The American University of Rome

Professor Francesca Felici brought students from the summer course in "Food and the Environment" to the Agricultural Cooperative "Coraggio".

Farmers told the story of the cooperative, which is linked to the need to stop urbanization and provide jobs for young people. They talked about their model of multifunctional agriculture, which offers various educational and social services to the community, and about their organic and agroecological farming models, such as species intercropping, crop rotation, and the use of neglected species.

The Italian premiere of Rick Elice's acclaimed play "Peter and the Starcatcher" is currently being performed at Teatro Arciliuto, located inside Palazzo Chiovenda, an ancient sixteenth-century residence in Piazza di Montevecchio. This production marks the first time the acclaimed show, which enjoyed a successful Broadway run in 2012 and won five Tony Awards, has been presented in Italy.

Opening on June 20th and running until June 29th, this production is the result of a new summer partnership between the University of Louisiana Performing Arts Department and The English Theatre of Rome (ETR) with the help of The American University of Rome (AUR) and its students; initial performances have been met with overwhelmingly enthusiastic audiences and much positive press - a fitting reward for the hard work that has gone into staging the production.

Launched by ETR with the line "Shroud the h**p, jigger the fuddocks, and set sail with ETR in this grown-up prequel to the tale of the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up," AUR has played a pivotal role in bringing this amazing production to life. Students involved in the project are enrolled in AUR's summer "Making Theatre" practicum course, taught by professors Carl Granieri and Marty Aikens and the course has been instrumental in the production's development, from construction to final performance. Notably, AUR English student Mia Gallinat has contributed significantly to the technical and design aspects, working on carpentry, scenic construction, painting, and designing the shadow puppets featured in the show, while AUR film student Sofia Brushtein (undertaking a professional internship with ETR), serves as an Assistant Stage Manager for the production. AUR alumna Alexis Apple stars as "Molly," arguably the play's protagonist, and a host of other AUR students, including members of the AUR Dramatic Arts Club, have also contributed to the production in various capacities.

The recent G7 conference, hosted in the picturesque region of Puglia, Italy, was a significant global event that captured the world's attention. Among the key individuals working diligently behind the scenes was Sara Sellitto (BA Business Administration, 2019), an alumna of the American University of Rome and the Liaison Officer Coordinator with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sara played an instrumental role in the successful coordination of the G7 summit, ensuring smooth operations and facilitating interactions among the Heads of State. Reflecting on the experience, Sara shared her delight in meeting various world leaders and expressed particular enjoyment of Andrea Bocelli's musical performance. However, her greatest pride lies in her contribution to the seamless conference ex*****on, a testament to her dedication and skill.

Congratulations to Sara and the entire team for orchestrating a successful G7 conference, showcasing Italy's "Bella Figura" on the global stage. We are pleased to share some exclusive photos from the event.

After a four-year break, we're back!

Celebrate American Independence Day in the heart of Rome with The American University of Rome!

Join us on July 4th for a festive evening of burgers, gelato, and fireworks alongside live music from the unmissable jug band 'No Funny Stuff.'

This event is open to the public, but tickets are limited! Don't miss out on this unique celebration of American culture in the Eternal City. Secure your tickets today and join us for a fun and memorable night!

Ticket link https://tinyurl.com/4julyrome

The Aventinus Minor Project (AMP) students and faculty have been extremely busy over the last month in their third excavations season on the Aventine in Rome.

For those who may have missed earlier posts, here’s a reminder of what AMP is all about.

A community archaeological project in the city of Rome. AMP engages both the local high school students at St. Stephen’s School and the undergraduate and graduate students at The American University of Rome in archaeological research, excavation, conservation, and publication using pedagogical methods of experiential learning and project management.

AMP involves and teaches the surrounding community, including local neighbors, students, businesses, and convalescent residents. They aim to use community history and material culture to build an intergenerational and international dialogue based on their excavations.

The American University of Rome (AUR) launched the Aventinus Minor Project (AMP) in 2019 in partnership with St. Stephen’s School, an international high school in Rome, and the Istituto Santa Margherita, the convalescent home housed in the convent of Santa Balbina that owns the excavation site. Through this collaborative effort, AMP committed to being culturally responsible, academically rigorous, and community-minded stewards of the archaeological site and the surrounding neighborhood.

Find out more at https://www.momentum.aur.edu/amp

Professor Francesca Felici recently took students of the AUR summer course 'Food and the Environment' to Banco Alimentare del Lazio ODV (Lazio's food bank). Together with the organization's volunteers, they reflected on our food systems' environmental and social challenges: food waste, food insecurity, and the urgency of achieving the universal right to adequate food.

The Banco Alimentare Foundation comprises a network of twenty-one regional food banks, including Banco Alimentare del Lazio ODV.

The Foundation's aim is to help alleviate the problems of hunger, marginalization, and poverty and to promote the fight against food waste in collaboration with national and European institutions. To do this, they coordinate donations and help organize the recovery of surpluses from the agri-food chain, distributing them to the Food Bank Organizations, which, in turn, distribute food free of charge to the Territorial Partner Organizations.

In 2023, the Foundation collected 119,138 tons of food and directly assisted 1,793,612 people.

At AUR's annual Commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 16, President Scott Sprenger had the privilege of conferring an honorary doctorate upon Mr. Mark Getty, co-founder and Chairman of Getty Images.

Chosen by the entire AUR community for this recognition, President Sprenger remarked:

"Our bestowal of AUR’s highest honor is intended as a testament of our admiration for your exceptional talent as a visionary leader and your dedication to, and unusual passion for, the historical preservation of global visual culture.... your work transcends the boundaries of a traditional media company; you have extended the influence of Getty Images into the daily lives of people worldwide; you have significantly shaped our understanding of the world; and you have also amplified the voices of emerging artists and underrepresented communities."

The university community is proud to welcome Dr. Mark Getty as the latest recipient of AUR's Honoris Causa Degree, joining distinguished figures such as Alice Waters, Oscar Farinetti, Paolo Sorrentino, Aurelio De Laurentiis, Stanley Tucci, Laura Boldrini, Amara Lakhous, and many others.

[Video] Current students from The American University of Rome share "in a nutshell" what they have learned, experienced, and appreciated about their time at an American university in Rome.

The American University of Rome

A short excerpt from the 3rd Italian Fashion Week at The American University of Rome. It was an intense week full of fascinating presentations, meetings, and masterclasses - which involved not only the fashion students of Professor Bruno Montefusco but also many students of disciplines who are intrigued by the business and design of fashion.

The week closed with a sale of vintage fashion and accessories, the proceeds of which were donated to AUR's first-ever Giving Day initiative.

Our thanks go out to Professor Bruno Montefusco and all of the students involved in the great AUR tradition.

Fashion Week

Not long left to register for this fascinating summer professional development opportunity at The American University of Rome.

Designed for Health, communication, international development, human rights, and community development professionals from a variety of sectors, organizations, and countries, including international organizations, government agencies, foundations, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and others. The course is open to all interested parties and is likely to benefit professionals who work on any kind of health, social, or disease issue/area and/or anyone who intends to work in health and risk communication in the future.

Find out more - register today at https://aur.edu/summer-professional-development-program-health-risk-communication-interpandemic-world

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The American University of Rome welcomes Harvard Undergraduate Foreign Policy Initiative for an international student summit: “Not a Migration Crisis, A Migration Reality.”

A groundbreaking international student summit in Rome. March 12-14, 2024.

The American University of Rome (AUR), in collaboration with the Harvard Undergraduate Foreign Policy Initiative (HUFPI), is proud to announce the landmark summit "Not a Migration Crisis. A Migration Reality", taking place in Rome from March 12th to 14th, 2024. This event marks a significant collaboration, bringing together students across different countries and cultures to discuss and debate migration, aiming to reshape the narrative surrounding it.

Free event.

Building a truly sustainable fashion brand.
The case of an upcycled clothing business nurtured in a time of conflict.

28 March at 19:00
The American University of Rome, Via Pietro Roselli, 16, 00153, Rome.

Alina will talk about her young upcycling fashion brand 'Alina Olive' which was created after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Fashion designer and entrepreneur Alina lives between London and Ukraine and is growing her brand in these two locations. With her upcycled one-of-a-kind jackets, she is rescuing fabric that would have otherwise ended up as garbage. Alina also provides a valuable opportunity for Ukrainians in conflict-impacted cities like Kharkiv to keep working and earn a decent living. This also directly influences her pricing strategy.

Register to attend at https://zurl.co/uhc4

A guest lecture by Rear Admiral Vito Lacerenza, Head of the Submarines Department at the Italian Navy General Staff Commander of Submarines.

THE BLUE ECONOMY: AN UNDERWATER PERSPECTIVE FROM THE ITALIAN NAVY.

20 Mar 2024, 19:00.
The American University of Rome. Via Pietro Roselli, 16, 00153, Rome

Free & open to all.

The ocean economy is essential for humanity's future well-being, providing food, energy, minerals, health benefits, recreation, and transportation. Analyzing the relevance of oceans, it is essential to consider that they extend beyond the surface, including the crucial underwater dimension and the seafloor.

This lecture will focus on the Italian Navy's approach and vision for the security of the underwater environment, contributing to ensuring safe and effective access to and protection of the underwater spaces and resources.

Register to attend at https://aur.edu/events/blue-economy-underwater-perspective-italian-navy

Tomorrow (Tuesday, 27 Feb.), Hanna Suni from the independent feminist publishing house Le Plurali will present their latest publication, the first Italian translation of Maya Angelou's 'Mom & Me & Mom.'

Ms Suni will read from both the English and Italian versions and discuss the work of translation and the world of independent publishing.

The work is a moving memoir from the great African-American writer and poet that tells her life through the lens of her relationship with her mother, Vivian Baxter.

Le Plurali publishes nonfiction and fiction books written exclusively by female authors. They also translate books that can't be found in Italian and republish texts that can no longer be found in bookstores. They feature independent, feminist voices and celebrate the words and incredible stories of heroines of the present and past.

Register to attend at https://aur.edu/events/art-translation-hanna-suni-and-le-plurali-publishing-maya-angelous-mom-me-mom

SPECIALIZED COURSE ON CULTURAL HERITAGE, CRIME, AND SECURITY.
Join online or in person (Rome) - 11-15 March, 2024.

Organizing institutions: UNICRI in cooperation with The American University of Rome (AUR)
When: 11-15 March 2024

Target audience: University graduates and professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of the most salient issues faced by the international community about cultural heritage, crime, and security.

Methodology: Hybrid model of learning, classes delivered live for participants on-site and streamed for those connected remotely.

Where: Rome (Italy) and online

Application deadline: 26 February 2024

Content: Fundamental understanding of heritage crime and how heritage organisations, law enforcement bodies, and judicial systems respond to the issue. Professional, legal, social, scientific, and academic perspectives through theoretical lectures, group discussions, dynamic case studies, individual readings, and practical exercises.

Final certification: Certificate of participation jointly released by the United Nations and The American University of Rome.

More information: https://zurl.co/MKqu

The class Rome Cinema Mundi, led by Professor Victor Rambaldi, visited the Pigneto neighborhood (a very cool area for lovers of cinema, street art, and good food) following the footsteps of Pier Paolo Pasolini.

Pasolini was a poet, film director, writer, screenwriter, actor, and playwright - and is considered one of the defining public intellectuals in 20th-century Italian history, influential both as an artist and a political figure.

Here, the class gathers at the spot where Pasolini shot his first film, "Accattone" (The Scrounger), in 1961, with one of the many street art tributes to the great director that can be found throughout Pigneto. While the neighborhood has changed (a little), the memories can never be erased.

How Blockchain and Web3 can deliver results for smallholder farmers and vulnerable groups.
21 Feb 2024, 19:00 hr.

A guest lecture by Gladys H. Morales, Senior Officer, Global Head of Innovation in IFAD’s Change, Delivery, and Innovation Unit (CDI), and Regional Ambassador of the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) in Italy.

As the data economy is radically transforming agrifood markets by enabling better-informed market choices, digital wallets bring data ownership to the source, the smallholder farmers in this case.

AgroWeb3 is expected to become a gamechanger in the relationship of smallholder farmers with real and financial markets, as it will empower them by enabling bottom-up market-making and endow smallholder farmers with the capacity to own and manage their own provenance, production, environmental, and credit data, thus empowering their business options, bargaining, and opt-in and opt-out capacities.

Join us at the Auriana Auditorium on February 21 for what promises to be a fascinating and insightful presentation.

https://aur.edu/events/how-blockchain-and-web3-can-deliver-results-smallholder-farmers-and-vulnerable-groups

The Auriana Auditorium at The American University of Rome, Via Pietro Roselli 16 00153, Rome.

Health and Risk Communication in an Interpandemic World: Strategies for a System Thinking and Equity-Driven Approach

A Global Health Communication Institute

Rome, Italy, July 8-19, 2024

Join us for a Summer Professional Development Program at The American University of Rome in July 2024.

In association with Strategies for Equity and Communication Impact (SECI) and the peer-reviewed Journal of Communication in Healthcare: Strategies, Media, and Engagement in Global Health.

Faculty (guest lectures and site visits) include leading international and Italian organizations and experts with relevant experience on the topic.

For additional information visit https://zurl.co/4V9f

Remembering and celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

"Every man lives in two realms, the internal and the external. The internal is that realm of spiritual ends expressed in art, literature, morals, and religion. The external is that complex of devices, techniques, mechanisms, and instrumentalities by means of which we live. Our problem today is that we have allowed the internal to become lost in the external. We have allowed the means by which we live to outdistance the ends for which we live. So much of modern life can be summarized in that arresting dictum of the poet Thoreau: “Improved means to an unimproved end.” This is the serious predicament, the deep and haunting problem confronting modern man. If we are to survive today, our moral and spiritual “lag” must be eliminated. Enlarged material powers spell enlarged peril if there is not proportionate growth of the soul. When the “without” of man’s nature subjugates the “within,” dark storm clouds begin to form in the world."

From Martin Luther King Jr.'s Nobel Prize acceptance speech, 1964.
https://zurl.co/2f4g

"Besides being a faculty member, I have long supported AUR financially. My gifts have focused on ensuring worthy young women leaders can access the AUR experience through scholarships and supporting the fantastic array of field study opportunities that AUR offers."

Your donation makes a difference! Donate today at https://zurl.co/QpOJ

"For me, giving back to AUR has always been an easy decision; the only hard part is deciding which fund! We have grown so much in the last decade, offering more scholarships, clubs, sports, field trips, and, of course, opportunities to give. This year, my favorite is the Annual Fund for acquiring more beautiful space from the Barnabites – including a dormitory for new students – to expand while maintaining the close-knit community that makes AUR unique."

Your donation makes a difference! Donate today at https://zurl.co/lCAe

"AUR is on a great trajectory, with growing enrollment and exciting plans for campus expansion in facilities and programs. Support for the university delivers a lasting impact, creating the next generation of leaders and fostering a legacy of excellence ."

Your donation makes a difference! Donate today at https://zurl.co/bTBb

"My giving to The American University of Rome has been focused on making the student experience equitable. While some gifts have supported scholarships and student organizations, others have supported AUR's signature academic travel experiences in Italy and across Europe.

All of my gifts go toward making the AUR learning experience as enriching and exciting as possible."

Your donation makes a difference! Donate today at https://zurl.co/ZZnG

"At AUR, I found my love of Italian studies thanks to passionate faculty; I developed leadership skills by participating in clubs, and I grew as a person from the connections I made with students from around the world.

Today, I give to AUR because I want future generations of students to find their passion in the classroom, make lifelong friends on campus, and grow as individuals in the Eternal City - just as I did."

Your donation makes a difference! Donate today at https://zurl.co/xocU

As we approach the end of the year, we extend our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones.

It's a time when we reflect on the past year and, in doing so, express our heartfelt appreciation for the support and contributions that have been instrumental in making our students and our community thrive.

In the spirit of generosity and giving back, we invite you to play a crucial role in the lives of our students by supporting AUR's Annual Fund. Your contribution empowers the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and change-makers and strengthens the foundation of our university's mission.

Supporting AUR’s annual fund means joining a vibrant community of alumni, parents, friends, students, faculty, and staff who make AUR possible every day.

Make a gift today at https://zurl.co/4R7C

It's called the Eternal City, but Rome is constantly undergoing transformation.

Students of Professor Trabalzi’s course, 'Living Rome: Urban Spaces, Culture, and Identity,' have the opportunity to learn about Rome's historical transformation and interact directly with areas that are transforming today.

Looking at Rome through an atypical lens, the class recently spent the day at Il Parco degli Acquedotti (Park of the Aqueducts), understanding the place of these waterways in history and getting to grips with contemporary change, from the park's occupation by southern-Italian migrants in the 1950s to the recreational uses of the park today.

This is just another example of how AUR integrates this fantastic city into our student's academic journey.