News Archive

David Higdon’s career has taken him from the courts of professional tennis to the fairways of golf, and now to the cutting edge of competitive gaming. Today, he is serving as pro bono Chief Communications Officer for USA Esports, a new national body pursuing United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee accreditation. This year, USA Esports will field 16 teams representing the country at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup in November. Alongside that work, Higdon is deepening his commitment to the family business — the Higdon Running brand built around his father Hal, who turns 95 this year. The family is expanding their digital offerings, refreshing their brand, and enhancing the widely used “Run with Hal” training app at HalHigdon.com.

But before the boardrooms of Monte Carlo, the press boxes of major sporting events, and the front offices of the NFL, there was Florence. In the interview below, Higdon reflects on how his time with Syracuse Abroad in Firenze first ignited a lifelong passion for global exploration — and set the course for everything that followed.

You’ve had some wild travel experiences, as you told The New York Times in 2009. Did your time in Florence fit into that?

I blame my global wanderlust on my incredible experience in Firenze with Syracuse Abroad. While I traveled as a youngster across the U.S., visiting all 50 states eventually, SU was my first immersion experience in Europe. The program opened my eyes to global opportunities, and I’ve since explored both personal and professional experiences around the world.  

What was your home school and what did you study while you were here at Syracuse Florence?

I matriculated at Kalamazoo College, an OG in academic foreign study, but they didn’t have an Italian track. Some K students and I convinced a French professor to teach us Italian (my mother’s parents were Italian), and we researched collegiate abroad programs and landed on Syracuse University due to its reputation and curriculum. Of course, I studied Art History in Florence.

What was your host family experience like?

Signora Tedesco didn’t exactly fit the quintessential home family mode. She was, let’s just say, “frugal,” so spaghetti con burro and pane were our meal staples. But the view from our room of Sante Croce church was incredible. Plus, while we didn’t have any surplus sustenance, we also didn’t have a curfew! 

Do you have any funny/interesting/touching memories of cultural shock/adjustment to living in Italy?

I decided to hitchhike on a Syracuse Abroad field trip rather than travel with the school bus, and I had no problem securing friendly rides and gabbing in Italian while in the Tuscany area. However, as night started to descend when I was in northern Italy, I found myself shivering on the side of a mountain road, wondering where I would spend the night. However, the SU bus came roaring up the hill and I was able to wave it down. A classmate in the back of the bus laughed and shouted: “Higdon told me to look for him en route! I thought he was kidding!!”

Another memory was walking to Piazza Savonarola from the Piazza Sante Croce area every morning and evening. It offered a tapestry of color, diversity, and beauty, from building architecture to food stands to the local residents. When you peel away from the touristy areas, which SU administration encourages and is reflected in its Villa Rossa home, you really immerse yourself in true Tuscan culture.  

What stands out about returning to Florence and Villa Rossa in 2024?

My nephew asked me to officiate his wedding in Tuscany in 2024, so I made sure to return to Villa Rossa with my wife Sharon when we were there. She loved the old-school Italian vibe and architecture, and I appreciate how Syracuse’s home had evolved while still maintaining its heart and soul. It’s a wonderful place to serve as a base to explore the city, country, and continent.  

You’ve built an impressive career as a communications strategist for sports organizations. Did your time in Florence have any influence on that?

Nearly all stops on my career path reflect my global ambitions triggered by Syracuse Abroad. Tennis, golf, esports, and NFL are all international businesses in which I’ve worked.

Needless to say, I’m a huge advocate for foreign study broadly and Syracuse Abroad specifically. My children Jake and Sophie both studied overseas (South Africa and Denmark), and they also lived in Europe part of one year when I was based out of Monte Carlo working in tennis. I regularly encourage all students, young and old, to consider studying and/or working overseas — and it’s never too late to do so!

By Valentina Brocchi

On April 23 Syracuse Florence opened the doors of Villa Rossa for a full-day training aimed at early-career professionals in the Student Services sector. As part of the professional development opportunities offered by the Forum on Education Abroad – an international association based in the U.S. committed to improving the quality and impact of education abroad – the Florence event gathered professionals in the study abroad sector from all over Italy, offering an invaluable chance to share practices and experiences and foster professional growth.

The workshop was led by two Syracuse Abroad colleagues: Seth Tucker, Director of Global Safety and Support at Syracuse Abroad, and Stewart Clegg, Assistant Director of Student Well-being at Syracuse University London. Drawing on content developed by both the Syracuse University Abroad Learning Institute (SUALI) and the Forum on Education Abroad’s Standards of Good Practice, the sessions offered practical training and insight into supporting U.S. study abroad students across diverse institutional settings. 

They covered topics such as providing quality student life advising, health and wellness programming, risk management, and crisis response. Sessions combined interactive activities, case-based learning, and expert facilitation to help participants develop an understanding of the student services profession in a study abroad context.

The workshop also brought together five Syracuse Florence staff members with colleagues from other Syracuse centers. It was a welcome opportunity to meet people with whom they collaborate closely, albeit at a distance.

“This training was particularly valuable for me,” said Syracuse Florence student advisor Martina Daniele. “It was designed for those who, like me, are taking their first steps in the world of study abroad, providing practical tools for professional growth. From my perspective, hands-on experience is essential, but it is equally important to take the time to pause, reflect, and deepen one’s understanding of best practices and procedures.”

Training participants received a digital badge, issued by the Syracuse University Abroad Learning Institute, to certify skills acquired through the program.

What started as a study abroad experience at Syracuse Florence quickly became something much bigger. Lila Boyle, a sociology student from Syracuse University, transformed her time in Italy into a grassroots fundraising effort—raising over €2,200 to support single mothers across the city. 

Through the I-Engage volunteering program, Lila worked with Fondazione Solidarietà Caritas di Firenze (FS Caritas), where she saw firsthand the hurdles many women face in accessing stable housing, employment, and healthcare. Motivated to act, she launched a personal fundraiser that quickly gained momentum within the campus community. 

The highlight was a vibrant charity raffle held alongside the Women Artists Wikipedia Marathon, transforming an already inspiring event into a moment of collective generosity. With the support of long-standing local partners, the raffle featured unique prizes from Florentine artisans such as Scuola del Cuoio, Museo de’ Medici, and Atelier Essere—offering everything from handcrafted leather goods to local cultural experiences. 

Every dollar raised was donated to FS Caritas to support programs for women in vulnerable situations. During her visit to Casa San Michele, one of the organization’s residential homes, Lila saw exactly how these funds translate into direct aid. “In Florence, it’s incredibly difficult for single mothers to access the resources they need,” Lila noted, pointing to systemic barriers like the lack of job protection during maternity leave and the competitive nature of accessing childcare. 

In a city where these resources can feel out of reach, Lila saw FS Caritas as a vital connection. By providing food, job assistance, and even access to volunteer doctors, the organization’s homes give these women and their children what Lila described as a “real opportunity to get back on their feet.” 

Lila’s initiative is a powerful example of how local action creates real change. In just a few months, she brought together a community, amplified an urgent issue, and delivered tangible support where it’s needed most.

Syracuse Florence Professor Kyle Griffith, who will be teaching Production and Operations Management in the fall, has recently launched an innovative AI-powered application called Formatr. The platform is designed to help students streamline the formatting of academic papers while also supporting researchers and academics in preparing their work for publication.

Professor Griffith says he began developing the concept over a decade ago, drawing on years of teaching, researching, and advising students across the U.S., U.K., and Europe. Through conversations with students and fellow academics, he identified a consistent set of frustrations and recognized the need for a smarter solution.

The response from users has been impressive. Formatr has reached a growth rate of 2,000 downloads per month, a testament to how widely felt those academic frustrations are. For Professor Griffith, the mission is straightforward: to give every scholar — student or researcher — the tools they need to focus on what matters most, their ideas.

On Monday, April 20, Syracuse Florence partnered once again with writer and cultural curator Linda Falcone of Calliope Arts for a Women Artists Wikipedia Editing Marathon — an event that has become one of the most energizing traditions on our academic calendar.

The first edition took place in 2014 and the second was held last year. This third edition proved so successful and so genuinely moving for everyone involved that we have decided to make it a permanent fixture: from now on, we will host the marathon once a semester.

This year’s edition brought together over 40 participants — including five art history graduate students, undergraduates, staff, faculty, and members of the public — in a shared effort to give long-overdue visibility to forgotten women artists. Among our special guests were two members of Wiki Donne, who traveled from Rome to Florence especially for the occasion. We were also deeply honored by the presence of the granddaughter of Lola Costa, one of the artists whose Wikipedia page we worked on that day.

Taking inspiration from Wiki Donne, we titled the event “Before the Selfie” — a reminder of how much harder it was for women artists to publicize their work before the age of social media. An artist like Elena Salvini Pierallini — Florentine embroiderer, photographer, and book artist, also known as ESP — could enjoy a full career with international exhibitions and leave almost no trace of herself online.

In the morning, our five graduate students rose to that challenge by creating a brand-new Wikipedia page for Pierallini, currently under review with Wikipedia editors. The timing proved serendipitous: Linda Falcone was able to share with the group that an exhibition of Pierallini’s work is being planned for this coming summer, making our students’ contribution all the more timely and meaningful.

The afternoon saw two parallel working groups tackle two more overlooked figures. The first created a new page for Flavia Arlotta, a painter of equal talent to her better-known painter husband, but far less recognized by history. The second group expanded the existing entry for Lola Costa, whose Villa Il Palmerino — nestled in the hills above Florence — continues to be a living hub for artists to this day.

The atmosphere throughout was electric. There is something uniquely powerful about pressing “publish” and knowing that, from that moment on, a woman who had been all but invisible to the internet simply… isn’t anymore.

We are proud to be doing our part to close a significant gap: women represent only 17% of biographies on Italian Wikipedia, and 20% on English Wikipedia. With our students, our faculty, and the engaged members of the public who join us for these events, we are committed to making those numbers grow — one page at a time.

By Grace Stecher

On Friday, April 10th, Syracuse Florence students traveled to the south of France for a weekend filled with culture, history, and relaxation. After spending the morning on the bus, students stretched their legs in the quaint village of Mougins, France. Best known as the town where Pablo Picasso spent the last 12 years of his life, Mougins was a haven for 20th-century intellectuals and artists like Jean Cocteau, Coco Chanel, Paul Eluard, and Christian Dior.

Students explored the town’s winding streets on their own before meeting back up as a group to enjoy some delicious local gelato and visit the FAMM (Femmes Artistes Musée Mougins). Founded in 2024 by Christian Levett, the FAMM is one of just a few institutions in the world dedicated entirely to female artists. 

Students split into groups and were guided through the museum by FAMM docents. Highlights of the tour included Frida Kahlo’s painted orthopedic corset and Impressionist paintings by Blanche Hoschedé-Monet, Claude Monet’s stepdaughter. After a few hours in Mougins, students hopped back on the bus and headed to Nice, France. 

The next morning, the group enjoyed a walking tour of Nice. Strolling along the Promenade des Anglais, or “Walkway of the English,” students enjoyed breathtaking views of the ocean as they learned about Nice’s history as a winter getaway for the English aristocracy. After stopping for pictures in front of the iconic “I Love Nice” sign, the tour continued in the Old Town, the part of the city known for its colorful buildings, narrow streets, and artisanal shopping.

Students walked through the Cours Saleya Market, where vendors sell fresh produce, Niçoise soaps, and flowers six days a week. The guided tour ended here, giving students time to stock up on souvenirs before enjoying a group lunch at Restaurant Le Pois Chiche. 

After lunch, students had free time to explore Nice and its surrounding towns at their own pace. Many took a 30-minute train to nearby Monaco, where they visited the iconic Monte Carlo Casino and walked along the famous Monaco Grand Prix circuit. Others soaked up the sun on Nice’s iconic pebble beaches or wandered through the town’s local boutiques. 

The next morning, students boarded the bus and headed back to Florence, making a stop along the way in Viareggio to enjoy a traditional Tuscan lunch of cured meats and pasta at Trattoria Il Fiaschetto. It was the perfect way to wrap up a weekend of unforgettable memories along the French Riviera.

By Chloe Kiser

Hidden in the shade of Syracuse University’s Florence campus are some long-time residents that have the community abuzz as they reemerge from their winter hibernation.

At the center of it all is longtime groundskeeper Gelso Sassonia, who has spent more than two decades shaping the campus landscape. After completing his military service in Italy, he began working in the Syracuse Florence gardens nearly 23 years ago. “A lot has changed,” he noted, referring to renovations, construction projects, and even the addition of a fountain. Parts of the property have expanded, old walls have been partially preserved for historical reasons, and the gardens have evolved alongside the school.

Through it all, one thing has remained constant: the turtles. “They were already here when I arrived,” Sassonia explained, referring to the larger, older turtles that have inhabited the gardens for decades. He believes some may be at least 30 years old, and possibly much older.
The turtles’ diet is simple, but fresh. They eat leafy greens, tomatoes, and apples, often sourced directly from the campus garden itself. It is a true garden-to-table routine that reflects the natural, low-maintenance lifestyle the turtles seem to enjoy. They sleep; they eat—it’s a good life.

More recently, something new has been unfolding. A surge of younger turtles has appeared.
After years without population growth, new hatchlings have emerged within the last two years. This change is largely due to a successful pairing between a newer male and a resident female turtle. The result is a growing group of small turtles now being carefully raised in a protected enclosure.

While they do not have official names, they clearly recognize a familiar presence. When Sassonia approaches them with food, they slowly make their way toward him. “He’s like their dad,” one student remarked. Their enclosure, located in the garden of the Annex, is a product of resourcefulness. Built entirely from recycled wooden pallets, it provides a safe space for the young turtles during their most vulnerable stage. Early on, their shells are still soft, which makes them easy targets for predators like crows. As they grow and their shells harden, they can safely explore beyond the enclosure.

The turtles’ seasonal rhythms add another layer to their story. During colder months, they
hibernate beneath leaves and bushes around campus and remain nearly invisible until warmer weather returns. “They’re just starting to wake up, slowly but surely,” said Sassonia. Despite decades of experience, his expertise came not from formal training but curiosity. “He Googled it,” my interpreter explained, referring to online research that gradually turned into a genuine passion. Over time, that curiosity evolved into deep care and commitment to the turtles’ well-being.

Today, the project stands as more than just a habitat. It reflects dedication, sustainability, and
the unexpected connections that can form on campus. In a fast-paced academic environment,
this small garden offers something different. It is a reminder that growth does not have to be
rushed. Sometimes, it happens slowly, steadily, and right beneath our feet.

By Grace Stecher

Just before spring break, Syracuse Florence student Vivian Baltzer had an idea: curate an art exhibit exploring the theme of migration away from home through work by student artists.

Just a few weeks later Steady or Wayward: A Spontaneous Show opened in the Villa Rossa basement on April 8. On view until April 18, Steady or Wayward features artwork by eight Syracuse Florence students, including Baltzer herself. 

Each student was encouraged to see what they could create in a few hours, channeling their emotions into original photographs, videos, and paintings. Baltzer says she wanted to give participating artists the opportunity to reflect on their own study abroad experiences in a meaningful and creative way.

“I think the study abroad experience is very, very vast,” she said. “It’s important for people to really connect with themselves, especially now, because there’s so much tragedy going on in the world. We really need to focus on ourselves in order to be able to help other people.”

Over the semester, Baltzer interned at Faustini Arte, a local art gallery, through Syracuse Florence’s internship program. She said her hands-on experience at the gallery inspired her to curate her own show before entering her senior year. That goal, she said, was made possible by staff members like Rachael Smith, the Assistant Director for Students’ Academic Success.

“Being so supported by the staff and faculty here was an immense help because I don’t think I would have been able to do it otherwise,” Baltzer said. “They were so excited when I had this idea, so it was all hands on deck.”

Over the course of a few weeks, Baltzer recruited student artists, prepared the exhibition space, painted her own introspective piece for the show, and hosted an opening reception, which was attended by Syracuse Florence staff, students, and some Italian 101 classes.

As the Spring ’26 study-abroad semester comes to an end, Steady or Wayward reminds viewers to reflect on their experiences: the good, the bad, and the in-between.

Syracuse Florence is proud to join the 32nd edition of Le Chiavi della Città, an educational initiative promoted by the Comune di Firenze that offers complementary learning opportunities to students, families, and teachers across Florence. 

Now in its thirty-second year, Le Chiavi della Città continues to expand its reach, with 597 educational projects designed to enrich the academic experience of students from early childhood programs through secondary school. The initiative provides workshops, laboratories, performances, and guided activities that support schools in fostering creative, responsible, engaged learners. By bringing together institutions across the city, the program strengthens collaboration between schools and the broader community. 

Beginning this Spring semester, Syracuse Florence has become part of this growing network through a new project entitled Storytime at Syracuse. Developed in collaboration with local primary schools, the initiative creates opportunities for meaningful interaction between Syracuse students and young learners in the Florentine area. 

As part of the program, Syracuse students host storytelling sessions centered on the illustrated children’s classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Through guided reading and interactive activities, the sessions introduce children to English in an engaging and accessible format. 

The project offers valuable benefits for both groups. For Syracuse students, it represents an opportunity for community engagement and experiential learning, allowing them to apply communication skills in a real-world setting while deepening their cultural immersion. For the participating children, the sessions provide direct exposure to native English speakers and an alternative approach to language learning that complements their classroom instruction. 

By contributing to Le Chiavi della Città, Syracuse Florence reaffirms its commitment to active participation in the local community and educational initiatives that foster cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration. The University is honored to support a program that has long played a significant role in the educational life of Florence and looks forward to the next appointments of Le Chiavi della Città and to continuing this meaningful collaboration. 

Our language exchange program—revived this semester and rebranded with the special name TALKISSIMO—continues to offer students a way to engage with language beyond the classroom. 

On paper, Talkissimo is a language exchange. In practice, it rarely stays that simple. 

The program brings together Syracuse students studying Italian with local learners working on their English. They meet, sit down, and start talking. There’s no script to follow for long. Conversations drift, overlap, restart. Italian becomes English, then switches back again. At some point, people stop thinking about which language they’re using. 

This semester, the program is carried out in partnership with The British Institute of Florence and My English School, two well-established language schools in the city. Both focus strongly on communication and on creating environments where language is actively spoken and tested in real time. That shared approach helps create a setting where the exchange feels immediate and informal from the start. 

What makes Talkissimo effective is its balance. Everyone arrives with something to practice, but also something to offer. Our students are looking for a more direct, less filtered way into Italian, while local participants are equally interested in using their English outside of a classroom setting. The result is a conversation that belongs to both sides. 

Just as important is who those conversations happen with. Students don’t only meet peers, but people with different routines, perspectives, and life experiences. Those differences shape the conversation itself, making it less predictable and more substantial than a simple exercise. 

Alongside the language itself, it is often the smaller moments that stand out. A word that doesn’t come out right and turns into a joke. A story that takes longer to tell than expected. The kind of laughter that comes from not quite understanding something—and then suddenly getting it. 

Over time, these exchanges become part of the rhythm of the semester. By the end, what remains is not only a stronger grasp of the language, but also a series of conversations, voices, and encounters tied to a specific time and place.