Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

This summer, six doctoral students from The School of Education at St. John’s University spent 10 days studying abroad at the University’s Rome, Italy location.

Katherine C. Aquino, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Assistant Chairperson of the Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership, organized opportunities for the group to meet with full-time and adjunct faculty members from LUMSA University and Sapienza University of Rome. The group observed similarities and differences between US and Italian higher education, as well as Italian institutions’ increased use of distance learning in the post-pandemic postsecondary environment.

Additionally, students met with administrators from the Pantheon Institute and the Council on International Educational Exchange to learn about the role of study-abroad organizations in supporting global studies learning opportunities.

“I really enjoyed my short-term study abroad experience,” said student Prattasha Paul. “It was my first time in Rome, and it was fantastic to explore the city’s culture and visit its higher education institutions. The global higher education speakers were insightful and welcoming, and our professor made the trip even better by integrating local culture into our discussions and having us debrief in meaningful settings like the streets and restaurants of Rome. The best part was definitely becoming closer with my St. John’s doctoral cohort.”

“As a higher education administrator working with first-year students for more than 18 years, I have always encouraged students to study abroad and take advantage of our exceptional programs,” said Alison Celaya, Associate Director, First-Year Academic Advising at the Center for Student Success, who is pursuing her doctorate. “Having the unique opportunity to study abroad as a doctoral student was a chance of a lifetime and offered invaluable insight into what it is like for a student to study abroad. I will forever cherish the memories and moments I got to experience as a student, and cannot wait to share what I have learned with my future students and continue encouraging them to partake in these life-changing moments.”

Student Alexandrea Anzalone shared, “The short-term study abroad experience in Rome was an enriching experience that brought global learning to a new level. Through hands-on lectures and tours of various Italian universities, we were able to develop unique partnerships with Italian faculty. We were able to truly compare our higher education system in America to Italy’s higher education system. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity we had to immerse ourselves in Rome and learn not just about Italian higher education but also about the history of ancient Rome. This opportunity brought 21st-century learning ideologies to life, and I am excited to bring what I learned into my classroom.”