VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2 SUMMER 2017
The American University of Rome Alumni & Friends Magazine
CONTENTS
EDITOR’S NOTE
WOLFTRACKS - SUMMER 2017
4
MEET THE BOARD: Gabriel Battista
6
MEET THE FACULTY: Paul Gwynne
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MEET AN ALUMNA: Alessandra Potenza (Class of 2011)
10
MEET AN MA ALUMNA: Elinor Brett
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Class Notes
15
#kindnessissexy: AUR Vesta Club
16
DID YOU KNOW... The AUR Logo
18
AUR says: Farewell for now...
20
Summer MUSTS in Rome
22
2017 Rome Alumni Reunion
24
2017 Commencement Exercises
26
AUR recommends: 2017 Beach Reads
27
Upcoming Alumni Events
28
AUR adopted a MAUS
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Giving Back
Any respected AUR Alum knows what it means to be in Rome during the summer: air conditioning is an urban myth, public transportation is a sociological experiment and humidity is a side dish that starts at breakfast. Still, we all love the Roman summer and for those courageous few who dare to experience August in the Eternal City, right on!: it is in August that all Romans leave the cobblestoned streets and Rome blossoms in the heat of Ferragosto. It is in this Roman sultriness that we put together this edition of Wolftracks. I have been lucky enough to conclude this academic year with fireworks, literally. We had a fantastic Reunion, an emotional Commencement Ceremony and a bombastic 4th of July party. Therefore, to celebrate the end of the academic year and the start of the summer, with a spritz and a piece of pizza “al taglio”, I invite all readers to make a toast, wherever in the world you might be. Cheers… to Rome, to AUR, to bikinis, to Mr. Willis Carrier who invented air conditioning, and to you! Laura Estrada Prada - Alumni & Development Coordinator l.estrada@aur.edu
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Five years have passed since I became President. AUR now
a modern team armed with modern apparatus. The staff are
looks close to having the beginnings of an academic identity
hard-pressed but functioning strategically. The Dean’s office
that is being discovered online and it possesses a genuinely
has been overhauled to meet similar end goals. Development
functional administration to manage its expanding and
never existed before 2013; it now has traction although there is
changing academic programming.
much to do to perform to contemporary US standards. Student Life is evolving satisfactorily and obtaining new Study Abroad/
Change has taken time. In these five years AUR has been re-
Summer Programs year-on-year. Management of AUR’s
accredited (in 2015) and has won HEI status in Italy (2015),
premises is likewise evolving, with vastly improved security. The
making it eligible for EU support. It has launched Masters
creation of strategic operational financial planning is underway.
programs and it has begun to overhaul its undergraduate
The biggest issue, as I write, is the implementation of the
programs, starting with a signature first-year program as of
five-year strategic plan (2017-22) as AUR’s celebratory year
September 2017. The university is still behind the curve in some
approaches.
areas of academic teaching, but is closing the gap thanks to the steely determination of our Dean.
Although AUR’s 50th anniversary is still two years away, we are working towards great growth and positive change. I am
The university has robustly renewed all aspects of its
confident that in 2019, we will have many things to celebrate.
administration, making it leaner but far more focused
All the signs are good, as the point of inflection looks to be
and professional. Led by our Chief of Staff, professional
behind us and AUR becomes the high caliber small liberal arts
management standards have been widely adopted within
college so many have dreamed of.
AUR. Marketing, recruitment and admissions now constitute
Richard Hodges OBE
NEW FEATURE
MEET THE BOARD
G A B E B AT T I S TA Gabriel Battista, Italian-American and telecommunications leader, is currently the Chair of the Board of Trustees of The American University of Rome. His career began at General Electric and he later served as president of Sprint’s Eastern Group. In 1991, he joined Cable & Wireless, Inc. as president and became their CEO for North America. Battista is credited with leading the company towards expansion, establishing and growing a global Internet infrastructure. Gabriel joined Network Solutions, Inc. in 1996, as the company’s CEO, where he led the company’s initial public offering on the NASDAQ in 1997. Ernst & Young named Gabriel Battista the Communications Entrepreneur of the Year for the Greater Washington Area in 2004.
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G
abriel, or Gabe as he prefers to be called, has
“The more I came here, the more I liked it. I saw the University’s
served on the board of several publicly traded
potential and believed in its development,” explains Battista.
companies. He was the CEO of Network Solutions
His involvement and confidence in the University was further
and he recently engineered the sale of Talk America to Cavalier
heightened with the arrival of President Richard Hodges. Gabe
Telephone, LLC. He served as president, chairman, and CEO of
and Richard share a vision: they believe in AUR’s future as a
Talk America for six years, transforming the company from a
financially viable, high quality University that offers students
small telecommunications provider to a profitable corporation.
around the world a unique American learning experience in
Yet, the plethora of Gabe’s professional achievements are not
Italy.
what brought him to Italy and to the American University of
Battista’s
Rome. It was the re-discovery of his roots, his involvement
decades
of
experience
in
the
world
of
telecommunications and software (and his role in the field
with the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), and
during the advent of the internet and the age of wireless)
his strong belief in change that established him as the Chair of
evidence his belief in change. Although the internet might seem
AUR’s board in view of the University’s growth.
intrinsic to our society, it was not so in the early 1990’s, and
Gabriel Battista started working at the age of 13. Growing up
Gabe can tell you a great lot about it. His career put him at the
in an Italian neighborhood in Philadelphia, he was enveloped
frontlines of innovation, and he has seen, first-hand, the growth
by his Italian heritage from an early age. “Growing up, I always
that is inherent to change. He says, in fact, that it is Theodore
wanted to be American, but when I met my family in Italy in
Roosevelt’s words that have served as his life motto:
1976, many things made sense and I fell in love with Italy,” says Battista. It is with time that many things, in fact, did make sense. Gabe told Wolftracks about a curious event in his life involving a photograph. In 1944, Gabe’s mother Emma mailed a picture to her brother Joe Di Colla, who was fighting in Normandy at
Far better it is to win ‘‘ glorious triumphs even though checkered with
failure than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much or suffer much, but live in the gray twilight of life that knows not victory or defeat.
the time. On the back of the picture, Emma wrote “Dear Joe, you have a new nephew. His name is Gabriel.” It was in fact a picture of newborn Gabe Battista with… a rattle in the form of a telephone! Premonition or fate, the photograph captured the yet to be Gabriel Battista: an Italian-American pioneer in
‘‘
telecommunications and software. Uncle Joe gave Gabe this picture 30 years later, but it was clear then that “Mamma ha sempre ragione”. Battista received electrical engineering degrees from Villanova University and Drexel University, and an MBA from Temple University. In order to pay for his tuition at Villanova, Gabe worked at one of ACME markets’ industrial bakeries. After completing his studies, he started working for General Electric. In his late 20’s, while working for GE on a project with FIAT in Turin, Gabe had a chance to re-connect with the “Italianisms” he had grown up with. During the 9 months he spent in Turin, he travelled to Molise and Abruzzo to search for his roots. After re-discovering his heritage, Gabe was introduced to AUR by Joe Del Raso, who later proposed Battisa’s inclusion in NIAF’s board. But what made Gabe stay at AUR was the enticing idea of an American education in an Italian setting. Gabe came to AUR for the first time in 2006, when he was introduced to the work of several of our Film and Digital Media students at the time. The passion and potential of the student’s projects captivated Gabe and led him to fund the AUR Media Lab in 2007.
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NEW FEATURE
MEET THE FACULTY
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I
run out of work after a very
to continue his collaboration with the
engage minds in learning. In fact, when
long Monday to meet Professor
Jesuit neo-Latin Library, of which he is
Gwynne started working at AUR, he
Gwynne for an interview. We
part of the editorial board.
started organizing a Latin group after
meet near AUR and decide to
class. Students stayed behind voluntarily
head towards the south-east of Rome,
As we sip on wine and munch on taralli,
to listen to Professor Gwynne and
closer to both our apartments. During
draped by the Scirocco winds of spring,
since then, he has dedicated his life to
our commute we share thoughts on the
Professor Gwynne tells me about how
research and teaching. “When a class is
erratic and unreliable nature of Rome’s
he ended up in Rome. At 16 Gwynne’s
going well and you play as ringmaster,
public transportation and talk of the
desire was to go to art school. With
you need to make 1 plus 1 equal three.
courses he is teaching this semester.
that goal in mind, he spent three years
I learn as much from my students as I
I was fortunate enough to have Prof.
in the company of what he calls “four
hope they learn from me.”
Gwynne as a visiting professor during
of the most wonderful people I have
a Methods and Theory course while I
encountered.” Alan Hall was one of
Paul Gwynne and his Latin class are
studied at AUR and I remember that
these people and he mercilessly threw
also responsible for the AUR motto:
after his class, my appreciation of the
Panofsky at the curious young Gwynne.
inter gentes, trans orbem (“between
so-called “Rainbow Portrait” of Queen
This experience, Gwynne says, “taught
peoples, across the world”). He is a
Elizabeth I completely changed and
me how to look at life differently.”
pillar of the AUR community and his
I understood more clearly why I had
humor and knowledge have marked the
studied art history: art is like books, you
Events, however, took a different turn.
lives of many students at The American
just need to take the time to read it so
Armed with a Ph.D., Paul Gwynne
University of Rome.
that it can change your view on life.
spent some time in Venice and Prague before coming to study Latin with
Paul Gwynne received his Ph.D. from
the Pope’s secretary at the Vatican in
the Warburg Institute, University of
1992. During his training with Father
London. His areas of research focus
Reginald Foster, a plumber’s son from
on late fifteenth- and early sixteenth-
Milwakee, Paul earned a crust by
century Italy; the rise and diffusion of
working for a tour company in Rome
Italian Humanism. These subjects are
leading art tours across Italy. Gwynne
reflected in a number of articles and
remembers the precariousness of this
chapters in books as well as a trilogy
period: “I rented a bed for 200,000 lire
of monographs which review the
in Via Pompeo Magno in Prati. I lived
production of neo-Latin poetry in Rome
on pizza al taglio because I had no
from 1480-1600: Poets and Princes: the
access to cooking facilities as my land
Panegyric Poetry of Johannes Michael
lady lived in the kitchen.” Yet despite the
Nagonius (Brepols, 2013); Patterns
living hardships, it was his experience
of Patronage in Renaissance Rome.
at the Vatican that placed him on the
Francesco Sperulo: Poet, Prelate, Soldier,
academic path that he follows to this
Spy (Peter Lang, 2015); Francesco
day.
Benci and the Rise of Jesuit Epic (Brill, 2017). The latter volume includes a
Professor Gwynne started working as
complete edition, with translation and
an adjunct professor in the Art History
commentary, of the first Jesuit epic, the
Department of AUR. Those who have
Quinque Martyres, which celebrates
been lucky enough to take a class
early Jesuit martyrs in India. He is, in
with him know that teaching comes
fact, leaving for a six-month sabbatical
naturally to him and he has the talent to
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NEW FEATURE
MEET AN ALUMNA
Photo by James Bareham, The Verge -8-
is just a microcosm of ‘‘AUR the world. Study there and you’ll be better prepared to
‘‘
live and work in the world of tomorrow.
A
lessandra Potenza, who was raised in Rome,
Geographic and Vatican Radio,” she recalls. These experiences
learned English during a study-abroad program
were invaluable for Potenza’s application to Columbia
when she was a 16-year-old high school student. “I was assigned
University’s Graduate School of Journalism, from which she
to a family in the middle of nowhere in Kansas and went to an
received a Master’s Degree in Journalism in 2012.
all-American high school,” she recalls. “But when I came back to Italy to finish Italian high school, I realized I was losing a lot
Today, Potenza lives in New York City where she is a science
of the English I had learned, so I decided to go to an American
reporter and editor at The Verge, a news website that covers
college instead.”
tech, science and culture. “I owe my journalism career to AUR,” she says. “AUR is just a microcosm of the world. Study here
Potenza elected to go to the American University of Rome
and you’ll be better prepared to live and work in the world of
because she wanted to continue to improve her English speaking
tomorrow.”
and writing skills. “AUR was the perfect fit because I could still
Article by Faith Carrie Coolidge
be in an American college but not away from home which allowed me to stay close to my family,” she explains. “It also cost much less than a university in the United States. I couldn’t have afforded to go to school in the U.S. and I didn’t want to take out student loans. It was a perfect fit.” While at AUR, Potenza took several creative writing classes with Professor Elizabeth Geoghegan. “These classes really provided me with the time and space to develop artistically and improve my writing in English,” says Potenza, who graduated from AUR in 2011. Not only was Professor Geoghegan a life-changing teacher, but she also served as a mentor to the young student who majored in communications (and minored in creative writing). “Professor Geoghegan taught me to let myself go and be creative and also to get inspiration from the city around me,” recalls Potenza, who has maintained a friendship with the professor ever since. “I grew up in Rome and never thought of it as an inspiring city that could be fodder for creative writing.” Potenza also maintains friendships with many students she
Alessandra during her time at AUR, in our campus garden, enjoying Hemingway
met while attending AUR. “What I loved about AUR was all the international students who studied there,” she says. “I had friends from all over the world, and through them I was able to experience the points of view of different cultures and religions. It was also fun to hear other people talk about Rome and get a new perspective on a city I knew inside out.” Maurizia Garzia in the Office of the President also served as a mentor for the young student. “Maurizia helped me get four internships at various Italian publications, including National
Alessandra was interviewed by Faith Carrie Coolidge. Faith is a personal finance, luxury lifestyle and travel journalist based in Manhattan. AUR is delighted to welcome Faith to our Board of Trustees.
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NEW FEATURE
MEET AN MA ALUMNA
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COME back to AUR After graduating from AUR, what did you
also have a wealth of knowledge and
go on to do?
experience, and I probably learnt as
After graduating from AUR, I moved back to London and started working
much from discussions during class as I did from writing essays.
for Defra – the UK Department for
The internship and research elements
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
of the MA programme also contributed
The broad-based nature of the Food
a lot to my professional development.
Studies MA has been really valuable in
Working with the United Nations
this role, because I’m well-versed in a
Development
wide range of topics, from food policy
Bangladesh was a fantastic opportunity
history to international environment
to gain experience in real world research
treaties or global nutrition issues. I’m
and practical programme operations. It
constantly learning on the job, so it’s
also immersed me in a world where food
good to feel confident in my skills and
presents different challenges than in the
knowledge.
USA or Europe.
I’ve also continued to be involved in academic food networks in the UK,
Programme
in
Do you have any advice for future graduate students?
going to as many talks and events as I can. In April I presented my MA thesis
Yes! Keep an open mind. Our food
research to the annual Oxford Food
system and the issues associated with it
Forum conference, alongside a wide
are incredibly complex and there are no
range of speakers from academics to
simple answers. The people you meet
activists and farmers. It’s great to be
at AUR; fellow students, professors and
part of a network of people who are
visiting speakers, will all have different
committed to tackling food issues and
perspectives, and you’ll gain the most
working towards positive change.
from the course if you listen first and
Enroll in one of our MA Programs!
Arts Management Food Studies Peace Studies Sustainable Cultural Heritage
make your mind up after. How did your experience at AUR and Rome prepare you for the future?
What is your best memory at AUR?
The huge advantage of studying at
It’s got to be food related, but there’s so
AUR is the university’s proximity to
many: Sitting in the sun outside Miami
the international food organisations.
gelato with friends, picking nespole
Students get the chance to participate
from the trees in the spring, learning
in UN events and interact with
to eat supplì without getting cheese all
professionals from around the world,
down my front… Or maybe buying
providing us with an inside view of how
fresh lemon ravioli in Di Dio market and
those organisations work. Our professors
eating it ten minutes later, fragrant with basil and olive oil.
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Visit our website or contact Rachel Mascetta our Graduate Admissions Counselor at r.mascetta@aur.edu
CLASS NOTES C o r y l i e S u a r e z Va l e n t e Communication, 2007
After graduating from AUR, Cory went on to get her MA in International Marketing Management from Boston University. She recently attended one of our Alumni Meet&Greets in Dubai, with our recruiter Andrea Ricci. Cory is currently the Manager of Online & Social Media Global Communication for One&Only Resorts in Dubai.
Natalie Navatta Business Administration, 2001
side. While raising my 2 very active little boys, I developed a skill for making homemade sweets for friends and family. I started with my favorite treat of all time, the chocolatecovered pretzel, and eventually grew my collection beyond what I imagined. And so began my next adventure of making handmade sweets that people love. Once I started seeing my creations sell and which ones my customers liked best, I pivoted to edible image sweets. I got fantastic reviews and started seeing repeat business which to me was a sign that I had a really good business idea. At that point, I started looking at my customers, who they are and noticed they bought my products to use as their party favors. I then
After graduating from The American University of Rome
started focusing on my marketing and SEO and watched
in 2001, I came back home to the US and set up roots in
my sales skyrocket. All my efforts were paying off. Right
the Boston area. For the following few years, I got some
now I’m so busy, I’m looking for a larger facility and staff
business experience with a few American Tour Operators
to hire to keep up with my increasing sales. It’s really been
helping Americans travel and study abroad. Soon after, I
an exciting and rewarding adventure being an entrepreneur
met my husband and knew I wanted nothing more than to
and I’m looking forward to the next phase of my business.
have a family with him. I loved being a stay-at-home mom but having worked ever since I was 16, I knew I wanted to
CHECK OUT NATALIE’S BUSINESS! @
do something more. Plus, it was time to feed my creative
www.merrygosweets.com
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CLASS NOTES Edoardo Soares Business Administration, 2000 “Upon my graduation in the year 2000, I headed back to Brazil and joined Deloitte’s enterprise risk area. After almost 5 years as a Senior Business Risk Consultant, I moved to the textile world wherein I worked for a British multinational at various senior financial roles in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela. I have also experienced some strategic roles in the electronics industry working for Samsung and then decided to migrate to the Communications/PR agencies segment. I am currently in charge of the financial area of a leading reputation, communications and public affairs management consultancy in Latin America based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I have recently visited Rome and I was quite glad to see that AUR has grown and become a more visible player in higher education locally without losing its excellent academic attributes as well as its international & diverse cornerstone. I have very good memories from my AUR days...it has definitely shaped my personal views in several aspects of life in a positive way.”
TELL US WHAT YOU ARE UP TO, WHEN YOU GET MARRIED, WHEN YOU FILL THE
WORLD WITH MINI YOU’S, WHEN YOU LAND YOUR DREAM JOB, WHEN YOU SUFFER FROM
AUR NOSTALGIA AND WANT TO
VENT, OR WHEN YOU FINALLY FINISH
CROCHETING THAT GIGANTIC BLANKET YOU’VE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE CROCHET MADE A COMEBACK.
WE WANT
TO KNOW!
CONTACT ALUMNI@AUR.EDU
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Lana Morelli, Study Abroad student, 2004 “Studying at AUR for the Fall semester in 2004 (I was a sophomore) was one of the best things I ever did in my life. I put it the top 5 greatest things I did, along with getting married! It was magical. I fell in love with Italy, with Rome and with travel. Since then, my husband and I, who have been together for 6 years have taken over 20 trips together. We love traveling (in the US and outside), and the theme of our wedding was travel. We had 17 tables of guests and they all sat at different cities, rather than at just plain table numbers. We had a suitcase wedding cake too. I know that my love for adventure was born that semester at AUR.”
Karen Mauersberg Study Abroad student, 1993 I came to the American University of Rome in the spring of 1993 for one semester. At that point, the school was located in one building with a few simple classrooms, however the teaching staff was outstanding and left an impression that would play a role in my love of the city to this day. Italian art and architectural history courses filled my days and stirred my curiosity to look more closely at the world around me. I am currently living in Rome and have recently re-connected with the community at AUR. It has been a very warm welcome back and I am thrilled to see the milestones that the school has made. When I say that that my semester at the American University of Rome played a significant role in the course of my life, I say it whole-heartedly. I look forward to seeing the next great expansion of the university and what lies ahead for it’s future!
Rachelle Murphy Study Abroad student, 2007 Rachelle Murphy has been hopping nonstop from city to city since she left the Spring 2007 Study Abroad program at AUR. She’s recently accepted a new job in Atlanta, GA as a programming and event manager for a midtown venue. Rachelle returned to AUR for a quick campus visit during her vacation to Rome to celebrate her 30th birthday. She had a great time seeing the new additions to campus and catching up with staff. “I always talk about my experience at AUR with everyone I meet, because it had such a profound effect on my life. It inspired me to travel and to live in new cities, to have a career in the arts, and of course to seek out suppli wherever I go.”
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y x e s s i s s e n d n i k #
NEW FEATURE
AUR GIVES BACK
A U R V E S TA C L U B At The American University of Rome, we are committed to giving back to the community. In this issue of Wolftracks, we would like to share the activities of the AUR Vesta Club. Led by Kathy Bemis from Student Life, the club engages in all sorts of volunteer activities with different organizations active in Rome. This year, Vesta worked with Kim Onlus (for ill children), ACL (for abandoned dogs), and Project Rome (for the homeless), just to name a few. AUR students gave back to the local Roman community by having food drives, book launches, and helping kennel dogs find new homes. At AUR, we believe in community service and we are so proud of our Vesta Club!
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NEW FEATURE
DID YOU KNOW...
THE AUR LOGO AUR was founded in 1969. Let’s get real people. It was the year of Woodstock, the Soviet Venera 5 landed on Venus, Scooby Doo and Sesame Street aired their first episode, Neil Armstrong descended on the moon, and John Lennon married Yoko Ono in Gibraltar. It was, without a doubt, an important year. As we head towards our 50th anniversary, we inevitably look at the road travelled. This is why in this issue of Wolftracks we want to tell our Alumni and Friends a little about our logo, because like 1969, it makes all the sense in the world. For many years, our image relied on our name. So one wonders, why would an American university choose Michelangelo’s Campidoglio as their logo?
the heart of any art historian or anyone who knows the basics of Michaelangelo, Wolftracks is here to tell you a little bit about the logo: what it is, its historical significance, and the people behind it. Who better to tell us a little bit about Michelangelo’s design of the Capitoline Hill than the late, and much loved Art History professor, Terry Kirk? “The AUR logo is derived from the design of the distinctive Wolftracks did some research on the history of the AUR
paving pattern of Michelangelo’s Piazza del Campidoglio on
logo. In an AUR catalogue of 1984-1986, our logo was this
the Capitoline Hill in Rome. Its twelve-pointed geometry has
coin like form with a crowned female figure in the center.
a multitude of meaning, primary among them in this context,
Who might she be?
the radiant role of Rome as the center of the world, the Caput
In 1987, though, the Capitoline image started appearing.
Mundi, as the ancients fashioned it and as the Renaissance
Initially, as seen from Catalogues of those years, the logo was
revived the concept [James Ackerman, The Architecture of
this:
Michelangelo (1986), 166-70]. The suggestion is today still compelling in the dynamic unity of this place as a symbol of the millennial traditions of art, politics, science and culture that are the basis of the liberal education of The American University of Rome.” So yes, the spider webby thing that is our logo was Michelangelo’s statement of change: a glance back at the past with a decisive gaze towards the future. But it was not all
Hence, it would be safe to assume that it was in the late 1980’s
sun and roses for Michelangelo. The Piazza posed several
that AUR decided to adopt Michelangelo’s Campidoglio as
architectural challenges that explain the geometric solution
their institutional image. However, an informal focus group
proposed by Michelangelo. The trapezoidal space did not
research led by AUR Business Club members in 2004,
allow for perfect forms to fit adequately, and therefore
revealed a total lack of understanding of what the logo was
Michelangelo opted for the egg-like shape with the twelve
and what it represented. “It was generally referred to as the
point star: an interpretation of a medieval representation
“spider webby thing”.” Regardless of the ache this elicits in
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of the planets revolving around the Earth. With this, Michelangelo aimed at an understanding of the Capitoline Hill (and Rome) as the navel of the world: the pavement, in fact, is slighlty raised towards the center. Michelangelo died before finishing his work on the Capitoline, and although
some variations were made and some statues were added to the original plan, the pavement design is faithful to the
foundation date in roman numerals and the latin phrase
artist’s vision.
inter gentes trans orbem (between peoples, across the world).
Enough art history, and back to AUR. In 2004, the logo was
Heeeeello! Roma Caput Mundi guys! It’s the capital of the
redesigned. Wolftracks asked Prof. Kathleen Fitzsimmons to
world... or at least historically speaking. It is a crossroads
tell us a little bit about the creation of the 2004 logo by the
between cultures, and any AUR Alum or AUR Friend has
AUR Biz Club. “The logo was the fruit of student initiative,
experienced that first-hand.
energy and curiosity.” And there you go! Art history lesson and AUR roots all in a five minute reading! Next time you come to Rome, eat a gelato at the Capitoline Hill, dwell on the idea of Roma Caput Mundi and then... come visit! (The AUR campus is just a bus ride away! The 44 bus line ring a bell?)
In the early 2000’s, the newly established AUR Biz Club conducted interviews throughout the community to identify and understand the problems the brand faced. Together with a promotional agency in Rome, the Biz Club redesigned the logo and launched a student led merchandising enterprise that is still active today. The new and current logo was adopted in 2014. It was designed by Prof. Timothy Allen and alumnus Adrian Petrilli. It is in the form of a crest and in the center of Michelangelo’s twelve point composition, there is an open book with our
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AU R S AY S FAREWELL...FOR NOW We wanted to let our long time Friends and Alumni know of the internal changes at AUR. In this issue of Wolftracks we will tell you about the administrative changes of the last months. In the next issue, we will update you on the changes in faculty!
Cristiana Mazio in Economics l’Université libre de Bruxelles and then continued
these as the most dedicated, dependable, loyal and serious employee.
with her graduate studies in Economics at Georgetown University in
For all those years she was the first person visitors got to meet, when
Washington D.C., and in BANKING in Geneva, Switzerland
entering AUR, and the comforting voice at the other end of the
She then worked in the Economic Research Department at the Banca
telephone.
Nazionale del Lavoro in Rome, for 30 years. After all that, wanting to do more, she became a translator, then came to
I am particularly attached to Cristiana, because she was the first person
AUR, where, she says, she had the fortune of starting a new life.
I met here when I came for an interview, 10 years ago. As I sat at
As I said, very AUR!
reception, nervous and worried, there was Cristiana behind the desk,
The 11 years spent here were, she says, “a very lively and happy part of
smiling at me, elegant, confident and reassuring. And of course...ageless.
my life. AUR gave me a lot more than I was able to give to all of you.”
‘‘
‘‘
Cristiana left AUR after 11 years of service. I have known her for 10 of
I remember thinking how respectable and distinctive the place looked,
(I would strongly disagree with that, Cristiana).
because of her.
Thank you from all of us for wanting to be here through thick and thin for so many years. We will miss you!
I don’t think many know of Cristiana’s background, but it is very interesting, and as we would say today, very AUR:
Comment by Maurizia Garzia, AUR’s Chief of Staff
She was born in Lisbon, she attended Grammar School in Dublin, and then the Lycée Français in Brussels. She obtained a Bachelor of Science
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Francesca Zivny Francesca graduated from AUR in International Relations and Global Politics in December 2014. She, like most, fell in love with Italy and stayed. After X years of dedicated service to her alma mater as an Admissions and Financial Aid Counselor, she moved on from AUR to FAO last May. We are sad to see her go and as an Alumna and a staff member, she will always find a home atop the Gianicolo. We wish her the best of luck in future projects!
Leah Martin
Leah graduated from AUR in 2015 with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. After 2 years of service in the Admissions Department of AUR, she is moving back to the US for a new adventure! Leah will be greatly missed in the A building, both personally and professionally. Her charm, her humor and her professionalism left a mark! Good luck Leah!
Susan Johnson Susan Johnson moved on from AUR after two years of dedicated service. Susan was pivotal in establishing the foundations of our Office of Development and Alumni Relations, helping pave the way for AUR’s growth and future fundraising endeavors. Susan strongly believed in the urgency to make Alumni an active part of our growth and leadership. AUR’s growing Development Department and the increased engagement of Alumni owes much to Susan. AUR is invested in continuing what Susan started and we wish her the best in her future endeavours.
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summer MUSTS in Rome ‘Tis all about the G in Rome during the summer: it’s all about gelato, grattachecca and granita. The cobbled streets filled with disturbingly urbanized gabbiani and the colorful display of donne in gonne. (If you didn’t understand the last two, your Italian is getting rusty and you should come visit soon!)
G
F O R G R AT TA C H E C C A
Grattachecca is a cold dessert that is not to be confused with the more common granita. Grattachecca comes from the verb ‘grattare’ which means to scratch or scrape and the noun ‘checca’, term used to identify the huge blocks of ice that were used to store foods before the invention of the refrigerator. Unlike the granita, the grattachecca is made of scraped ice with flavored syrup poured on the spot. Granite are frozen flavored waters that are later scraped. (Yes, it is all in the production technique, but it is essential to know the difference.) A traditional Roman dessert aimed at quenching the thirst provoked by the scorching Roman summers, it has now been greatly substituted by the more common granita. Yet, some kiosks in the city center still boast the tradition… and if you are a true Roman, you prefer the grattachecca. Top 5 spots where you can find a true Roman grattachecca: 1. Sora Mirella (Trastevere) Lungotevere degli Anguillara, in front of the Isola Tiberina 2. Chiosco di Testaccio (Testaccio) Via Giovanni Branca 3. Alla Fonte d’Oro (Trastevere) Lungotevere Raffaele Sanzio, at the beginning of Viale Trastevere 4. Il Tempio della Grattachecca (City Center, Ara Pacis) Lungotevere in Augusta, where it intersects with Ponte Cavour 5. Sorsi e Morsi (Prati) Piazzale degli Eroi
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G
F O R G E L AT O
It is unclear when and where gelato was invented. There are
soon became pivotal for the Parisian intellectual scene and
records of mixing snow with goat’s milk and fruit to create
known for its coffee and gelato. Procopio’s café saw the presence
fresh gastronomic beverages for the summer months all over
of people such as La Fontaine, Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin,
the world: from King Solomon, to Egypt, to the Roman Empire
Danton, Marat, Robespierre, Napoleon Bonaparte, Balzac,
and even China. Yet, the most commonly agreed upon date for
Victor Hugo, Gambetta, Verlaine and Anatole France.
the birth of gelato is sometime in the 16th century in Florence,
Just like mozzarella is not quite the same as cheese, gelato is not
when artist and architect Bernardo Buontalenti delighted the
quite like ice cream. Gelato has less air than ice cream, it is made
Medici court with the crema Buontalenti.
with milk and not cream, and it is churned longer… duh!
Further south and a century later, a Sicilian cook perfected
The Wolftracks editorial board walked through Monteverde
the recipe for gelato and shared it with the world. Francesco
and Trastevere in search of the
Procopio Dei Coltelli, son of a fisherman, trained as a cook
top 2 gelato spots near the AUR campus. Below, all the info on
in Palermo. An adventurer at heart, Procopio moved to Paris.
our suggested gelato shops.
In 1686, after learning the trade of frozen beverages from an Armenian in Paris, Procopio opened the Café Procope, which
La Gourmandise As the name implies, this small gelateria tucked away in Monteverde Vecchio is a true delight for gelato connoisseurs. It is owned and run by Dario Benelli, who makes every single flavour a sensual journey. Benelli’s creations might seem odd combinations, but it takes a spoonful of gelato to indulge in a bombastic ecstasy of flavors.
Via Felice Cavallotti, 36B
Miami This gelateria was originally born in 1940 in the neighboorhood adjacent to the Pantheon in Rome. It was established by Achille Angele, his son Giorgio and his brother in law Vito Romano. The gelateria moved from the city center to Monteverde and we are lucky enough to have it a few blocks away from AUR.
Piazza Francesco Cucchi, 8
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5TH ANNUAL ROME ALUMNI REUNION
Once again, the marvellous Villa Aurelia hosted the Rome Annual Alumni Reunion. The delicate heat of summer creeping in, we enjoyed an evening of memories, laughter and dance. Our crowd included people from all over the world: Hawaii, Ghana, and several Alumni both from the US and Italy. Sallie Pisch was present to receive the David T. Colin Alumni Award for Distinguished service and moved us all with the heartfelt words she shared about the late James Walston. Yet the words of sentiment did not end there: nostalgia and affection for AUR resonated in the words of our three Reunion co-chairs (Lauren Joliffe, Bojana Dulanovic and Nohea ReveleyMahan) during the closing remarks at dinner. Bellies full and emotions released, we enjoyed desserts and gelato with the astounding view of Rome from the Gianicolo. Four talented musicians indulged us with wonderful music until men sat, girls took their heels off. and shyness waned (as the photo booth shots demonstrated!). Hand down: a night worth remembering!
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2017 Reunion Group picture previous page, top center
Giulia Ramadan, Sara Guidato, Romina Persi, Rossella Legari, Tessa Niklas, Sarah Burghart &Melissa Bosc
Karen Mauersberg, Sarah Leonardi, Almas Mukhashov & Fabio Evola previous page, bottom right
top right
Simone Amorico & Nina Engelhardt center right Elizabeth Safarian, Sallie Pisch, Edgar Barrales, Wolfie, Kelsea Brennan, Anastasia Safarian & Dana Phelps
Reunion Co-Chairs: Lauren Joliffe, Nohea Reveley-Mahan and Bojana Dulanovic
Sallie Pisch holding the David T. Colin Alumni Award
Leah Martin & Kelsea Brennan
2017 Reunion Dinner
previous page, bottom left
top left
center left
bottom right
bottom left
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CLASS OF 2 0 1 7 CO M M EN C EM EN T EX ERC I SES Heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2017! This year’s Ceremony was held on May 26 at the majetic Villa Aurelia.
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As the end of May approaches, any AUR senior knows the thrill
Honorary Degree recipients Laura Boldrini (President of Italy’s
and stress that comes with that particular time of year. Families
Chamber of Deputees) and Lynn Meskell (Professor and Director
cross oceans to attend the Commencement ceremony, friends
of the Archaeology Center at Stanford University) further engaged
buy laurel wreaths, faculty and staff try not to get too emotional.
the audience with their words. President Boldrini inspired those
This year’s commencement exercises were as beautiful as usual,
present with words on democracy, gender equality and change for
although more packed than ever! The class of 2017 is the largest graduating class seen in the history of AUR, and how proud we are to have attended this important right of passage for this active, young, and talented crowd. The ceremony was led by Professor Lorenzo Coretti, who encouraged the graduating class to believe
the better, dedicating her Honorary degree to those who fight for change. Dr. Meskell left an inspiring message to the graduating class, “So my message today is stay sharp, question everything, use your talents and your training well, it will be greatly needed in a world full of challenges and opportunities. But most of all use your understanding of others, the internationalism that has been
in change and acknowledge that a turn for the better lay in their
fostered here to make a difference, to create a different future so
hands. Vittorio Smoot Palchetti, class representative, delighted
that we don’t relive the past.”
the crowd with his understanding of La Grande Bellezza: “We did find the great beauty and it is called The American University of
With pomp, joy and a tinge of anxiety the graduating class
Rome.” Citing Sorrentino and Frida Kahlo, Vittorio reminded us
threw their caps in the air; only to enjoy this celebration of
all that the strength of AUR lies in its community.
their successes at AUR and their newfound membership to the worldwide “pack” we proudly call AUR Alumni!
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For those who want humor...
For those who want India...
Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About
The Windfall By: Diksha Basu
By: Will Millington
For those who like to eat...
Life from Scratch By: Sasha Martin
For feminists...
For those who want short stories...
Not That Kind of Girl
Music for Wartime
By: Lena Dunham
By: Rebecca Makkai
For those who are postmodern...
The Story of My Teeth By: Valeria Luiselli
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Upcoming ALUMNI EVENTS Stay tuned for the upcoming Alumni Meet & Greets around the world!
AUR Alumni are invited to an Aperitivo with our Board in Rome! Sept. 27, 2017 - 7pm RSVP by Sept. 18 to alumni@aur.edu
COMING THIS FALL, THE DETAILS ON THE
2018 ALUMNI REUNION! - 27 -
AUR adopted a wolf-like MAUS! We would like to introduce you to the newest member of the AUR family. Not quite old enough to take up a degree yet, Maus, is a beautiful (and somewhat endangered) Mexican Grey Wolf cub.
Maus was born just before midnight on the 25th of May this
Wolves have about 200 million scent cells. Humans have only
year - at pretty much the exact moment that our alumni were
about 5 million. Wolves can smell other animals more than one
toasting the moon at the annual Rome Alumni Reunion in Villa
mile (1.6 kilometers) away.
Aurelia. The University has adopted Maus in honour of those
The North American gray wolf population in 1600 was 2 million.
alumni - our very own ‘wolfpack’ - who are out individually
Today the population in North America is approximately
making their mark on the world but who know that they always
65,000. The world population is approximately 150,000.
have a den to return to at AUR. Of course, Maus does not supplant the venerable Wolfie
Wolves have historically been associated with sexual predation.
(AUR’s long-time mascot). He’s still the alpha male and we’re
For example, Little Red Riding Hood, who wears a red cape
not looking to retire him anytime soon. However, Maus fills a
that proclaims her sexual maturity, is seduced off the moral
special place in our hearts and, as he grows to take his place in
path by a wolf. The sex link endures in common clichés, such
the world, we will keep you up to date with his development
as describing a predatory man as “a wolf ” or a sexy whistle as a
and progress.
“wolf whistle”.
For now, welcome home Maus, welcome to the AUR Wolfpack.
Biologists describe wolf territory as not just spatial, but spatial-
The Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is the southernmost
temporal, so that each pack moves in and out of each other’s
and most genetically distinct subspecies of the North American
turf depending on how recently the “no trespassing” signals
gray wolf. From prehistoric to fairly recent times, the Mexican
were posted.
wolf, or lobo, ranged from central and northern Mexico to western Texas, southern New Mexico, and central Arizona.
According to Pliny the Elder, a first-century Roman scholar,
Adult Mexican wolves typically weigh 65-85 pounds, average
wolf teeth could be rubbed on the gums of infants to ease the
4.5-5.5 feet from nose to tail, and stand 28-32 inches at the
pain of teething. He also reported that wolf dung could be used
shoulder.
to treat both colic and cataracts (not, we hope, by rubbing on the gums …).
Some Interesting Wolf Facts …
Sextus Placitus, in his fifth-century B.C. Medicina de
The Vikings wore wolf skins and drank wolf blood to take on
quadrupedibus (Medicinals from Animals), claims that sleeping
the wolf ’s spirit in battle. They also viewed real wolves as battle
with a wolf ’s head under one’s pillow would cure insomnia.
companions or hrægifr (corpse trolls).
A male and female that mate usually stay together for life. They
A wolf pup’s eyes are blue at birth. Their eyes turn yellow by the
are devoted parents and maintain sophisticated family ties.
time they are eight months old.
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G IVIN G BAC K It is true that “all roads lead to Rome…” You came to AUR and this place, its people and this city changed you. You now know what it means to live in a city that is not your own and make it yours, bit by bit. And if you are Italian, you probably understood your own culture through the interaction with the different cultures present on our campus. Our Alumni moved on, hopefully to do great things, big and small. But regardless of whether you are an Alumni, a friend, a former professor or a former staff member, know that you will always have a home at AUR. Yes, we will continue to harass you with newsletters and event invites. We will send you surveys and appeals because we care what you think and we want to improve and grow, and this is only possible with your help. Although your life paths have led you to places that are not this magnificent Italian capital, you can go, but you haven’t really left… that penny you threw in the Trevi fountain will always bring you back to the eternal Roma. There are many different ways to engage with AUR. Below, a few options of how you can give back. If you have any other ideas on how to give back, write to us at alumni@aur.edu.
DONATE YOUR TIME
HELP A PROJECT YOU BELIEVE IN
1 Participate as an Alumni Scholarship
1 The James Walston Fund
Evaluator
Donating to the JWF allows AUR to organize field trips and fund project in memory of Professor Walston
Established a couple of years ago, the Alumni Scholarship grants current and incoming students to live the AUR experience. As the name implies, it is funded by Alumni and as such, it is the Alumni who have a voice in the selection process.
1 Refugee and Displaced Persons Scholarship Donating to the RDP Scholarship helps fund the education of young minds coming from conflict countries.
1 Reach out to prospective students with the AAO Program
1 Alumni Scholarship
Who better than an Alum to reach out to prospect students? Write them an email or call them. Participate in the Alumni Admissions Ooutreach Program and share the reasons why you love AUR.
Donating to the Alumni Scholarship fosters the international character of AUR. Every year, the Alumni Scholarship goes to one US student and one International Student.
1 Volunteer to help during AUR events
1 The David Colin Circle
AUR has events year-round. Volunteer to help our staff the day of the event. Open Day, Thanksgiving, 4th of July...
The David Colin Circle was created in recognition of The American University of Rome’s founder. The David Colin Circle is for those donors who have given
1 Write an article for Wolftracks
a gift of $5,000 or more to AUR’s Annual Fund. The AUR Annual Fund is an
About AUR, your time here and where life has taken you since your college days in Rome.
unrestricted account that is destined for the University’s pressing issues and needs in any given year.
If you wish to help a project,
If you wish to donate your time, write to us at alumni@aur.edu
go to www.aur.it/Payments and specify where your gift should be allocated - 29 -
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!