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 Reunion Program

May 23

12.30 pm, AUR garden: Registration and light lunch with AUR President and staff

07.00 pm, Villa Aurelia: Aperitivo and Gala Dinner (semiformal dress code)

10.00 pm to 1.00 am, Villa Aurelia: Disco with DJ

May 24

5.30 pm, Villa Aurelia: Commencement ceremony and reception

8.30pm, Lo Scarpone: Cohort dinner

May 25

10.30 am Largo Gaetana Agnesi, 1
(in front of the bar Rito Cafè) Skip the line Imperial Rome tour

2.30 pm Viale Vaticano, 100
(in front of Vatican Museums main entrance) Skip the line Vatican tour

For any questions about the program, please contact Maurizia at m.garzia@aur.edu

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The symposium negotiated the interdisciplinary influences between literature, comics, and animation. It brought together international scholars, students, academics and artists from diverse fields of research and professional practice to create an interdisciplinary dialogue.

Prof. Kristen Palana presenting in Stuttgart.

The American University of Rome’s Associate Professor of Digital Media, Kristen Palana, presented a lecture entitled, “Enhancing Empathy: How the Mighty Mediums of Comics and Animation Help Bring About Positive Social Change.”  The presentation explored how these disciplines in particular help cut through all the layers of difference (age, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, race, nationality, language, etc) that separate us as human beings and help the viewer truly understand and identify with the hardships of others. Through comics and animation, complex issues can be presented in a more simple and universal way as well as transcend cultural and societal differences to make a more powerful impact than other mediums could.

Professor Palana specializes in creating socially conscious animation, art, and design and has won a number of international awards. Visit her digital portfolio at:http://kpalana.com.

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IR Department Chair, James Walston took part in the panel discussion “Challenges for Afghanistan after 2014: NATO and international perspective” along with Germano Dottori of LUISS and Lucio Martino from CeMiSS chaired by IGS Director, Nicola Pedde.

• The Future of Afghanistan

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Dr. Gary Pisano illustrates his argument on global competition.

Harvard Business School Professor, Dr. Gary Pisano headlined the 2013 Carlucci Entrepreneurship Forum at The American University of Rome. His talk, “Competing in the New Global Landscape,” drew a standing-room-only audience from both the AUR community and the broader Rome community. Dr. Pisano made a clear and cogent argument for an investment in education and training in the face of the global recession, maintaining that because of the transformation of global economic competition, the quality of a country’s human resources is now the ultimate determinant of prosperity.

The evening lecture was the highlight of the 2013 edition of the Carlucci Forum, which was conceived in 2010 by AUR’s Honorary Degree recipient and prominent businessman Robert E. Carlucci. The event is organized annually to recognize and honor his significant achievements as both an entrepreneur and a philanthropist.

Dr. Pisano spent time during the day with a number of different AUR constituencies. He lunched with members of the Business Department faculty, discussing a wide array of topics ranging from research projects to the teaching and writing of cases to the benefits of an American style education in Rome. (His daughter Melanie is a member of AUR’s class of 2013). An expert in the case method approach made famous by Harvard Business School, Dr. Pisano led the students in Prof. Kathleen Fitzsimmons’ Strategic Management course in a discussion of a case he wrote, on the launch of the FIAT 500 in the United States. The lively discussion got students to analyze the difficulties CEO Sergio Marchionne faced first with the turnaround of FIAT and then with the similar challenge at Chrysler, after the merger of the two auto giants. The students then debated the wisdom (since proven by the US auto market) of Marchionne’s strategy to launch FIAT into the US with its 500 subco mpact model rather than other FIAT models.

Later in the afternoon, Dr. Pisano met with about 25 business students for an aperitivo, where some of the Strategic Management students continued the discussion from the earlier class session, and others asked about graduate school and about the HBS method, and got advice.

Dr. Pisano is the Harry E. Figgie Professor of Business Administration HBS. He did his undergraduate work in Economics at Yale University, and received a PhD at University of California at Berkeley. He has been on the Harvard faculty for 25 years. During this time, Dr. Pisano has taught MBA and executive level courses on technology and operations management, operations strategy, competitive strategy, product development, and the management of innovation. Dr. Pisano’s research has examined technology strategy, the management of innovation, organizational learning, outsourcing, and the management of intellectual property. His research, teaching, and consulting on these issues span a range of science and technology based industries including aerospace, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, health care, computers, software, telecommunications, and semiconductors. He has applied his knowledge to the real world by advising a number of corporations, particularly in the pharma bu siness, including Merck, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, J&J and Teradyne.

Dr. Pisano is widely published, having authored more than 70 articles and case studies, and six books, most recently Producing Prosperity: Why America Needs a Manufacturing Renaissance. In his research, Dr. Pisano has examined technology strategy, innovation, organizational learning and the management of intellectual property. He’s won a number of awards including the prestigious McKinsey Award, awarded each year for the best HBR article of the year, for his 2009 article, and the basis of his discussion at the Carlucci Forum, Restoring American Competitiveness.

The AUR community thanks Dr. Pisano for his time and energy and looks forward to having him back at AUR for graduation festivities in May!

Dr. Pisano with Prof. Fitzsimmons and the students of the Strategic Management class.

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The lecture, jointly organized and promoted by The American University of Rome, The American Academy in Rome, and the Centro Studi Americani, was hosted and moderated by Italy’s former Prime Minister Giuliano Amato, President of the Centro.

From left: AUR Pres. Richard Hodges, AAR Mellon Professor of Classical Studies Kimberly Bowes, Pres. Giuliano Amato, Dr. Barry Strauss and Mrs Strauss

Dr. Strauss, author of The Spartacus War (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2009), spoke about Spartacus’ legend and ironies, which have made him a symbol of freedom, nationalism, and even communism over time, and mentioned how Italy’s emerging 5 Star Movement leader, Beppe Grillo, lately compared himself to Spartacus in his blog.

Here follows an extract of Strauss’s lecture:

Spartacus led a revolt (73-71 BC) of gladiators and slaves that shocked Roman society at the time and that has echoed through the ages. He was a Thracian who served in an allied unit of the Roman army and who ended up unjustly enslaved and forced to be a gladiator in Capua. Most of his followers were rural slaves and most were foreigners. A man of liberal sentiments, he tried to rein in his soldiers’ urges for revenge and to convince them to leave Italy. He failed, on both accounts. In 71 BC, the wealthy oligarch Crassus broke the back of the revolt and crucified 6,000 of Spartacus’s followers on the road between Rome and Capua.

Although Spartacus and most of his followers were immigrants, ironically Spartacus has sometimes been a symbol of Italian nationalism as well as of regional identity in the Mezzogiorno. Spartacus was even cited as a freedom fighter by US President Ronald Reagan. The best-known use of Spartacus as a symbol has been as a symbol of socialism and communism. Marx and Lenin both praised Spartacus and he was a major figure in Soviet ideology. It’s not surprising that Beppe Grillo, too, has compared himself to Spartacus (and quoted Dr. Strauss’s book).

Ironically, there is no evidence that Spartacus was opposed to slavery in principle. It’s much more likely that he was opposed rather to his own enslavement and that of his followers. While we rightly honor Spartacus today for his rebellion against injustice, we should also remember the ironies.

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Amii Stewart performs with the Amazing Grace Gospel Choir.

Special Guest and American singer and actress Amii Stewart, who made her claim to fame in the 70’s Disco Era, performed with the Amazing Grace Gospel Choir at The American University of Rome’s Auriana Auditorium in support of the Circolo San Pietro charity. The concert organized by AUR’s Fine Arts Area, chaired by acclaimed artist, Professor Breda Ennis, was performed to a full house and helped to raise funds for Circolo San Pietro’s work with the poor, needy, and sick. The charity offers a variety of services in Rome, including running three food kitchens which serve about 60,000 meals per year, providing hospitality for mothers with sick children at the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital, and running night shelters for the homeless.

The Amazing Grace Gospel Choir, created in 2005 by Professor Timothy Martin, performs contemporary Gospel music as well as traditional spirituals, aiming to introduce the authentic tradition of Gospel music to Italy. Monday’s performance was met with applause including that of Leopoldo Torlonia, President of Circolo San Pietro, who congratulated the choir on its performance. Along with the concert, fundraising also continued during the week with staff donations and a contribution by AUR Student Government. Deserving thanks go to Prof. Martin, Prof. Ennis, the choir’s wonderful singers, and Amii Stewart for starting the week off with such an incredible event.

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Also the Business Department has acquired the new Fortezza Scholarship which was awarded to them as part of a successful wine label competition held last year for Cantina La Fortezza. Special thanks go to Professor Sonnabend for his work organizing the contest in partnership with Thomson Marketing.  During the competition students submitted their designs for a new Fortezza wine label and marketing campaign with the winners receiving prizes and recognition. Now, thanks to that initiative, two students pursuing a degree in Business, Communications, or Film and Digital Media have a one time opportunity to receive a 500 euro scholarship in the Fall 2013 semester.

For more information on financial aid please visit the Financial Aid Page.

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We sat down for an interview with Melanie Pisano, a AUR senior and Communications major, regarding her internship at The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) here in Rome.

Q: How did you find out about the internship at FAO?

Melanie: During the preparation for my COM450 class, I knew I wanted to do three things for my eventual internship: to work in an international environment, focus on editing, and explore social media skills within a UN based agency here in Rome. I consulted with Professor Sonnabend and he was very helpful in finding a perfect fit for my preferences. The American University of Rome has many great connections within UN agencies in Rome and was a crucial part of getting my foot in the door for an interview. Professor Sonnabend was a great liaison during the process. He helped review my résumé and gave me critical advice for the interview and what to expect. I heard that The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations had an opportunity in the publication sector of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, and it became my first choice for an internship.

Q: What made you want to intern at FAO?

Melanie: I wanted to be an intern at FAO, because I could build on my international experience at AUR, in a diverse work environment. Given my work experience with the AUR student newspaper, previous publications and the classes attended for my major at The American University of Rome, I figured I could provide a helping hand to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department’s publications and social media sector. I was eager to learn and gain experience, as well as be a part of what FAO stands for as an organization.

Q: What has been the best aspect of your FAO internship?

Melanie: The best part about interning at FAO has been meeting people from all over the world. I have learned about the department’s publications, upcoming policies and different social media dashboards for Twitter use, as well as computing Twitter analytics. The rooftop cafeteria with its spectacular view of Rome doesn’t hurt either!

Q: How has working at FAO helped your prepare for life after AUR?

Melanie: Working at FAO for the past three months has prepared me in multiple ways for life after AUR. I worked from 9-5, Monday through Friday and thus got a real sense of what a 40-hour workweek entails, and all the hustle and bustle that it includes. Now I have a basic understanding of work life in a corporate environment and the functionality of office life.  Admittedly, I was apprehensive about a “desk job” when I was younger, but after studying at AUR for the past four years, I felt more prepared than ever to have this experience and have grown very comfortable at my desk during these past few months. I think FAO has been a great first experience as an intern; the dynamics within the office have been collaborative and positive.

Q: What advice would you have for other AUR students regarding internships?

Melanie: If I could advise other AUR students regarding internships, whether they have done multiple internships or are about to begin their first one, I would tell them that each experience is different. I observed that each agency is run differently as well as each department within FAO operates on a different rhythm as well. My advice for students would be to try to be versatile and patient and retain as much information and advice given as possible during your internship.

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