italian, in which he said that of all his accomplishments, he is most proud of having been a Mud Angel, one of the students who helped Florence clean up after its devastating flood in 1966.

This semester, four veteran students were awarded full scholarships to attend the Syracuse Florence program, thanks to D’Aniello’s generous donation. Our program has since been renamed in his honor.

In late September, Fashion in Focus professor Niccolò Sbaraglia flew to Paris to serve as one of nine judges for the Hult Prize Global Finals 2023. The prestigious Hult Prize awards $1M USD to a team of young entrepreneurs challenged with proposing solutions for pressing world issues, and this year’s theme was Redesigning Fashion.

The winner was a team of Yale University students who started Banofi Leather, which converts banana-crop waste into sustainable, vegan, cruelty-free leather. Fashion design icon Stella McCarthy presented them with the prize, and former US president Bill Clinton announced next year’s theme via pre-recorded video.

In addition to teaching for Syracuse, Professor Sbaraglia is also the Head of Commercial Development at Polimoda Fashion School in Florence and a production manager dedicated to fashion and luxury accessories. 

Professor Giovanni Scotto, who teaches the University of Florence class International Conflict Transformation on our campus, has been granted funding from the Jean Monnet Programme to set up a module on the role of the European Union in conflict mediation.

Jean Monnet modules are short courses in European Union studies at higher education institutions aimed at promoting the research and teaching of scholars in EU issues and fostering the publication of their work. The goal of Professor Scotto’s project is to strengthen peace-mediation skills within the EU through teaching and learning, policy dialogue, and outreach.

Scotto is also involved in the online platform Love Storm to combat different forms of hate speech and the “Little School of Peace” in Florence’s Isolotto neighborhood, a grassroots organization that shares information on practices of non-violence, dialogue, and sustainability.

Goldsmith and jewelry designer Jen Leddy runs a successful business out of her studio in Austin, Texas. In this interview, she tells us how it all started with a class she took at Syracuse Florence.

When did you study here?

Fall semester 2007.

What was your impression of Florence?

I absolutely fell in love with Florence. To this day I feel Florence has a piece of my heart. It captured me with its fascinating history, architecture, art, L’Arno, food, wine, cafés and palpable vibrancy and energy.

What do you remember most about your study abroad experience?

My entire study abroad experience was unforgettable and pivotally transformative for me. But there are two things that stand out in my memory in relation to classes: 1) my daily pre-class walk from the Villa Rossa to Fuji Studios because I felt immersed in the city, engaged in the culture, and learning a medium that filled me with a new and determined purpose. 2) my art history class with Prof. Jonathan Nelson, studying Italian masterpieces first-hand in person, sparked an interest and excitement about learning art history for the first time in my academic life. The scope and gravity of the work and talent truly came to life. 

You were introduced to jewelry making through a class at Fuji Studios, a class we still offer, though the studio is now called Laboratorio Firenze. Please tell us more about how that led to your career as a goldsmith and jewelry designer.

The Introduction to Metalsmithing class I took ignited my passion for working in metal and making jewelry. It was that exposure alone that led me to determinedly chasing more niche learning opportunities of traditional goldsmithing and jewelry designing from an internship, self-training, to advanced technical courses later at the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts. All of which firmly set my footing as being a goldsmith and having my own jewelry business today.

See Jen Leddy’s work here.
Follow her on Instagram.

Florence Program Director Sasha Perugini received the prestigious Syracuse University Chancellor’s Fellowship to recognize her exemplary contributions and service to the university. The fellowship supported her two-month residency on home campus in Syracuse, New York, this summer during which she learned more about university administration. While there, Dr. Perugini, who also teaches our class on Cross-Cultural Management, engaged in leadership development opportunities and worked with the study abroad office on planning and priorities and new special projects.